Director, STEM & Puerto Rico Emerging Workforce Transformation

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

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, STEM & Puerto Rico Emerging Workforce Transformation leads Puerto Rico’s strategy to develop a future-ready STEM workforce. The role aligns education, industry, government, and innovation ecosystems to prepare 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 leading catalyst for STEM talent development, workforce innovation, and economic competitiveness, building talent pathways from K-12 through professional careers. The role develops Puerto Rico’s five-year STEM and workforce transformation strategy, supports the island’s Future Workforce Strategy, and uses workforce foresight and labor market intelligence to identify emerging skills and measure program impact. It designs and supports STEM and workforce programs, builds industry-aligned talent pipelines, and expands work-based learning opportunities. The Director also leads the STEM and emerging workforce component of the Talento Boricua project, develops funding and partnership opportunities, manages budgets and reporting, and supervises and supports staff. The Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust is a private nonprofit organization established in 2004 to promote innovation, technology transfer and commercialization, and job creation in the technology sector. Its mission is to advance Puerto Rico’s economy and residents’ well-being through innovation-driven enterprises, science, technology, research, and public health. The STEM & Puerto Rico Emerging Workforce Transformation Program provides accessible learning opportunities for students, teachers, and professionals through formal and informal education, capacity building, workforce development, partnerships, and policy advocacy.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a STEM field, or in education or education innovation with a STEM focus.
At least five years of professional experience leading a program or comparable initiative, including management of 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 the 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 communication ability in both English and Spanish with stakeholders, sponsors, academic and government representatives, and industry executives.

Nice To Haves

PhD in a STEM-related area.

Responsibilities

Develop, communicate, and maintain Puerto Rico’s five-year STEM and workforce transformation strategic plan, using plans from other jurisdictions as references.
Support the development and deployment of Puerto Rico’s Future Workforce Strategy; enable statewide workforce foresight and identify skills and occupations important to 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 inform program decisions and measure impact.
Design, launch, and support STEM and workforce programs in areas including science, biotechnology, AI literacy, technology, data science, and robotics, as well as summer camps and in-school activities.
Build industry-aligned talent pipelines connecting K-12 schools, 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 make project activities complementary and avoid duplication.
Ensure program design is evidence-based and informed by national and international best practices in STEM education and emerging workforce transformation.
Research and submit proposals to foundations, corporate entities, and federal agencies to secure program funding, 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 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.