Experiential Learning Director
Job Summary
The College of Science is seeking an experienced leader to direct a
complex and rapidly expanding experiential learning enterprise at
the University of Utah. The Science Research Initiative (SRI) is
the College's signature undergraduate research program that has
grown into a large, sophisticated organization poised to provide
meaningful hands-on research experiences to all incoming College of
Science students in their first year on campus. A recent expansion
includes the SRI Career Accelerator Program (SRI-CAP), which
provides juniors and seniors with professional and technical skills
development and industry connections. In addition to a small number
of permanent staff, the program is supported by a team of more than
a dozen SRI Fellows, postdocs who lead research streams and support
an associated structured course. SRI has grown tremendously since
its inception in 2020, with SRI and SRI-CAP currently serving
approximately 650 undergraduate students per year. Substantial
additional growth is projected. Beyond SRI, this position will be
responsible for other related experiential learning programs in the
college, including the ACCESS Scholars Program, a multi-year cohort
program that supports students in becoming leaders in their
scientific disciplines and beyond. We seek a visionary and
experienced Director who will help shape the future of these
programs during their next stage of development.
The next phase of maturation for College of Science experiential
learning programs requires strategic leadership to provide
direction and vision, cultivate partnerships with internal and
external stakeholders, and establish operational processes
necessary to successfully scale up to serve the growing population
of students. This position will work with college leadership to
develop, refine, implement, and scale novel experiential learning
opportunities for science and mathematics students at the
University of Utah.
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience leading
complex educational programs, building organizational
infrastructure, and developing high-performing teams.
The College of Science at the University of Utah is a leading
academic division dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge
through innovative research, rigorous education, and community
engagement. It encompasses eight academic units and several
interdisciplinary programs that foster collaboration across
scientific disciplines, including the Wilkes Center for Climate
Science and Policy, the Center for Science and Mathematics
Education, and the Henry Eyring Center for Cell and Genome Science.
With state-of-the-art facilities and a strong emphasis on
undergraduate research and graduate training, the College prepares
students for impactful careers in academia, industry, medicine, and
beyond.
The University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, one of the
most livable cities in the western United States, which blends
genuine urban amenities with unmatched access to the outdoors.
World-class skiing at Alta, Snowbird, Park City, and Deer Valley is
minutes from campus, alongside hiking, biking, and five national
parks within a few hours' drive. The city offers great
neighborhoods, excellent schools, a vibrant dining and arts scene,
and a full slate of professional sports — the Utah Jazz, Utah
Mammoth, Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals and the Salt Lake Bees — plus
the energy of University of Utah athletics right on campus.
Start date for this position is negotiable.
Program Management
Direct/Manage/Supervise the design and implementation of programs
that carry out the mission of the university. Develop strategies
and goals to create programs offering the greatest impact to the
community. Determine short- and long-term program plans to meet
organization goals. Oversee the coordination and daily work
activities of the programs. Represent the interest of assigned
program participants, both inside and outside of the organization.
Manage volunteers, members, and staff.
Learn more about the great benefits of working for
University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu
The department may choose to hire at any of the below job
levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and
budget.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Vision
- Provide strategic direction for experiential learning
opportunities, including the SRI, SRI-CAP and ACCESS Scholars,
aligning program goals with College and University priorities for
student success and experiential learning.
Lead planning efforts to sustainably scale the programs to
accommodate increasing student enrollment and participation while
maintaining program quality and impact.
Develop and implement a long-term vision for experiential
learning across the College of Science that serves students
throughout their undergraduate journey and prepares them for
success in their careers.
Develop, refine, and implement new experiences to accommodate
shifts in student interests and enrollment growth.
Pursue extramural funding opportunities to support program
growth, expansion, and sustainability.
Organizational Structure and Operations
- Establish clear organizational structure, roles, and
responsibilities for staff members, postdocs, and program
leadership to optimize team effectiveness.
- Design and implement operational processes, systems, and
workflows necessary to support a sophisticated, large-scale
experiential learning enterprise.
