Associate Director

Universities of Wisconsin•Madison, WI

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) is dedicated to solving global energy challenges by developing sustainable technologies for power, fuels, chemicals, and materials. WEI aims to accelerate a more abundant, resilient, and affordable energy future through knowledge and technology generation. The Institute fosters cross-disciplinary teams to address energy technology challenges holistically, driving transformative innovations and creating economic opportunities while minimizing environmental impact. WEI's leadership in research, education, and outreach serves as a bridge between campus researchers, government, industry, and community stakeholders, advancing the Wisconsin Idea. The Institute focuses on fostering collaborative energy projects, preparing future energy leaders, and enhancing public understanding of energy issues. A significant program within WEI is the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), a Department of Energy-funded center led by UW-Madison, focused on creating economically viable and environmentally sustainable biofuels and bioproducts. The Business Engagement Director, under the WEI Director, will lead programmatic direction for WEI in a multi-disciplinary, multi-institution setting. This role will oversee communications, education, and outreach groups (seven staff members), facility space assignments, environmental health & safety (EH&S), and external relations. The Director will support the WEI Director in daily operations, management, and planning for business engagement, communications, education, and outreach. The position is a key member of the WEI Executive Committee, contributing to operational priorities and program development. As part of WEI senior management, this role is crucial in developing, planning, and managing major organizational functions, including strategic planning and execution. The Business Engagement Director may represent the WEI Director with external stakeholders and meets regularly with the WEI Director and Executive Committee. This is a full-time, 100% FTE position located at the Wisconsin Energy Institute in Madison, with eligibility for partial remote work (up to two days per week) requiring an approved remote work agreement and the candidate's own internet and phone. Transportation to the work location is the employee's responsibility.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience working with government and private funding agencies and with complex university, federal, and private research grants.
Master’s Degree in a relevant science, technology, or business field highly preferred.

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.