Job Opportunity: Director – Center for STEM Education and Outreach, James Madison University
James Madison University is seeking a Director for its Center for STEM Education and Outreach. The Center, founded in 2008 is transitioning from part-time leadership to a full-time director in order to bolster high-quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for all K-16 students. The STEM Center works with JMU students, K-12 educators, university faculty and staff, parents, policymakers and the general public by supporting high quality curriculum and professional development and sharing the many resources of JMU (i.e. facilities, time, faculty, staff, and students) with schools across Virginia. The STEM Center serves to collaborate and connect on campus faculty, staff, students as well as K-12 educational partners with internal and external partners on sponsored projects to improve STEM learning and teaching.
The Center for STEM Education and Outreach serves as the primary point of contact for STEM educational outreach programs and resources available at JMU by:
• offering on and off-campus opportunities for students, parents, and educators designed to increase STEM literacy and improve STEM education
• sponsoring events and activities to bring interested parties together and to feature best practices and innovations developed across the country in STEM Education
• serving as an organizing point for large-scale projects on campus to help improve STEM education across the educational system
• connecting a network of like-minded individuals and partners to create opportunities to develop solutions for the issues related to STEM education
As this is a new position, one aspect of the application process is for the applicant to submit a vision statement for the STEM Center. This statement should discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Director along with the vision of the applicant for the near- and long-term future of the STEM Center.
Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Provide day-to-day work direction for the Center, co-directors, support staff, projects, and oversee logistical support for activities
• Identify, develop, and maintain effective working relationships with administration, faculty, students, and community partners
• Originate new, different or creative solutions for the pressing needs within STEM education
• Manage project budgets and ensure accurate tracking
• Organize and plan STEM professional development workshops for K-12 and university faculty and staff
• Coordinate workshops centered on STEM student success and engagement
• Develop and deliver cohort-building programs and events to build community and support for K-12 educators and university faculty and staff
• Assist faculty leads with tracking students and participants, program evaluation and assessment, and other reports, presentations, and publications
• Develop strong web and social media presence for programs and services
• Participate in planning meetings and conference calls
Competitive candidates will have an earned doctorate in a STEM area with substantial experience in education and outreach, or an earned doctorate or equivalent experience in education, with MS-level background in a STEM field. In addition, management experience in an educational setting working in a collaborative environment, and experience with conceptualizing, authoring, and submitting proposals leading to securing grant, contract, or other externally funded resources is desired.
Priority will be given to candidates with strong communication skills in in oral and written formats in all media and experience with data collection and assessment. Experience with developing and coordinating successful STEM outreach programs for diverse populations is desired.
To apply go to http://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/2095 and complete the faculty profile and attach the following:
1. A cover letter explaining the candidate’s suitability for the position
2. A curriculum vitae
3. A vision statement for the STEM Center and Director position, as described in the general information section (as Other Document #1), and
4. Unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
Only completed submissions that are uploaded electronically to the JMU JobLink system will be considered.If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Dr. Kyle Gipson, search chair, at (gipsonkg@jmu.edu) or Dr. Bob Kolvoord, Dean of the College of Integrated Science and Engineering, at (kolvoora@jmu.edu)