Associate Director for Outreach and Engagement

Job Summary

The University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences Center (ASC) is a statewide leader in multidisciplinary research, education, and outreach focused on the protection and sustainable use of Wisconsin’s water resources.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Serves as a unit liaison to internal stakeholder groups to foster cross-unit partnership efforts regarding research programs and activities
• Manages large research projects for a center or program
• 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 (FTE) employees
• Collaborates with project directors and the full range of clients whose knowledge and expertise vary
• Strategic Program Leadership and Active Research: Provide the overarching vision, implementation, and supervision of ASC’s statewide outreach and engagement portfolio. If applicable, maintain an active program of independent or collaborative scholarly research, including securing external grants and publishing peer-reviewed findings. Align the center’s outreach and engagement capabilities with emerging freshwater challenges, state and federal program goals, and regional partnership networks.
• Serves as a consultant to project directors and provides technical expertise to research and operational personnel
• Determines unit personnel needs and the unit personnel resource allocation plan

Required Qualifications

• At least 5 years of professional experience in program or project management within research, extension, outreach, or a related field
• At least 3 years of experience supervising, mentoring, and developing personnel, with demonstrated ability to lead teams toward shared goals
• Experience managing budgets, grants, or complex projects with multiple stakeholders
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience engaging with community members on a shared interest or project

Preferred Qualifications

• 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in extension, outreach, or applied research programs
• Demonstrated success integrating research, education, and outreach to achieve measurable impacts
• Experience securing and managing external funding, including federal grants (e.g., NOAA, USGS, or similar)
• Experience working in coastal, freshwater, or Great Lakes systems and communities
• Experience with strategic planning, program evaluation, and reporting
• Demonstrated success building partnerships across academic, governmental, Tribal, nonprofit, and community organizations
• Experience with the full spectrum of community engaged research, from translating scientific or technical information for non-technical audiences, to working alongside community members on community driven projects where community agency, autonomy, and self-determination are valued and centered.
• Familiarity with Sea Grant, Water Resources Institutes, or similar statewide or national programs

Department

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, Aquatic Sciences Center

Compensation

The starting salary for the position is $100,000 (but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications). Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.

Contact Information

Traudy Hanke, tracy.hanke@aqua.wisc.edu, (608) 262-7618