DIRECTOR OF THE STUDENT DESIGN AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CENTER #00056556

Student Design & Experiential Learning

Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) is hiring a Director of the Student Design and Experiential Learning Center (SDELC). The Director plays a pivotal role in advancing the success of student design teams, supporting student recruitment and experiential learning, and fostering a collaborative community among 1,300+ participating students, including team leaders.

This position provides strategic leadership, manages projects, supervises staff and students, facilitates student engagement and recruitment, and serves as the public representative of SDELC. The Director ensures the growth and sustainability of the center by developing key relationships with alumni, corporate stakeholders, and university partners while maintaining safe, effective operations and tracking student success metrics. The Director reports to the Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing and will also have an appointment in one of our academic departments.

Key Responsibilities:

Industry & Donor Engagement

• Collaborate with University Advancement to identify and nurture relationships with industry partners, alumni, and potential donors to secure financial and in-kind support for the SDELC
• Support student-led fundraising initiatives, helping teams cultivate donor relationships, secure sponsorships, and develop financial planning skills to sustain and enhance their projects
• Represent SDELC at industry networking events, corporate engagement functions, and university recruitment activities to expand awareness and support
• Oversee contract negotiations, sponsorship agreements, and donor reporting
• Requirements
• Work with industry partners to provide mentorship and real-world project opportunities for student teams

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and execute a long-term strategic vision for SDELC, ensuring alignment with Missouri S&T's and the College of Engineering and Computing's mission and goals
• Provide day-to-day leadership to the SDELC staff, including the Associate Director,
• Shop Coordinator, Office Manager, and Business Support Specialist
• Coordinate performance tracking, assessment, and reporting on student success and center activities
• Represent the SDELC at key campus committees and external boards as needed

Student Development and Engagement:

• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages creativity, leadership, problem- solving, and interdisciplinary teamwork
• In collaboration with the Associate Director, provide guidance and strategic support to 21+ student design teams, ensuring successful competition participation, project completion, and a focus on holistic student development. Furthermore, develop and implement strategies for team recruitment and succession planning, ensuring long-term sustainability and leadership continuity within design teams

Experiential Learning:

• Experiential Learning Integration:
  • Work closely with academic departments to track and support student participation in experiential learning as part of graduation requirements and program outcome assessment
  • Collaborate with faculty, staff, and academic departments to explore opportunities for integrating student design team participation into the curriculum. This may include developing frameworks and guidelines for awarding academic credit for design team involvement
  • Engage in and actively teach student design and design-related courses to facilitate integration with design center objectives and promote design opportunities throughout campus.
    
    
• Provide oversight of center budgets and financial activities, currently totaling between $1.5 and $2 million annually
• Facilitate special events in coordination with external departments and organizations, as needed
• Address issues referred by students, faculty, and staff of the SDELC, offering policy interpretation and technical consultation as required
• Implement effective project management methodologies and tools to streamline processes and enhance project outcomes, ensuring teams adhere to deadlines and objectives
• Regularly assess project risks, including financial, operational, and safety concerns, and develop contingency plans to mitigate potential issues
• Proactively identify and respond to perceived crises, developing response protocols to minimize disruptions to team operations, competitions, and travel
• Oversee logistics for student design team travel, ensuring compliance with university policies, risk management procedures, and budgetary constraints
• In partnership with the Shop Coordinator, develop and enforce facility usage policies while ensuring safety protocols and compliance standards are upheld in design spaces, shop areas, and student workspaces
• In collaboration with the Shop Coordinator, facilitate equipment procurement, maintenance, and upgrades for SDELC facilities

Collaboration and Partnerships:

• Support the Associate Director in maintaining a strategic partnership with Enrollment Management and Marketing and Communications to meet recruitment needs, including supporting tours and various outreach activities and events such as St Louis Science Center's Engineering Week and SAE's COMVEC.
• Provide guidance and support to faculty and industry advisors, ensuring they have the resources and connections needed to effectively mentor student design teams and align projects with competition and industry expectations.

A master's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 7 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

• Experience in design and fabrication
• Work experience developing the competencies to succeed in stated responsibilities of the position

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as $78,562-$113,289 annually.

Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual's particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Grade: GGS 13
University Title: DIRECTOR II STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
To review the University of Missouri's Staff Compensation Structure you can view the Job Code detail page. Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

For priority consideration, application review will begin on July 1, 2025. Applications will be accepted until this position is filled.

Visa Sponsorship Information:
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University will not sponsor applicants for this position for employment visas.

University Information
Missouri S&T is one of the nation's leading research universities with over 100-degree programs in 39 disciplines. It was founded in 1870 as one of the first technological institutions west of the Mississippi River. Located about 100 miles west of St. Louis in the vibrant community of Rolla, Missouri S&T is an accessible, safe, and friendly campus surrounded by Ozarks' scenery. Missouri S&T offers undergraduate degrees in engineering, the sciences, liberal arts, humanities, and business, with M.S. and Ph.D. programs available in many of the science and engineering programs. With over 7,000 students and 300 faculty, Missouri S&T is big enough to accommodate a broad population, yet small enough for individuals to build high visibility and impactful careers.

About Rolla
Rolla, Missouri offers several great advantages that help individuals enjoy a high quality of life. Rolla is an ideal place for families, with its low cost of living, excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, and a range of recreational activities suitable for all ages. The Ozark Scenic Riverways and beautiful landscapes offers abundant opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of every lifestyle. With its vibrant community, Rolla hosts multiple events, concerts, art exhibitions, and theater performances throughout the year. The university's Leach Theatre showcases nationally renowned performers for campus and community alike. Overall, living in Rolla offers a high quality of life with a supportive community, affordable living, beautiful natural surroundings, and numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 573-341-7734.