Strategic Initiatives and Workforce Development Lead - National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for the Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture - Penn Engineering

University of Pennsylvania

About The Position

The Strategic Initiatives and Workforce Development Lead will serve as a senior advisor to Center Leadership, providing strategic analysis, operational insight, and high-level project management to advance the Center’s mission and long-term sustainability. Drive implementation of key strategic initiatives strengthening synergy across research, innovation, and workforce development components, and help guide positioning for diversified funding opportunities. Lead the Center’s workforce and education portfolio and direct its strategy, partnerships, and cross-site engagement. In collaboration with Leadership, oversee Center-wide outcome and impact reporting to meet current federal funding requirements and to support competitive applications for future funding and the building of strategic partnerships necessary for the Center’s legacy.

Requirements

Master’s degree in engineering, engineering education, or a related field and 5 to 7 years of related experience in higher education or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated excellent project management skills and experience
Exceptional written and oral communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact with and address diverse audiences from varying educational, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds.
Ability to exercise good judgment in a fast-paced environment, both independently and working collaboratively.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted advisor to the Director, Site Directors, Executive Committee and other relevant Center Leaders, providing analysis, insight, and recommendations on the Center’s strategic and operational matters to deliver on its Mission and Strategic Plan at a pace that meets or exceeds federal funding agency’s expectations.
Work with Center Leadership, and Communications, Development and other relevant units at Penn and the other Center Sites, to continually build the Center’s external-facing communications and messaging to reinforce the Center’s strategic priorities.
Identify and facilitate the Center’s positioning for funding opportunities that have potential to advance Center progress to independence from its current federal funding mechanism.
Act as a high-level project manager for the Center’s key special initiatives, especially for initiatives that develop and strengthen the synergy among the Center’s Foundational Components (i.e., research, innovation and workforce development)
Synthesize information from multiple internal and external stakeholders to support strategic decision-making and Center planning.
External Partnerships exploration and development (Lead for workforce component; Support Leadership team for research and innovation components)
Strategic engagement with the ERC network (Lead for workforce component; Support Leadership team for research and innovation components)
Contribute to the translation of Center activities, including the highlighting of relevant outcomes and future directions, for new federal, state, philanthropic, donor, and other novel funding initiatives and partnerships engagement
Support the Center Leadership team in understanding progress across initiatives, challenges, and alignment of goals across the Center
Lead the workforce development aspects for outcome and vision reporting for the current funding agency annual reporting and site visit requirements
Support the Center’s overall outcome and vision reporting for the current funding agency annual reporting and site visit requirements, including special projects to enhance procedural efficiencies and to increase capture rate of relevant Center outcomes and impact
Direct priorities and activities for the Center’s workforce/education component consistent with Center’s overall strategic plan and responsibilities above, including running the workforce E^3 Portfolio working group
High-level program, new project, and evolution of existing programs management, including, oversight and mentorship of Penn-based paid and volunteer contributors (i.e., students and staff), and Center-affiliates and volunteers at other Center Sites.
Stakeholder and Partnership development, including continued leveraging of the Center’s EWD Advisory Board expertise and external Evaluation Team, and strategic expansion of the Ag Sector/technology end-user components of the Center’s workforce-education activities to synergize with research and innovation efforts for end-user engagement

Benefits

Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare.
You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year.
In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility.
Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities.
From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff.
Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments.
Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.