Director of STEM/Innovation Center

The Director of STEM/Innovation is responsible for all aspects of the Innovation Center, including strategic planning, the development and implementation of programs and events, the management of day-to-day operations, outreach, and fundraising. The Director provides a visionary plan that ensures growth for Carondelet as an institutional leader in STEM, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. The Director works with the Principal and Academic team to create programming at all levels and to promote, coordinate, and administer a mission-centered philosophy to ensure that students are provided opportunity for growth, innovative programming, and an excellent school experience.  The Director also works with the President and the Development team to create revenue streams and to build and maintain uses of the Innovation Center that put Carondelet High School at the forefront of the STEM/Innovation field. The Director models humble leadership, embraces possibility and innovation, delivers great, and inspires joy and gratitude in students and colleagues.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop key strategic initiatives and provide for long-term sustainable growth of the Innovation Center that will lead to a world-class, flexible, responsive, customer-friendly program.

• Develop and implement visionary programs and events to support and promote innovation and entrepreneurship at the Innovation Center and the mission of the school.

• Promote the Center both internally and externally to make it a focal point of innovation programming on a national level.

• Develop and grow relationships with outside constituencies who will support innovation and entrepreneurship at the Center as well as overarching initiatives and programs.

• Help develop an organizational and collaborative culture in the community that fosters innovation, professional growth, student engagement and an entrepreneurial mindset.

• Represents the Innovation Center and the school in the community and to all internal and external constituencies in a leadership role.

• Effectively markets school programs and use of the Innovation Center and Maker Space to ensure high enrollment and substantial use of these facilities.

• Pursue fundraising via use of the Innovation Center to ensure robust revenue streams.

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Center.

• Responsible for creating unique experiences for visitors to the Innovation Center and staying ahead of and anticipating their needs

• Support faculty member’s efforts to integrate instructional strategies, and multiple technologies that promote cooperative and project based learning through an interdisciplinary and STEAM curriculum.

• Create effective outreach with the community for the use of the Innovation Center for use during hours outside the realm of the school day in order to create revenue streams. This could include the creation of competitions, use of visiting professors and teachers, creating conference opportunities, developing a professional development institute, creating leadership programming and training, etc.

Administrative/Technical Responsibilities:

Innovation Center Coordinator:

• Operates within the approved budget for the Innovation Center and creates substantial revenue streams that provide short and long-term resources to advance the operations and goals of the Innovation Center.

• Develops and implements a fundraising plan, in conjunction with the Development Team, to actively engage donors and fund the work of the Innovation Center and school.

• Responsible for all logistics related to engagements and other events in the Innovation Center.

• Works closely with other departments and vendors that support engagement operations in the Innovation Center (Facilities, IT, Security, external vendors). Sources, schedules and manages all supporting services while visitors and third party vendors are onsite, including catering

• Point person for working with facilities team and Administrators to ensure that the Innovation Center is always in a ready state for clients or internal meetings. On point for arranging configurations including maintenance, set up and tear down of facility chairs, tables, etc.

• Plans and coordinates all Innovation Center related educational activities, including the purchasing and planned use of tools and resources, logistical planning, etc.

• Facilitates connections with other maker communities and external organizations that promote program participation and provide collaborative opportunities (such as Maker Fairs, workshops, hackathons, etc.)

• Acts as greeter and closer for all clients and visitors to the Innovation Center, including welcome escort, providing closing surveys, etc.

• Able to work a flexible schedule occasionally in order to support events that take place in the early morning or evening (advance notice is provided)

• Supervisor Expectations

• Has the ability and skills to engage and inspire the community and build effective programming that will create revenue streams through the Innovation Center and Maker Space

• Interacts with others in a positive and collegial manner

• Has the ability to speak to a group in clear, engaging and dynamic language

• Communicates clearly in written formats

• Is able to articulate the mission of the school as it pertains to the innovative programming and STEM related fields

• Is able to think strategically and collaboratively in implementing programs and in soliciting input and ideas

Qualifications

Requirements:

• BA in marketing/education, Masters preferred.

• Minimum of 3-5 years teaching experience or educational background preferred in either the sciences, engineering, technology and/or the arts, with a strong personal interest and exposure to all three areas, and the desire and skill to integrate across various disciplines

• 5-10 years business experience including at least 2 years of management experience or project management experience.

• Knowledge of and experience with current best-practice in inquiry and STEM education

• Knowledge of online educational websites, resources, platforms, and apps pertinent to the teaching of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics

• Varied professional experience in the educational field as well as in marketing and/or development.

• Exceptional entrepreneurial skills and a commitment to innovation

• Experience in writing and designing curriculum

• Ability to inspire and encourage creative. Innovative, entrepreneurial thinking