State of Wisconsin

Associate Director

State of Wisconsin$140K — $160K *
Energy & Utilities
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum 6 years of senior-level business engagement experience with success in building networks.
  • Experience with industry partnerships to support research.
  • Proficiency in managing communications, outreach, and multi-project coordination.
  • Ability to implement best practices in process improvement and strategic planning.
  • Demonstrated skills in policy development and program management.
  • Strong leadership qualities in managing a diverse team of professionals.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the development of strategic planning initiatives aligned with the Institute's goals.
  • Establish and oversee operating policies to ensure compliance with regulations.
  • Plan and execute efforts to foster research teams and stakeholder relationships.
  • Manage campaign participation and engagement activities.
  • Act as a representative for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Supervise and develop teams, including hiring and performance management.
  • Oversee budget development and management.

Benefits

  • Generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off.
  • Competitive insurance and savings accounts.
  • Retirement benefits.
  • Eligible for partial remote work up to two days a week.
Full Job Description
Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:
Limited

Employment Type:
Regular

Job Profile:
Bus Eng Dir (B)

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the Director of the Wisconsin Energy Institute, the Business Engagement Director will provide leadership and overall programmatic direction for WEI across a multi-disciplinary and multi-institution environment. This position will lead communications, education, and outreach groups comprised of a total of seven staff members. In addition, the Business Engagement Director will provide supervision of facility space assignments, environmental health & safety (EH&S), and external relations of the Institute.

The incumbent will support and act on behalf of the WEI Director in day-to-day direction, management and planning related to the Institute's business engagement, communications, education and outreach functions. The Business Engagement Director also participates as an active member of the WEI Executive Committee, and has input into formulation, direction and implementation of operational priorities, communications and education and outreach programs and projects to enhance the Institute's ability to achieve its mission.

As a member of WEI senior management, this position plays a key role in developing, planning and managing major organizational functions and initiatives including strategic planning and execution. As needed, the Business Engagement Director may represent the WEI Director with various institution, business or external stakeholders. This position meets regularly with the WEI Director and WEI Executive Committee.

This position is full-time, 100% FTE, and is located at the Wisconsin Energy Institute (1552 University Ave, Madison).

This position is eligible for partial remote work, up to two each week. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement (RWA) agreement. An RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.

Key Job Responsibilities:
  • Directs the development of large scale and high-profile strategic planning initiatives and objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources and alignment with the strategic plan
  • Develops operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and objectives

Directs, plans, and implements efforts to build research teams and stakeholder networks, including workshops, meetings and other events and initiatives with internal and external participants
  • Directs the implementation of participation in campaign and engagement efforts
  • Serves as a liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information and representing the interests of the institution in the cultivation of industry and business partner relationships
  • Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

Maintains knowledge of significant developments in industry, stakeholders and stakeholder groups, science, public and private research funding, and regulations relevant to the research, education, and outreach mission of the center/institute
  • Supervises and develops director-level staff
  • Develops and oversees the budget


Department:

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, Wisconsin Energy Institute

Compensation:

Starting salary will be based on experience and qualifications. Well-qualified applicants can anticipate receiving a minimum offer of $140,000.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits.

Required Qualifications:
  • A minimum of 6 years of senior-level business engagement experience, with demonstrated success developing networks and collaborations with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Experience working with industry connections to support research and other goals.
  • Experience overseeing external relations, communications, and/or outreach processes and resources; ability to handle multiple and diverse projects, events and shifting priorities and deadlines.
  • The ability to develop best practices and manage major process improvement initiatives in rapidly changing operations and research environments.
  • Demonstrated skill and experience in effective policy development, strategic planning, change management, process improvement, and program development.
  • Ability to manage, motivate, direct and lead effectively among a diverse group of scientific, technical and administrative personnel. Recognized use of discretion, tact and diplomacy of a senior manager.
  • Superior oral, written and interpersonal skills as well as excellent presentation and organizational skills.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Demonstrated experience working with government and private funding agencies and with complex university, federal, and private research grants.


Education:

Bachelor's Degree preferred

Master's Degree in a relevant science, technology, or business field highly preferred.

How to Apply:

Click the "Apply" button to start the application process. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:
  • Cover Letter
  • Resume

Applicants are required to attach both a cover letter and resume detailing their training and experience relating to the required and preferred qualifications referenced in the position description. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine which qualified applicants will advance in the recruitment process. Applicants that do not submit all materials or do not clearly show that they meet the requirements will no longer be considered.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial criminal and/or caregiver background check and then every four years.

Contact Information:



About State of Wisconsin

The State of Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States, in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. Wisconsin.Gov, its official website, offers citizens with access to information related to the state’s online services, governmental departments, budgets and spending, jobs and employee resources, constitution, agency directory, courts and the law, elected officials, education and learning, housing, taxes, economic development and small business, business portal, Web Access Management System (WAMS), and more. The site is operated from Madison, Wisconsin.

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