"Director for Community STEM Learning Center"

The inaugural Director for the Community STEM Learning Center will develop the Center as a recognizable and highly valuable contributor to STEM education and opportunities in the Tri-Cities. The Director will lead efforts to strengthen STEM educational opportunities and engagement on campus and within the Tri-Cities. This position is responsible for developing and implementing dynamic STEM programming, fostering partnerships with local organizations, higher education partners, school districts, and promoting access to STEM learning opportunities for all students in the Tri-Cities. The Director will serve as a collaborative and visionary leader, advocate, and a resource for STEM initiatives that drive workforce readiness in STEM fields and community engagement. This position reports to the Vice President for Communications & External Relations. The salary range for this position is $77,946-$86,159. Relocation expenses are part of the employment offer for the successful candidate if the candidate relocates to the Tri-Cities area from outside of a 175-mile radius.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead strategic STEM programs that support student access to hands-on STEM experiences and community engagement;
• Serve as an active member of the Advisory Committee contributing to the program development, strategic planning, and community engagement initiatives of the Center;
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and external stakeholders to design inclusive STEM activities and events;
• Establish relationships with local K–12 schools, STEM-related business and industry partners, and community groups;
• Pursue and secure grants and funding opportunities to sustain and grow STEM Learning Center initiatives;
• Supervise STEM Learning Center staff, volunteers, and student interns;
• Monitor program effectiveness through impact evidence (including attendance, partners, programs, and budget) through continuous evaluation. Identify areas of growth and strength;
• Develop a marketing and communication plan to promote STEM Learning Center resources and events;
• Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for learners of all ages and backgrounds;
• Manage STEM Learning Center facilities, equipment, and technology resources;
• Represent the STEM Learning Center at conferences, community forums, and professional development events; and
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an institutionally accredited college or university or equivalent combination of education and experience in a STEM field, education, public engagement, or related area;
• Experience designing and delivering educational or outreach programs for diverse audiences this may include paid roles, volunteer work, internships, or leadership in community initiatives;
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships with education partners in higher education and K-12, community groups, and industry organizations; and
• Commitment to fostering equity, inclusion, and access in STEM education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in STEM education, nonprofit management, or a related field from an institutionally accredited college or university;
• Familiarity with community college settings or informal STEM learning environments such as maker spaces or science centers;
• Knowledge of current STEM education trends, workforce needs, and emerging technologies;
• Experience writing and managing grants or funding proposals;
• Bilingual in English and Spanish; and
• Comfort with using data to evaluate impact and improve programming.

Competencies:

Support for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Reflecting CBC’s mission, vision and values, support initiatives that expand the human qualities that differentiate our workplace and educational setting. Demonstrate and advocate an understanding of differences, open mindedness, compassion, sensitivity and interest in differing viewpoints given the diverse population and show a deep commitment to the involvement of colleagues, students and community members to student experience and success honoring freedom of expression as fundamental to personal, professional and organizational growth; Yes, And”/Teamwork: Demonstrate a willingness to work with, and help others in completing job assignments, the ability to accept constructive criticism, and to cooperate with fellow employees and supervisors; demonstrate alignment with the "Yes, And" culture, (e.g., being present and listening, making each other look good, embracing change and failure and choosing positivity); Visionary Leadership: Create a clear, compelling vision. Communicate vision and gain commitment. Act in accordance with vision. Display passion and optimism. Mobilize others to fulfill the vision. Lead through influence, rather than authority, and take ownership and accountability for the area of responsibility and decisions made. Demonstrate confidence within area of expertise – promote a cooperative work environment. Ability to appropriately apply leadership techniques to motivate, develop and guide employees; Stakeholder Engagement: Convenes critical stakeholders in partnership and acts as the ‘hub’ for information, meetings, best practices and advising; Project Management: Manage projects by focusing attention on key priorities. Evaluate approaches, determine feasibility, and adjust plan as needed. Develop plans, coordinate projects and teams. Communicate changes and progress. Complete projects on time and on budget. Perform well without direct supervision. Do complex work independently. Follow tasks through to completion; Grants Management: Identifies grant and funding opportunities to support Center initiatives, oversees proposal writing and ensures contractual obligations are met; Conceptual Thinking: Have the ability to understand a situation or problem by identifying patterns or connections and addressing key underlying issues. Use past professional or technical training and experience, creativity, inductive reasoning, and intuitive processes to find potential solutions or valuable alternatives that may not be obviously related or easily identified. Think “outside the box” and; Oral & Written Communication: Speak clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations. Listen and get clarification. Respond well to questions. Demonstrate group presentation skills. Participate in meetings. Structure and convey information clearly and effectively through both formal and informal documents. Review and edit written work constructively. Ability to tailor to audience in mind.