Dairy Business Mentor

University of Wisconsin Madison; Bowens Addition (WI); Remote; USD 40,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A major educational institution is seeking a Dairy Business Mentor to provide mentorship and outreach, particularly to DBIA grant recipients. This part-time remote role involves advising on business growth strategies. Ideal candidates should have extensive dairy management experience and exhibit consultative skills. Travel primarily within Wisconsin is expected.

Benefits

Generous vacation and holidays

Competitive insurances and savings accounts

Retirement benefits

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in a management or executive capacity in the dairy industry.
• Experience in dairy plant operations in financial management, human resources, or market strategies.

Responsibilities

• Leads the implementation of outreach programs and activities.
• Schedules and secures resources for outreach initiatives.
• Assesses and manages outreach program budget spending.
• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs.
• Identifies and maintains external partnerships for support.

Skills

Dairy industry management experience

Financial management

Human resources

Consultative approach

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Overview

The Center for Dairy Research (CDR) is seeking a Dairy Business Mentor to support a growing innovative unit on the UW-Madison campus. Housed in a new, state-of-the-art facility in Babcock Hall, CDR is the largest dairy foods research program in the US. The Center has over 60 full-time staff, supports graduate and undergraduate research, and provides technical and training support services to hundreds of dairy producers and processers around the globe. CDR is home to the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (https://dbia.wisc.edu/). In partnership with the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, the DBIA administers programs providing technical assistance as well as grants to dairy farms and businesses in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

The CDR is currently seeking two (2) Dairy Business Mentors to provide mentorship and outreach to the dairy industry, specifically DBIA grant recipients, to help them accelerate their business growth. This role is responsible for reaching out to DBIA grant recipients, understanding their specific needs in terms of business acceleration, and providing advice and resources to support those needs including financial management, human resources, leadership, operations, business expansion, growth opportunities, diversification planning, etc. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience at a management or executive level in the dairy industry. They will have played a key role in dairy plant operations including financial management, human resources, market strategies, and/or expansion projects. They will exhibit a consultative approach to developing relationships and have deep knowledge of the Wisconsin dairy landscape and its key stakeholders. This is a part time remote role that includes travel to dairy producers in Wisconsin primarily, and potentially within the 11 state region.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members

Department

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Center for Dairy Research - Administration

Compensation

The minimum starting salary for this position is the equivalent of $80,000 annually, translating to $40,000 for a .5 FTE appointment. Final salary will be based on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Additional benefits information can be found at: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in a management or executive capacity in the dairy industry
• Experience in dairy plant operations including at least one of the following areas: financial management, human resource, market strategies, or expansion projects

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working as a consultant

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

How to Apply

Click the "Apply" button to start the application process. You will be prompted to upload the following documents/application materials:

• Resume (required) - Detail your educational and professional background
• Cover letter (required) - Refer to your related work experience

It\'s important that your cover letter and resume reflect your experience for this position related to the qualifications identified. Your application materials will be used during our evaluation to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of the appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.

Contact Information

Madeilene Hoffman, [e-mail], 608 265 2951

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Diversity and Equal Opportunity

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. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).