SimLab Outreach Program Associate Director

UWMSN University of Wisconsin Madison; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

UW-Madison seeks an Outreach Program Associate Director to advance partnerships, visibility, and growth for the Simulation Lab. Reporting to the SimLab Director, you will manage external relationships, lead strategic outreach initiatives, and coordinate communications and publications to broad audiences.

The role emphasizes collaboration with campus units, districts, foundations, and industry partners, and requires a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field along with strong leadership and

Qualifications

• Proven ability to build and sustain partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience leading strategic initiatives and complex projects with multiple partners.
• Knowledge of outreach, stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, marketing, and partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategies to expand partnerships, visibility, and long-term sustainability.
• Represent the SimLab in meetings, conferences, and professional organizations.
• Lead marketing, communications, and publication efforts to raise awareness.
• Coordinate strategic projects across WCER, School of Education, and external partners.
• Assist with funding, sponsorship, and outreach opportunities; support proposals.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic communications

Marketing

Partnership development

Relationship management

Project management

Policy and governance

Organizational leadership

Microsoft Office

Education

Master's degree or higher in Educational Policy or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category: Academic Staff

Employment Type: Regular

Job Profile: Outreach Program Associate Director (B)

Job Summary

The Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) seeks an Outreach Program Associate Director to support the strategic growth, visibility, and long-term success of the Simulation Lab (SimLab). The UW SimLab’s vision is to set a global standard for the training and assessment of professionals’ interaction skills during challenging situations. The SimLab seeks to bring transformative change to professional training and assessment. Rather than relying on idiosyncratic field-based placements for learning skilled professional practices, the SimLab uses modern assessment design, AI, and evidence-based professional learning approaches to provide learning environments that can be controlled and studied. The SimLab supports the development of multidisciplinary professionals’ inclusive and evidence-based professional practices. By helping instructors and researchers develop, use, and analyze interaction-based tasks for instructional and research purposes, the lab encourages professionals’ exploration, professional self‑efficacy, understanding of professional practice, and capability in enacting transformative skills. Reporting to the SimLab Director, this position develops and advances strategic partnerships, leads business engagement initiatives, and coordinates communications and outreach efforts that expand the SimLab's impact across the university and beyond. The Outreach Program Associate Director serves as the primary relationship manager for the SimLab, cultivating and maintaining partnerships with campus units, school districts, foundations and funding organizations, professional associations, industry collaborators, and other external stakeholders. This position leads strategic projects, develops marketing and communication strategies, coordinates publications and promotional efforts, supports funding and business development opportunities, and represents the SimLab at the campus, regional, and national levels. Working collaboratively with faculty, researchers, WCER leadership, and external partners, the Outreach Program Associate Director plays a critical role in advancing the SimLab's mission, expanding its network of collaborators, and increasing awareness of its innovative work in simulation-based professional learning.

Responsibilities

Outreach, Engagement & Partnership Development

Develop and implement strategies that expand the SimLab's partnerships, visibility, and long-term sustainability. Build, cultivate, and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including campus leadership, faculty, school districts, healthcare organizations, professional associations, nonprofit organizations, industry collaborators, and funding partners. Identify and pursue opportunities to establish new partnerships that advance the SimLab's strategic priorities and organizational growth. Represent the SimLab in meetings, conferences, professional organizations, and other engagement activities to strengthen relationships and increase organizational visibility.

Marketing, Communications, & Publications

Develop and implement strategic marketing and communication plans that increase awareness of the SimLab's mission, programs, research, and impact. Coordinate publications, promotional materials, presentations, newsletters, website content, digital communications, and other outreach initiatives. Collaborate with WCER communications staff to promote SimLab accomplishments, events, partnerships, and innovations. Ensure consistent messaging and branding across communication channels and stakeholder audiences.

Strategic Project Leadership

Lead and coordinate strategic initiatives that support the continued growth and expansion of the SimLab. Facilitate collaboration across WCER, the School of Education, campus partners, and external organizations to achieve project objectives. Evaluate processes and recommend improvements that enhance organizational effectiveness, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development. Develop policies, procedures, and institutional agreements on behalf of the lab.

Organizational Growth & Strategic Initiatives

Identify and support funding, sponsorship, partnership, and outreach opportunities that advance the SimLab's strategic priorities. Assist in developing proposals, collaborative initiatives, and partnership opportunities that strengthen the SimLab's long‑term sustainability. Support strategic planning efforts that expand the SimLab's regional and national presence and increase organizational impact.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Develops organizational and operational policies and procedures and monitors performance to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
• Assists with developing and monitoring the budget.
• Directs long‑range and short‑term strategic plans and initiatives to further the growth of the outreach program.
• Reviews recommendations for and provides input on the design and development of new outreach programs or services.
• Serves as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information and representing the interests of the unit.
• 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.

Compensation

Minimum: $100,000; Commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax‑advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to develop, cultivate, and sustain collaborative partnerships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience leading strategic initiatives, organizational development efforts, or complex projects involving multiple partners and competing priorities.
• Knowledge of outreach, stakeholder engagement, relationship management, strategic communications, marketing, and partnership development.
• Demonstrated experience developing written communications including reports, presentations, publications, promotional materials, website content, or other communication products.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to engage technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus, influence stakeholders, and foster collaborative relationships without direct supervisory authority.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple initiatives and meet deadlines.
• Ability to identify opportunities that strengthen outreach, partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and organizational impact.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite and other business technology applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education, research centers, nonprofit organizations, or similarly complex environments.
• Experience developing strategic partnerships that support organizational growth, innovation, or program expansion.
• Experience developing and implementing marketing, communication, or stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Experience supporting grant development, sponsored projects, outreach initiatives, partnership development, or external funding opportunities.
• Experience representing an organization through presentations, conferences, professional organizations, or external networking activities.
• Knowledge of educational research, simulation-based learning, educational technology, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, mixed reality, or related fields.
• Experience coordinating interdisciplinary initiatives involving faculty, researchers, community organizations, government agencies, or industry partners.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices through collaborative partnerships and organizational engagement.

Education

Master’s degree or higher in Educational Policy, Public Policy, or similar area.

Contact Information

Jessica Tierney, SimLab Operations Manager, [e-mail]

Institutional Statement on Diversity

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 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, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website. 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). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department. Work with purpose, make an impact, and grow your career. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is committed to equity, inclusion and employee well-being as we proudly work to improve the lives of people in Wisconsin and beyond. UW-Madison offers a wide range of professions that cover various interests and skill levels. We employ everything from accountants to arborists, chefs to custodians, editors to electricians, graphic designers to groundskeepers, HR associates to HVAC technicians, librarians to locksmiths, mechanics to medical assistants, painters to police officers, web designers to welders, and absolutely everything in between! No matter what you are looking for professionally, chances are you will not only find it but will thrive at it while working at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.