South Metro-Salem STEM Hub Executive Director

Oregon Tech is seeking applications to fill the role of the South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership (SMSP) Executive Director, which is a leadership position within Oregon Tech, the South Metro-Salem Community, and Oregon. The partnership is a collaboration of school districts, community colleges, universities, out-of-school programs and business and community partners that is focused on increasing student access and success in STEM fields.

The STEM Hub Executive Director is a leadership position within Oregon Tech, the South Metro-Salem Community, and Oregon. The position involves coordination and communication with partners at all levels of organizations, from school districts administration and teachers, community colleges and universities and their faculty and staff, community-based organizations, communities of color, business executives and professional staff, private foundations and donors, and other STEM Hubs around the state and nation. The Executive Director must be self-directed and entrepreneurial as well as collaborative and inclusive of other viewpoints and expertise.

The STEM Hub Executive Director (ED) will work closely with the SMSP Executive Advisory Board (EAB) which will provide project direction, leadership, partnership development and nurturing, identify funding sources and partnerships through grant writing and raising private funds, oversight of program implementation, program evaluation, continuous improvement, and long-range planning. The ED will oversee resource (funding) acquisition and implementation of all program and project staff related to the core strategic efforts, including:

• Educator Professional Learning: areas of current emphasis include Regional STEM Leadership Team and associated Action Teams; Computer Science and Digital Literacy: Design Thinking for STEM Equity: K-8 Math Equity; High School Science for All (Conceptual Science Articulation); STEM Transformation Schools; NASA NW Earth and Space Science Pathways curriculum development
• Career-Connected Learning: areas of current emphasis include operation and expansion of Oregon Connections web-based virtual platform for industry-classroom connections; SMSP Industry Speed Networking; SMSP IGNITES Healthcare program; student internship and teacher externship projects
• Accelerated Learning: emphasis includes support for dual credit/accelerated credit efforts between K-12 and higher education partners; facilitation and support for K-12/post-secondary education efforts, including CTE pathways

The ED will coordinate at least quarterly meetings of the full partnership and the strategy work groups. The ED will interact with all partners to continuously update the SMSP Partnership Agreements that define the participation of each core partner.

Within Oregon Tech, the ED will report to the Vice Provost for Research and Academic Affairs, which is in academic reporting line to the Provost. The Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring involvement of faculty and staff at all Oregon Tech locations and following all of Oregon Tech’s policies and procedures. The ED will be fiscally accountable for all grants associated with SMSP, and for following the policies defined by the granting organization, Oregon Tech, and the federal and the State of Oregon laws.

The ED will also interface with sub awardees on grants, and with subcontractors for training, data collection, evaluation, and other professional services.

The ED will be responsible for ensuring the ongoing functionality of core strategic pillars: Educator Professional Learning, Career-Connected Learning, and Accelerated Learning. The ED will also actively participate in Oregon’s STEM Hub Network, collaborating and sharing effective practices with other STEM Hubs around the state.

Initial review of applications will begin on May 2, 2022. Applications will continue to be accepted after the initial review date until a sufficient applicant pool has been achieved or the position is filled. Therefore, at the discretion of the University, materials received after the initial review date may not receive full consideration.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education and teaching license, or master’s degree/PhD in STEM-related field.
• Bilingual
• Work experience in STEM industry or business
• Track record of cultivating and maintaining strong long-term relationships with industry and community partners
• Highly creative, innovative, resourceful, and flexible

Additional Requirements:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge and experience in education at any level or in a STEM field, such as engineering, healthcare, scientific research, or a technical career or trade.
• Strong leadership skills, including staff supervision, project management, program design, public speaking, positive inquiry, collaborative communication
• Solid organizational and project management skills, including experience developing work plans, timelines and budgets, and performance outcomes
• Ability to identify funding sources, write grants, pitch proposals, and raise private funds; knowledge of grants management and accounting practices
• Experience with developing effective measures, analyzing data and conducting program evaluations
• Knowledge of public contracting and fiscal accountability
• Demonstrated ability to write reports, incorporating data and graphics
• Ability to listen, collaborate and take input and direction from others
• Ability to engage with partners and sustain their interest and commitment to a cross-sector strategy, beyond their own school, district, or business
• Ability to work within a team environment to initiate and execute ideas
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
• Ability to take initiative, recognize opportunities, and develop and implement focused plans for executing on these opportunities
• Knowledge of collective impact theory of change, research on effective educational practices, logic models and strategic planning
• Ability to develop websites, newsletters, social media, and other communication tools
• Experience with staff oversight, volunteer training and supervision
• Bachelor (or higher) degree in STEM field or in education
• At least 3-5 years demonstrated experience in leading and implementing STEM programs

To apply, visit: https://jobs.oit.edu/postings/5058

Then, upload the following elements to your application.

A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position

A curriculum vitae/resume

A statement of your views/practices on diversity in education (upload under “other documents”)
For additional information, please contact: Carleen Drago, Search Committee Chair, at: carleen.drago@oit.edu

Oregon Tech is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. The University does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring, or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion or creed, sex or gender, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other basis in law.

Oregon Tech is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Office of Human Resource at 541-885-1028 or oithr@oit.edu.