STEM WD Associate Manager - ORAU

Appointment Type: Full-Time Regular (FTR)

Location: Oak Ridge, TN or Hybrid

*Salary Range: $92,289 - $128,372

PURPOSE: The Associate Manager provides leadership to a sponsor team within STEM WD-OPP (STEM Workforce Development Oak Ridge Participant Programs). Provides the project management, planning, budgetary and technical oversight, and coordination necessary to operate research participation programs for postdoctoral, postgraduate, graduate, undergraduate, precollege students, and for university faculty. Works with multiple federal sponsors (typically 20 or more within an agency), and 600 participants and scientists/mentors annually. Works with sponsors, Senior Manager, and Project Managers in planning, developing, implementing, managing, and growing new programs/activities. Directs and schedules work of assigned staff and provides daily direction and oversight.

• Plans, organizes, directs, and schedules the work of employees, program assets, and material within budgetary and quality standards. Defines organizational goals and implements strategies for addressing these goals, consistent with maximizing organizational efficiency and performance.
• Analyzes workforce needs and establishes personnel requirements:
  • Requisitions and selects qualified employees necessary to meet established requirements and organizational goals.
  • Assigns employees to jobs, establishes standards and training for the proper performance of work, and familiarizes staff with company rules, procedures and policies.
  • Maintains discipline of employees under supervision in accordance with established policies.
  • Assumes responsibility for the proper application of established human resource administration policies, safety and health regulations, and local, state and federal regulations.
• Initiates action and approves or recommends approval of hires, disciplinary actions, leaves of absence, promotions, reductions-in-force, performance evaluation, salary increases, terminations of employment for cause, separations, transfers and other personnel actions. Approves or disapproves leave requests, timecards, work schedules, employee travel, and reimbursement.
• Coordinates the functions performed under the incumbent’s management with those performed under other management. Arranges for proper maintenance of machines, equipment, and facilities for which responsible. Prepares reports concerning activities in areas of responsibility.
• Provides project management for ongoing research participation programs to ensure that all activities are conducted in a timely manner and meet quality expectations. This includes interacting with applicants and participants, mentors, program administrators, and program sponsors in response to questions and to provide programmatic and other requested information.
• Plans and manages applicant recruiting approaches for assigned programs. Develops outreach strategies, prepares and approves program announcements and other materials, and participates in professional meetings, conferences, campus fairs, etc.
• Oversees application system and review process for applicant selection, ensuring ongoing recruitment of qualified applicants including prompt, fair, and thorough reviews of all applications.
• Works with the Senior Manager to develop, monitor, and adjust revenue projections for the group of sponsors. Establishes standards of performance, implements quality control measures, and captures knowledge through ongoing process evaluation.
• Prepares and delivers reports, briefs, evaluations, and other materials as needed for program management. Ensures best practices and innovations are identified and shared and barriers are identified and overcome. Maintains data that will help inform recruitment strategies.
• Monitors program funding and costs to ensure that expenditures meet the specifications of the funding document and program statement of work and meet the ORISE, ORAU, and federal policies and procedures. Maintains databases and use financial tools to monitor funding approvals and availabilities to match participant appointment obligations. Approves expenditures such as appointment and extension letters, travel costs, and other participant costs. Prepares, develops, and monitors program budgets to meet budget targets.
• Participates in business development activities. Assists Senior Manager and other Project Managers in program development activities and to implement and manage new programs. Prepares proposals and statements of work for new programs.
• Represents the organization on various committees and professional societies, and at national meetings and public forums. Actively participates by leading a specific activity or event for one or more internal ORAU or ORISE teams/committees, especially those promoting participant engagement and support of STEM-WD mission and operations and the Annual Lab Plan.

Bachelor's degree in business, STEM, education or related field and 6-10 years of job related experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience performing duties as described may be substituted for the minimum requirements.

• Experience in working with the university community (faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and postgraduates) and with the federal agencies, laboratories, and organizations involved in education and academic research.
• Experience in being self-directed and capable of prioritizing multiple tasks and handling large and varied workload with independence.
• Experience in project management and budgetary activities.
• Experience in problem solving and suggesting solutions.
• Knowledge of research training needs of students, postgraduates, postdoctoral fellows, and university/college faculty and how laboratories and federal agencies may provide co-curricular opportunities that fulfil those needs.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with the wide array of participant types, mentors, sponsors, federal agencies, and professional organizations.
• Knowledge of or ability to quickly assimilate program guidelines, eligibility requirements, selection criteria, and processes for ORISE STEM Workforce Development programs.
• Knowledge of policies, requirements, and procedures involved in the recruiting, application processing, and selection of applicants as well as the administrative tasks related to providing payments to participants and for participant costs.
• Knowledge of effective, cost-efficient methods to recruit large numbers of highly qualified, diverse applicants.
• In-depth knowledge of technology tools for data management, modeling, forecasting, and reporting purposes.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, customer relations and customer service skills, and advanced computer skills (proficient in the use of MS Office Applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint; and knowledge of Web publishing, SharePoint and database applications).
• Limited travel (1-5 times a year) may be required.

*The candidate’s starting salary will be determined upon hire and ORAU will use salary survey data, internal comparators, and the candidate’s qualifications to determine salary.

TOTAL REWARDS

ORAU has a strategic approach to providing total rewards to employees through a fair, equitable, and competitive total compensation package. The goal of our total rewards system is to integrate compensation, benefits, work-life balance, performance, recognition, development, and career opportunities to attract, engage, and retain the talent required to achieve ORAU’s business objectives.  The benefit component of our total rewards program supports business goals by offering the following benefits based on employee eligibility:

• Legally required benefits
• Group Health insurance including: Medical, Prescription, Dental, and Vision
• Retirement plan contribution matching
• Disability insurance
• Group life insurance
• Travel Accident Insurance
• Section 125 reimbursement accounts
• Other voluntary employee paid benefit and insurance offerings

The ORAU total reward package also promotes work-life balance. Mindful of the need for employees to care for themselves and their families, ORAU offers the following additional work-life benefits based on employee eligibility:

• Telework
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Flexible work schedules or compressed work weeks
• Occupational Health and Wellness Programs
• Employee Assistance Program