SimLab Outreach Program Associate Director

University of Wisconsin Madison • Madison, WI

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) seeks an Outreach Program Associate Director to support the strategic growth, visibility, and long-term success of the Simulation Lab (SimLab). The UW SimLab’s vision is to set a global standard for the training and assessment of professionals’ interaction skills during challenging situations. The SimLab seeks to bring transformative change to professional training and assessment. Rather than relying on idiosyncratic field-based placements for learning skilled professional practices, the SimLab uses modern assessment design, AI, and evidence-based professional learning approaches to provide learning environments that can be controlled and studied. The SimLab supports the development of multidisciplinary professionals’ inclusive and evidence-based professional practices. By helping instructors and researchers develop, use, and analyze interaction-based tasks for instructional and research purposes, the lab encourages professionals’ exploration, professional self-efficacy, understanding of professional practice, and capability in enacting transformative skills. Reporting to the SimLab Director, this position develops and advances strategic partnerships, leads business engagement initiatives, and coordinates communications and outreach efforts that expand the SimLab's impact across the university and beyond. The Outreach Program Associate Director serves as the primary relationship manager for the SimLab, cultivating and maintaining partnerships with campus units, school districts, foundations and funding organizations, professional associations, industry collaborators, and other external stakeholders. This position leads strategic projects, develops marketing and communication strategies, coordinates publications and promotional efforts, supports funding and business development opportunities, and represents the SimLab at the campus, regional, and national levels. Working collaboratively with faculty, researchers, WCER leadership, and external partners, the Outreach Program Associate Director plays a critical role in advancing the SimLab's mission, expanding its network of collaborators, and increasing awareness of its innovative work in simulation-based professional learning.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to develop, cultivate, and sustain collaborative partnerships with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Experience leading strategic initiatives, organizational development efforts, or complex projects involving multiple partners and competing priorities
• Knowledge of outreach, stakeholder engagement, relationship management, strategic communications, marketing, and partnership development.
• Demonstrated experience developing written communications including reports, presentations, publications, promotional materials, website content, or other communication products
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to engage technical and non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus, influence stakeholders, and foster collaborative relationships without direct supervisory authority
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple initiatives and meet deadlines
• Ability to identify opportunities that strengthen outreach, partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and organizational impact.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite and other business technology applications

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in higher education, research centers, nonprofit organizations, or similarly complex environments
• Experience developing strategic partnerships that support organizational growth, innovation, or program expansion
• Experience developing and implementing marketing, communication, or stakeholder engagement strategies
• Experience supporting grant development, sponsored projects, outreach initiatives, partnership development, or external funding opportunities.
• Experience representing an organization through presentations, conferences, professional organizations, or external networking activities
• Knowledge of educational research, simulation-based learning, educational technology, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, mixed reality, or related fields
• Experience coordinating interdisciplinary initiatives involving faculty, researchers, community organizations, government agencies, or industry partners
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices through collaborative partnerships and organizational engagement

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies that expand the SimLab's partnerships, visibility, and long-term sustainability.
• Build, cultivate, and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including campus leadership, faculty, school districts, healthcare organizations, professional associations, nonprofit organizations, industry collaborators, and funding partners.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to establish new partnerships that advance the SimLab's strategic priorities and organizational growth.
• Represent the SimLab in meetings, conferences, professional organizations, and other engagement activities to strengthen relationships and increase organizational visibility.
• Develop and implement strategic marketing and communication plans that increase awareness of the SimLab's mission, programs, research, and impact.
• Coordinate publications, promotional materials, presentations, newsletters, website content, digital communications, and other outreach initiatives.
• Collaborate with WCER communications staff to promote SimLab accomplishments, events, partnerships, and innovations.
• Ensure consistent messaging and branding across communication channels and stakeholder audiences.
• Lead and coordinate strategic initiatives that support the continued growth and expansion of the SimLab.
• Facilitate collaboration across WCER, the School of Education, campus partners, and external organizations to achieve project objectives.
• Evaluate processes and recommend improvements that enhance organizational effectiveness, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development.
• Develop policies, procedures, and institutional agreements on behalf of the lab.
• Identify and support funding, sponsorship, partnership, and outreach opportunities that advance the SimLab's strategic priorities.
• Assist in developing proposals, collaborative initiatives, and partnership opportunities that strengthen the SimLab's long-term sustainability.
• Support strategic planning efforts that expand the SimLab's regional and national presence and increase organizational impact.
• Directs long-range and short-term strategic plans and initiatives to further the growth of the outreach program.
• Assists with developing and monitoring the budget.
• Develops organizational and operational policies and procedures and monitors performance to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
• 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.
• Serves as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information and representing the interests of the unit.
• Reviews recommendations for and provides input on the design and development of new outreach programs or services.

Benefits

• generous paid time off
• competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance
• tax-advantaged savings accounts
• participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager