Associate Director

Job Summary: The Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) is helping to solve one of the world’s greatest challenges: developing new sustainable technologies to meet society’s ever‑growing need for power, fuels, chemicals, and materials. WEI is committed to generating the knowledge and technologies that will speed up a more plentiful, resilient, and affordable energy future. The Institute assembles and supports cross-disciplinary teams that help expand foundational knowledge to address energy technology‑related challenges holistically. This strategy leads to transformative innovations and can form the basis for low‑cost solutions that open new markets, create jobs, and generate new economic opportunities for communities nationwide, while reducing the harmful impacts of producing power, fuels, and chemicals. In addition, WEI leadership in multi‑disciplinary research, education, and outreach acts as a nexus between campus researchers, scholars, government officials, industry, and community stakeholders. WEI taps expertise and resources at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to advance the principles of the Wisconsin Idea. Through its discovery, collaborative engagement, and technology development WEI moves society “Forward in Energy.” WEI is led by scientists and engineers committed to making major breakthroughs in the way we source and use energy. Specifically, WEI seeks to: 1) foster collaborative energy projects across sectors and disciplines, 2) prepare energy leaders of today and tomorrow, and 3) enhance public understanding of energy issues. The largest research program within WEI is the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center ( one of four Department of Energy‑funded Bioenergy Research Centers led by the University of Wisconsin–Madison with partners in the U.S. and Canada. The mission of this Center is to create biofuels and bioproducts that are economically viable and environmentally sustainable while reducing society’s dependence on fossil fuels. Key Job Responsibilities: Directs the development of large‑scale and high‑profile strategic planning initiatives and objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources and alignment with the strategic plan Develops operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and objectives Directs, plans, and implements efforts to build research teams and stakeholder networks, including workshops, meetings and other events and initiatives with internal and external participants Directs the implementation of participation in campaign and engagement efforts Serves as a liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information and representing the interests of the institution in the cultivation of industry and business partner relationships Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full‑time equivalent employees Maintains knowledge of significant developments in industry, stakeholders and stakeholder groups, science, public and private research funding, and regulations relevant to the research, education, and outreach mission of the center/institute Supervises and develops director‑level staff Develops and oversees the budget Department: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, Wisconsin Energy Institute Location: This position is located at the Wisconsin Energy Institute (1552 University Ave, Madison). Remote Work: This position is eligible for partial remote work, up to two days per week. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement. An RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high‑speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university‑provided computer. Transportation between home and assigned work location is not reimbursable and will be at the employee’s expense. Compensation: Starting salary will be based on experience and qualifications. Well‑qualified applicants can anticipate receiving a minimum offer of $140,000. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, paid time off, competitive insurances and savings accounts, and retirement benefits. Required Qualifications: A minimum of 6 years of senior‑level business engagement experience, with demonstrated success developing networks and collaborations with internal and external stakeholders. Experience working with industry connections to support research and other goals. Experience overseeing external relations, communications, and/or outreach processes and resources; ability to handle multiple and diverse projects, events and shifting priorities and deadlines. The ability to develop best practices and manage major process improvement initiatives in rapidly changing operations and research environments. Demonstrated skill and experience in effective policy development, strategic planning, change management, process improvement, and program development. Ability to manage, motivate, direct and lead effectively among a diverse group of scientific, technical and administrative personnel. Recognized use of discretion, tact and diplomacy of a senior manager. Superior oral, written and interpersonal skills as well as excellent presentation and organizational skills. Preferred Qualifications: Demonstrated experience working with government and private funding agencies and with complex university, federal, and private research grants. Education: Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Master’s Degree in a relevant science, technology, or business field highly preferred. Institutional Statement on Diversity and EEO: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW‑Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin‑Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin‑Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, ... (including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran) and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. #J-18808-Ljbffr