- Develop scalable program structures and standardized procedures
that can accommodate continued growth.
- Create metrics and assessment frameworks to evaluate program
outcomes and impact, operational efficiency, and areas for
improvement.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the SRI and related
programs in the College of Science, representing these programs to
internal and external stakeholders.
Program Management and Development
- Oversee all programmatic aspects of the SRI, SRI-CAP, ACCESS
Scholars and related experiential learning initiatives in the
College of Science, ensuring cohesive pathways for students from
first-year research experiences through upper-level professional
development opportunities.
- Provide strategic vision and oversight of the recruitment and
development of new SRI research streams, ensuring that prospective
stream leaders are supported in their design and implementation of
projects, mentoring of students, and logistics.
- Maintain and update mentor training materials and professional
development resources to support stream leaders and others in
mentorship roles.
- Ensure alignment of skills developed through experiential
learning programs with career pathways and employment
opportunities.
- Cultivate and steward internal and external relationships to
support programmatic goals, including with local industry partners;
grow industry connections and internship opportunities in
collaboration with existing initiatives.
- Implement meaningful cohort experiences for all SRI and ACCESS
participants.
Team Leadership and Supervision
- Serve as direct supervisor for members of the SRI leadership
team, Program Manager, and other program staff, providing clear
direction, performance feedback, and professional development
opportunities.
- Build and maintain a collaborative, high-performing team
culture that supports innovation, accountability, and continuous
improvement.
- Coordinate the work of staff and postdocs to ensure efficient
operations and eliminate duplication of effort.
- Foster collegiality and collaboration across the program and
within the broader College of Science community.
Student Engagement and Assessment
- Provide direction in the recruitment of students to
experiential learning opportunities; work with college staff to
develop strategies that increase program participation and student
success.
- Lead efforts to assess program impact on participants, using
data to inform continuous program improvement.
- Support a culture of safety in all SRI research
facilities.
- Ensure programs are meeting programmatic goals, serving the
needs of College of Science students, and aligned with college and
institutional priorities.
Resource Stewardship
- Serve as a responsible steward of College and University
resources, maximizing impact and efficiency.
- Work collaboratively with College of Science leadership to
identify resource needs and opportunities for program
enhancement.
- Uphold the core values of the College of Science in all aspects
of program leadership.
Reasonable changes to responsibilities based on clearly articulated
expectations are in the purview of the supervisor.
Director, Program
ManagementDirect/Manage/Supervise the design and
implementation of programs that carry out the mission of the
university. Develop strategies and goals to create programs
offering the greatest impact to the community. Determine short- and
long-term program plans to meet organization goals. Oversee the
coordination and daily work activities of the programs. Represent
the interest of assigned program participants, both inside and
outside of the organization. Manage volunteers, members, and staff.
First-level director. Assists executives and/or senior directors in
defining organizational goals and strategic plans. Extensive
business knowledge with comprehensive understanding of the
organization and functional area.Requires a bachelor's (or
equivalency) + 12 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 10 years
of directly related work experience.This is a Director-Level
position in the Management track.Job Code: M23706Grade: M21Expected
Pay Range: $120,000 - $140,000
Minimum Qualifications
EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education
can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience
(Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work
experience).
Department may hire employee at one of the following job
levels:
Director, Program Management: Requires a
bachelor's (or equivalency) + 12 years or a master's (or
equivalency) + 10 years of directly related work experience.
Preferences
- Doctoral degree in science, education, or a related field.
- Experience with undergraduate research programs or experiential
learning initiatives in higher education.
- Track record of successful grant writing and securing external
funding.
- Experience working in a research university setting.
- Knowledge of career development and professional preparation
for STEM students.
- Familiarity with assessment and evaluation of educational
programs.
Special Instructions
Requisition Number: PRN44981B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: Traditional office hours (8 am to 5
pm), Monday through Friday with some evening and weekend
commitments, as necessary.
Department: 00113 - College of Science-Dean
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: $120,000 - $140,000
Close Date: 12/31/2026
Open Until Filled:
To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/9746031"">https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/201704
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