Director of the Philip S. Mullin Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program
Nebraska Wesleyan University seeks to hire the inaugural Director of the Philip S. Mullin Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. The ideal candidate will launch this newly-funded venture with the energy of a startup – generating enthusiasm and vision for long-term success. The director will engage in solving big problems and launching new enterprises through the creation of a collaborative, student-centered community where asking tough questions, risking the unknown, and driving action are not only welcomed, but required.
This program is the region’s only innovation and entrepreneurship program with a cross-disciplinary design. Students will explore problem solving and startup strategies in five focus areas: business, marketing, and sports; creative design and the arts; policy and justice; science and technology; and sustainability and the environment. As a small, liberal arts university, NWU is uniquely positioned to deliver dynamic experiential education and mentorship to its over 1400 undergraduate and graduate students.
This full-time 12-month position reports to the Associate Provost of Integrative and Experiential Learning. The successful candidate will implement the new program and lead it to success by recruiting, teaching, and advising students, and by working collaboratively with members of the campus community and external constituents, including local startups, businesses, and nonprofits. Responsibilities include approximately 60% teaching and advising.
NWU offers a competitive wage and comprehensive benefits plan including Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Disability benefits, Retirement, seven weeks of paid time off per year as an exempt employee through vacation and holidays, and 100% tuition discount for dependents after one year of service.
- Coordinate the Innovation and Entrepreneurship program – oversight, course scheduling, new student recruitment, advising, and program assessment.
- Teach courses in innovation and design, from introductory level to capstone.
- Organize and oversee internships.
- Recruit and supervise part-time instructors as needed.
- Organize and host frequent real-world problem-solving events with numerous businesses, nonprofits, and governmental bodies.
- Conduct outreach and develop positive partnerships.
- Build new contacts with founders and entrepreneurs.
- Keep diversity front and center in goals and outreach.
- Completed master’s degree preferred.
- Proven record of success in innovation and entrepreneurship, with a preference for candidates with at least 5 years of experience.
- Ability to create and deliver curriculum to students, and relevant content to faculty and members of the larger community.
- Appreciation and understanding of the liberal arts.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated experience organizing, planning, and coordinating events with attention to detail.
- Experience working with people of different races and ethnicities.
- Experience facilitating the human-centered design process.
- Problem-solving skills and able to identify and mitigate potential future challenges.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.
Desirable Qualities
- Self-starter, energetic, motivated to learn new skills, and able to thrive within the university system.
- Team oriented, cooperative, with a collaborative approach.
- Curiosity, ambition, adaptability, and sense of adventure.
- Ability to work independently.
Diversity is a core value of Nebraska Wesleyan University’s mission, and we embrace it as a source of strength. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how they are able to enhance and embrace this University core value in a diversity statement submitted as part of their application materials.
Nebraska Wesleyan University provides equal educational and employment opportunities to qualified persons in all areas of university operation without regard to religion or creed, age, genetic information, gender identity and expression, sexual identity and orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status, race, or national or ethnic origin, in compliance with state and federal laws, including but not limited to Title XII, Title IX, and the ADA. E-Verify, EOE.
To apply, please upload a letter of application addressing qualifications, resume, a diversity statement, and the names of three professional references at the following URL: https://nebrwesleyan.applicantpro.com/jobs/ Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.