Director, STEM & Puerto Rico Emerging Workforce Transformation

Puerto Rico Science Technology & Research Trust•San Juan, PR

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director leads Puerto Rico’s strategy to develop a future-ready STEM workforce by aligning education, industry, government, and innovation ecosystems. The role prepares students and professionals for careers in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, data science, sustainability, and other emerging technologies. The Director positions the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust as a catalyst for STEM talent development, workforce innovation, and economic competitiveness, building talent pathways from K–12 through professional careers. The role leads development and maintenance of Puerto Rico’s five-year STEM and workforce transformation strategic plan, advances workforce foresight and policy, and uses labor-market intelligence and dashboards to guide programs and measure impact. It designs and supports STEM and workforce programs, builds industry-aligned talent pipelines, and expands work-based learning opportunities. The Director also provides STEM and emerging-workforce leadership for the Talento Boricua project, develops funding and partnerships, manages program budgets and administration, and supervises and supports staff. The position reports to the Chief Executive Officer of PRSTRT and is based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a STEM field, or in education or education innovation with a STEM focus.
Five or more years of professional experience leading a program or comparable initiative, including managing grants, programs, or complex projects.
At least three years of experience supervising direct reports.
Demonstrated working knowledge of trends and standards in STEM education and the STEM pipeline.
High proficiency with computer systems, software applications, and online collaboration tools.
Experience with Puerto Rico’s education, workforce transformation, or innovation ecosystem.
Experience developing grant proposals for federal agencies or private foundations.
Experience leading multi-stakeholder partnerships across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Experience with budgeting and financial planning for programs of significant scope.
Ability to anticipate future workforce demands and translate trends into actionable programs.
Strategic fluency in AI and emerging technologies, including generative AI, data analytics, and digital transformation; technical expertise is not required.
Ability to convene and align industry, academia, government, and nonprofits around shared workforce goals.
Data-driven leadership experience using workforce analytics, dashboards, and impact evaluation.
Experience or ability in resource development and fundraising, including federal grants, foundation funding, and corporate sponsorships.
Exceptional ability to communicate in both English and Spanish with stakeholders, sponsors, academia, government, and industry executives.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in a STEM-related area.

Responsibilities

Develop, communicate, and maintain Puerto Rico’s five-year STEM and workforce transformation strategic plan.
Foster, influence, and participate in developing and deploying Puerto Rico’s Future Workforce Strategy.
Enable statewide workforce foresight activities and identify emerging skills and occupations important to Puerto Rico’s economic growth.
Serve as the Trust’s principal liaison with the Puerto Rico Department of Education, schools, universities, and corporate partners.
Develop workforce dashboards and use labor-market intelligence to guide program decisions and measure impact.
Design, launch, and support STEM and workforce transformation programs, including science, biotechnology, AI literacy, technology, data science, robotics, summer camps, and in-school activities.
Build industry-aligned talent pipelines connecting K–12, universities, technical colleges, employers, and workforce partners.
Expand work-based learning opportunities, including registered apprenticeships, internships, and industry projects.
Serve as the STEM and emerging-workforce development liaison for the Talento Boricua project and set its scientific and educational direction.
Define the emerging-workforce development project pipeline model, assign dedicated resources, and collaborate with the project core team on strategic goals.
Coordinate with partner institutions, employers, and government agencies to complement project activities and avoid duplication.
Ensure program design is evidence-based and informed by national and international best practices in STEM education and workforce transformation.
Secure funding by researching and submitting proposals to foundations, corporate entities, and federal agencies, involving partners as appropriate.
Develop funding narratives with the Trust’s grants team and internal and external contributors.
Coordinate partnerships and collaborative efforts to improve student outcomes.
Establish high-impact workforce innovation partnerships among industry, government, universities, school systems, federal agencies, and STEM-focused professional organizations.
Monitor national and international STEM education and workforce development practices and translate findings into program recommendations.
Manage program budgets, financial reporting, and administrative oversight.
Supervise, develop, and support staff, and foster cross-functional collaboration across the Trust.