Director of Wachholz Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Department

Workforce Development

Employment Type

Professional 12, $80,000 – $90,000 annually, depending on education and experience, 12 mos. per year, benefit-eligible, exempt

Unlock Exceptional Benefits at FVCC (Worth ~$25K)! You’ll receive generous employer contributions towards your Health/Vision & Dental, up to 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 12 holidays. Plus, build your future with the Montana Public Employee’s Retirement System and a 403(b) match up to 7%. And that’s not all – invest in your continued education when you explore Tuition Waiver benefits for you and your dependents!

Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Summary

The Wachholz Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an entrepreneurial hub and information clearinghouse, providing entrepreneurs and businesses with easy access to the programs, services, and resources they need to start, grow and scale their big ideas. The Wachholz Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is now seeking a dynamic and visionary Director to ensure the effectiveness and success of the center, along with alignment with the mission, vision, and purpose of the college.

Essential Functions

Leadership

• Develops and implements a strategic vision and sets the direction for the Wachholz Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in alignment with the College’s mission and goals. Serves as the main point of contact for programs and entrepreneurial information.
• Develops and fosters community relationships that connect entrepreneurs to support resources. Identifies gaps within the support network and leads cross-organization collaborative efforts to grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Builds and maintains relationships with entrepreneur support organizations and community organizations that support entrepreneurs; monitors and reports on programs and services offered.
• Provides leadership, mentors, and supervises staff; motivates and empowers staff to create environments that promote innovation; sets standards for excellent customer service.
• Serves as a spokesperson, representative, and advocate, to raise awareness, build excitement, and obtain buy-in and support for the center’s mission, operations and long-term sustainability.

Program Development

• Designs, manages, and sets goals for innovative co-curricular programs, initiatives, projects, and information to support entrepreneurs at all stages, from ideation to scaling. Cultivates guest speakers, mentors, and presentations to support entrepreneurship seminars and projects.
• Establishes goals and objectives along with metrics, evaluation processes, and assesses the effectiveness of the center’s programs, activities, and impact. Regularly reports on activities and progress toward goals.
• Oversees marketing strategy, and planning, collaboratively with FVCC’s marketing department, to ensure visibility and participation/representation at community events, media engagements and partner programs.
• Seeks grant opportunities and collaboratively works with grant writer to attain funding.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of current practices and trends in entrepreneurship.
• Participates actively and with initiative in continuous improvement efforts to provide efficient and quality programs; provides strategic direction to facilitate innovation.
• Cross trains to perform other departmental and team functions; backfills for staff as needed.
• Actively participates in the development of a climate that promotes and supports innovation and efforts to continuously improve services to students, faculty, and the College.
• Creates and maintains a collaborative and collegial environment with colleagues and maintains effective working relationships.
• Maintains professional ethics and confidentiality of students in accordance with applicable laws and policies.
• Advances the mission of the center and FVCC by serving on or convening committees and contributing to the community in college-related activities.
• Other duties and special projects as assigned.
• Reports to the Executive Director of Workforce Development

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, entrepreneurship, or related field; AND a minimum of five years of closely related work experience; OR,
• Master’s degree in business, entrepreneurship or related field; AND a minimum of three years of closely related work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of the role and mission of community colleges and education.
• Strong understanding of the Flathead Valley and Montana entrepreneurial ecosystem, of ecosystem-building and infrastructure generally, including trends, challenges, and opportunities, and of the needs of entrepreneurs, including micro-enterprise, Main Street, innovation-led, and second stage.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Have strong program, project and seasoned people skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with people and organizations in the community to achieve collaborative goals.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills working with internal and external audiences.
• Ability to use judgment to identify, troubleshoot and resolve technical and/or operational problems.
• Experience in budgeting, fundraising and resource prioritization and management, with a demonstrated ability to work with funders and partners.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire and collaborate across a diverse team of individuals and organizations.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to drive positive change and impact and a commitment to continuous quality improvement.
• Demonstrate a proven ability to participate in long-term planning and strategies for a program.
• Possess strong technology and software skills in Windows, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Able to coordinate resources and set priorities to meet objects and competing priorities.
• Ability and willingness to serve as a representative for the College by interacting appropriately with the public, donors, students, potential students and College community.
• Ability to work within policies and procedures of FVCC.
• Ability to maintain effective and positive professional relationships with staff, students, and public.
• Ability to follow and issue directions.
• Demonstrated presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with people from a variety of culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain regular and acceptable attendance levels.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Ability to successfully pass a criminal background check.
• Ability to respond in the event of an emergency.
• This is a Medium Duty job, according to the Selected Characteristics of Occupations Defined in the Revised Dictionary of Occupational Titles, U.S. Department of Labor and Industry. Medium Duty involves exertion of 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10-25 pounds frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds continuously to move objects

Application Procedure

To be considered for this position, applicants must apply online at https://www.fvcc.edu/about/careers-at-fvcc; paper submission of applications or resume materials are not accepted for open positions. FVCC does not retain application materials for future consideration.

Additionally, applicants are required to submit the following documents by uploading them to the online application ( NOTE: FVCC’s applicant tracking system will time-out after 45 minutes of inactivity. Please have your documents ready to upload before you click the Apply button. ) :

• Letter of application indicating how you meet the minimum qualifications and detail your work experience as it relates to the position’s Knowledge, Skills and Abilities; AND
• A current, comprehensive resume or curriculum vitae; AND,
• Unofficial transcripts for all degrees held AND/OR Professional Certifications (if more than one transcript or certification, combine and upload as one document). As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will submit official transcripts for all d degrees held and applicable certifications to FVCC HR prior hire. Only transcripts from accredited institutions will be accepted.), AND
• Three professional references, with complete contact information, must be provided on the application form. Professional references must be individuals most familiar with applicant’s work experience, skills, and work behaviors and supervisory experience. Do not list family and friends for professional references.

EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATIONS, REFERENCE CHECKS AND CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS: Prior to any offers of employment, FVCC conducts thorough employment verifications and reference checks and may contact organizations and individuals not listed on an applicant’s application or resume. Additionally, FVCC conducts post-offer criminal background checks.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: FVCC is an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action organization. It is FVCC’s policy that all individuals are entitled to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran’s status, service in the uniformed services as defined by state and federal law, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry except as authorized by law. These protections extend to all management practices and decisions, including recruitment and hiring practices, appraisal systems, promotions, and training and career development programs, as required by federal and state laws.

FVCC BOARD POLICY: The FVCC Board Policy Manual is available to review at https://www.fvcc.edu/about/board-administration/board-of-trustees/board-policies

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: FVCC provides reasonable accommodations upon request to qualified individuals with disabilities during all phases of employment including the application and selection process. No applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE ACT: Preference applies in hiring and provides a uniform method by which special consideration is given to qualified Veterans. Veterans’ Preference laws do not, however, guarantee Veterans a job, nor do they give Veterans’ preference in internal actions such as promotion, transfer, reassignment, and reinstatement. I understand that applying for a preference is voluntary and that all information related to a preference is confidential and used only during the hiring process; the information will be maintained in a separate confidential file. To claim Veterans’ Preference, you must complete the Veterans’ Preference Form (form is available at https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf) and email it along with document(s) that verify your eligibility for employment preference to [email protected]. Claims for Veterans’ preference must be received by Human Resources prior to position closing date.

WINDFALL ELIMINATION PROVISION: Based on the Windfall Elimination Provision, I understand my employment may not be covered by Social Security. To learn more about the Windfall Elimination Provision click https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf.

AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.

EEO/AA