Professor of Practice & Manufacturing Extension Program Director

University of Mississippi; Mississippi; On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Mississippi seeks a Professor of Practice & Manufacturing Extension Program Director to lead CME's manufacturing extension activities, connecting university resources with Mississippi manufacturers to boost performance and competitiveness.

The role blends leadership with teaching, curriculum development, applied scholarship, and outside funding development to grow services, measure impact, and advance workforce excellence.

Qualifications

• PhD is required for the role.
• Experience leading projects and teams in manufacturing or education.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for CME's manufacturing extension program.
• Build and maintain relationships with manufacturers, industry partners, economic development and workforce agencies.
• Identify manufacturing needs and develop training, technical assistance and applied projects.
• Develop and deliver programs in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement and operations strategy.
• Coordinate CME faculty, staff, students and external experts in support of industry projects.
• Teach CME graduate and undergraduate courses and contribute to curriculum development.
• Mentor students in industry-sponsored projects and applied scholarship.
• Pursue external funding through grants, contracts, sponsorships and other revenue sources.

Skills

Project Management

Leadership

Education

PhD (Required)

Job description

Department

The Center for Manufacturing Excellence's (CME)

Job Summary

Performs duties in instruction, including the teaching of practical skills and demonstrating best professional practices. Not eligible for tenure.

Job Description

The Professor of Practice & Manufacturing Extension Program Director provides leadership for the Center for Manufacturing Excellence's (CME) manufacturing extension and industry engagement activities. The position connects University expertise, educational resources, faculty, and students with manufacturers throughout Mississippi and the region to strengthen organizational performance, workforce capability, operational excellence, and competitiveness. As a Professor of Practice, the individual also contributes to CME's academic mission through teaching, applied scholarship, student engagement, and curriculum development. The position is practice oriented and is not expected to conduct traditional academic research. The rank of the Professor of Practice appointment will be determined based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and relevant professional experience. The Program Director develops, leads, and grows a comprehensive manufacturing extension program responsive to the needs of manufacturers and other industry partners. Working collaboratively with CME faculty and staff, industry, and economic and workforce development partners, the incumbent identifies industry needs and develops training, technical assistance, professional education, applied projects, and other services to address those needs. The position will emphasize industry engagement, operational excellence and continuous improvement, applied problem solving, external funding, professional and graduate education, and measurable extension impact. The Program Director will also teach graduate and undergraduate courses consistent with the individual's expertise and support CME's Graduate Certificate in Operational Excellence and related academic and professional programs.

Examples of Work Performed

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for CME's manufacturing extension program and develop a sustainable structure and portfolio of industry-facing services.
• Build and maintain relationships with manufacturers, industry associations, economic development organizations, workforce development agencies, and other external partners.
• Identify manufacturing needs and develop customized or scalable training, technical assistance, and applied problem-solving initiatives.
• Develop and deliver programs in areas such as Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, operational excellence, project management, manufacturing leadership, supply chain, and operations strategy, consistent with the individual's expertise.
• Coordinate CME faculty, staff, students, University resources, and external subject-matter experts in support of industry projects and extension activities.
• Teach CME graduate and undergraduate courses and contribute to curriculum development to include online coursework and course/program assessment.
• Mentor and engage students in industry sponsored projects, applied scholarship, internships, and other experiential learning activities.
• Produce and disseminate practice oriented applied scholarship, including industry case studies, technical reports, professional presentations, instructional materials, and best practice resources.
• Identify and pursue grants, contracts, sponsorships, fee-based programming, and other external funding to support and expand manufacturing extension activities.
• Establish measures of program effectiveness and communicate extension outcomes and impact to industry partners, University leadership, funding organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Represent CME and the University at manufacturing conferences, industry meetings, professional organizations, and economic development activities.
• Identify emerging manufacturing trends, technologies, workforce challenges, and practices and translate them into new CME programs, services, and educational opportunities.

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Education Qualifications

PhD (Required)

Experience

Project Management

Interview Requirement

Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called for an interview must notify the Department of Equal Opportunity/Regulatory Compliance in writing of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

EEO Statement

The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in any employment practice, education program, or education activity to all qualified persons. The University complies with all applicable laws regarding equal opportunity and affirmative action and does not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based upon race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.

Background Check Statement

The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safe campus community. UM conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.