Dairy Business Mentor

University of Wisconsin Madison • Madison, WI

28d • Remote

About The Position

The Center for Dairy Research (CDR) is seeking Dairy Business Mentors to support a growing innovative unit on the UW-Madison campus. Housed in a new, state-of-the-art facility in Babcock Hall, CDR is the largest dairy foods research program in the US. The Center has over 60 full-time staff, supports graduate and undergraduate research, and provides technical and training support services to hundreds of dairy producers and processors around the globe. CDR is home to the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance ( https://dbia.wisc.edu/ ). In partnership with the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, the DBIA administers programs providing technical assistance as well as grants to dairy farms and businesses in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The CDR is currently seeking two (2) Dairy Business Mentors to provide mentorship and outreach to the dairy industry, specifically DBIA grant recipients, to help them accelerate their business growth. This role is responsible for reaching out to DBIA grant recipients, understanding their specific needs in terms of business acceleration, and providing advice and resources to support those needs including technical assistance, financial management, human resources, leadership, operations, business expansion, growth opportunities, diversification planning, etc. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience at a management or executive level in the dairy industry. They will have played a key role in dairy plant operations including financial management, human resources, market strategies, and/or expansion projects. They will exhibit a consultative approach to developing relationships and have deep knowledge of the Wisconsin dairy landscape and its key stakeholders.
Additional information: This is a part time remote position working 10-20 hours per week This position requires travel to dairy producers in Wisconsin primarily, and potentially within the 11 state region. This position is fully remote with the employee working from their home office when they are not traveling A criminal background check may be required A 12-month evaluation/probationary period may be required Employee must become an approved driver through UW-Madison's driver authorization process. This requires meeting established driver authorization criteria listed at https://businessservices.wisc.edu/managing-risk/driver-authorization-and-insurance/driver-authorization/

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in a management or executive capacity in the dairy industry
• Experience in dairy plant operations including at least one of the following areas: financial management, human resources, market strategies, or expansion projects

Nice To Haves

• Experience working as a consultant

Responsibilities

• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program

Benefits

• 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.
• Additional benefits information can be found at: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level