Workforce Development Manager

at  University of WisconsinMadison

JOB SUMMARY:

At the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI), we envision a world powered by sustainable and reliable energy that is affordable and accessible to everyone. As the home of collaborative energy research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we connect and empower researchers to help solve one of the world’s greatest challenges: developing sustainable alternatives to meet society’s ever-growing need for power, fuels, and chemicals.
WEI is home to the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), whose mission is to create biofuels and bioproducts that are economically viable and environmentally sustainable. GLBRC (www.glbrc.org) is a cross-disciplinary and integrated research center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With Michigan State University and other collaborators in the US and Canada, GLBRC draws on the expertise of over 400 scientists to address today’s greatest challenges to produce transportation fuels and high-value chemicals while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Workforce Development Manager will be responsible for updating and implementing the strategic plan to build a sustainable recruitment pipeline for postdocs and graduate students, continuously evaluating the effectiveness and making improvements to our professional development and mentorship programs to support our members’ career and personal growth needs.
This position reports directly to the GLBRC Associate Director and interacts collaboratively with the WEI and GLBRC leadership and our collaborators at other DOE-funded Biological Research Centers (BRCs).

EDUCATION:

Preferred
Bachelor’s Degree
Strong preference given to those with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• At least three years of substantial involvement in workforce development for postdocs and/or graduate students
• At least three years of experience with professional development and/or mentorship programs in a higher education institution
• Extensive understanding and working knowledge on postdoc and graduate student pipeline building
• Excellent communication, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Experience with strategic planning and developing actionable implementation plan
• Prior experience on grant/proposal writing

Strong preference given to those with the following experience:

• Education or prior experience in biology, chemistry, or engineering
• Familiarity with workforce development funding opportunities from government agencies, NGOs or the private sector
• Demonstrated ability to plan, establish priorities and organize varied and complex tasks
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team setting to establish and maintain effective working relationships; supervisory experience is a plus
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize workload, manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively, and follow-through on tasks and work unsupervised
• Demonstrated good judgement and decision-making skills
• Positive and collaborative approach
• Openness for new ideas; willingness to be a change agent
• Knowledge about GLBRC and/or UW-Madison is a plus

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Coordinates and delivers career development programming, resource materials, and/or advising to students and alumni. Educates students, alumni, and other stakeholders about career development and opportunities and maintains relationships to aid in effective career planning. Supervises unit staff and/or has significant program management authority/responsibility, and strives to create a welcoming, equitable, and inclusive work environment.

• 15% Educates or advises students and recent alumni individually, or in groups through various mediums about career exploration, self-assessment, skills, materials development, and career decisions
• 10% Develops and delivers career development programming and resource materials across various mediums to provide education to students
• 5% Responds to questions and provides information regarding student services, policies, procedures, and employment preparation
• 40% May identify and maintain a professional network of employers or other stakeholders to facilitate career exploration and employment opportunities for students
• 15% Participates in campus-wide career services community providing input to leadership regarding the development of advising, recruitment, and co/curricular programs offered by the school/college/unit
• 10% Supervises unit staff and/or plans, organizes, allocates resources, assesses performance, and leads the operational activities for a significant portion of the unit’s career services portfolio
• 5% Participates in collaborative activities to promote and foster a culture that welcomes, celebrates, and supports everyone

TASKS:

• Coordinate activities related to postdoc recruitment and professional development
• Coordinate, organize, conduct, and evaluate professional development workshops for graduate students, postdocs, and staff
• Partner with the WEI Outreach Coordinator and other institutional partners in summer research internship program planning and implementation
• Lead and improve the internal mentorship program
• Provide campus resources or help make connections for members regarding student services, policies, procedures and employment preparation
• Coordinate with other DOE Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs) on cross training opportunities for postdocs and students
• Establish a recruiting network, including strategic alliances with relevant institutions, to increase postdoc recruitment, especially within underrepresented communities
• Work with GLBRC Directors, UW and MSU postdoctoral affairs offices, and other BRCs to update and implement the training and professional development strategic plan for the postdocs within GLBRC
• Work with our counterparts at other institutions in postdoc recruiting activities
• Attend recruiting events on and off campus
• Identify and participate in campus-wide career services resources and networks
• Lead proposal efforts to pursue funding opportunities for pipeline building and workforce development
• Support GLBRC Associate Director in developing GLBRC annual recruitment and professional development budget
• Update and implement the strategic plan for a sustainable and diverse pipeline for postdoc recruiting