SimLab Outreach Program Associate Director

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Wisconsin.

📋 Description

• Create and implement strategies to enhance the SimLab's partnerships, visibility, and long-term viability.

• Establish, nurture, and sustain relationships with campus leadership, faculty, school districts, healthcare organizations, professional associations, nonprofit entities, industry collaborators, and funding partners.

• Identify and seek out new partnerships that further strategic objectives and organizational growth.

• Represent the SimLab at meetings, conferences, professional organizations, and engagement activities.

• Formulate and execute strategic marketing and communication plans.

• Oversee publications, promotional materials, presentations, newsletters, website content, digital communications, and other outreach initiatives.

• Collaborate with WCER communications staff to highlight SimLab achievements, events, partnerships, and innovations.

• Ensure uniform messaging and branding across communication platforms and stakeholder groups.

• Lead and coordinate strategic initiatives to support the growth and expansion of the SimLab.

• Facilitate collaboration among WCER, the School of Education, campus partners, and external organizations.

• Assess processes and propose enhancements to organizational effectiveness, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development.

• Develop policies, procedures, and institutional agreements on behalf of the lab.

• Identify and facilitate funding, sponsorship, partnership, and outreach opportunities.

• Assist in crafting proposals, collaborative initiatives, and partnership opportunities.

• Support strategic planning to enhance regional and national presence and organizational impact.

• Direct both long-range and short-term strategic plans and initiatives.

• Assist in developing and monitoring the budget.

• Monitor performance to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.

• Exercise supervisory authority over at least 2.0 FTE employees.

• Act as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups.

⛳️ Requirements

• Proven ability to develop, foster, and maintain collaborative partnerships with a diverse range of 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 in creating written communications including reports, presentations, publications, promotional materials, website content, or other communication products.

• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the capacity to engage both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Proven ability to build consensus, influence stakeholders, and cultivate 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 enhance outreach, partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and organizational impact.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other business technology applications.

• Master’s degree or higher in Educational Policy, Public Policy, or a related field.

• Preferred: experience in higher education, research centers, nonprofit organizations, or similarly complex environments.

• Preferred: experience in developing strategic partnerships that foster organizational growth, innovation, or program expansion.

• Preferred: experience in creating and implementing marketing, communication, or stakeholder engagement strategies.

• Preferred: experience in supporting grant development, sponsored projects, outreach initiatives, partnership development, or external funding opportunities.

• Preferred: experience in representing an organization through presentations, conferences, professional organizations, or external networking activities.

• Preferred: knowledge of educational research, simulation-based learning, educational technology, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, mixed reality, or related fields.

• Preferred: experience in coordinating interdisciplinary initiatives involving faculty, researchers, community organizations, government agencies, or industry partners.

• Preferred: a demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices through collaborative partnerships and organizational engagement.

🏝️ Benefits

• Generous paid time off.

• Competitively priced health, dental, vision, and life insurance.

• Tax-advantaged savings accounts.

• Participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.