Careers

Job Title:                       National Director Military & Veterans Initiatives 

Division:                        Manufacturing Institute

Reports To:                   VP, Program Execution

FLSA Status/Level:      Exempt, Professional

Position Summary:

The Manufacturing Institute (MI) is seeking a National Director, Military & Veterans Initiatives to lead the MI’s Heroes MAKE America initiative including strategy development around best in class workforce initiatives, program operations, and engagement of program partners and funders. This includes the development and enhancing of strategic partnerships to scale the impact of the initiative. This position will lead the maturation of this growing initiative and will play a key role in enhancing operations to enable our program to reach more military connected individuals across the nation. The MI’s mission is to inspire, educate and empower the manufacturing workforce of today and tomorrow.  Our work with the military and veteran communities is aimed at changing the perception of manufacturing careers among this potential workforce, helping to connect them to manufacturing career opportunities and provide them the skills and tools to engage in a future manufacturing career.  Working with other key leaders in the MI as well as external stakeholders, the National Director will help shape the strategic direction of the Military & Veterans initiatives.

A successful candidate will be entrepreneurial and committed to creatively solving challenges and enhancing operations while maintaining a steadfast focus on team building - both externally and internally – to drive success.

Key Responsibilities:
 

• Implement the current HMA strategy while continually assessing opportunities for scaling and maximize workforce development impact for manufacturers in the veterans and transitioning military communities. Think critically about the best ways to strengthen communications and engagement with key stakeholders and partners about our activities in the space. Work with appropriate teams to build the overall plans for execution of the strategy including communications, marketing operational areas. Drive implementation to ensure attainment of goals and objectives. 
• Perform program review and build a strategic engagement process for regular sponsor participation and build and drive process for involvement of sponsors & partners in program locations and in the program overall.
• Identify and recruit new sponsors. Partnering with the VP of Business Development and Partnerships, this individual will help with planning, coordination and creation of fundraising materials and fundraising campaigns, fundraising calendar and tracking systems for target identification and solicitation, including applying for and managing grants, their deliverables, and budgets.
• Working with the VP, Program Execution, other internal colleagues as well as external providers, finalize the implementation of Salesforce CRM for candidate recruitment and tracking and work to design and implement other systems to facilitate program operations and to ensure reporting of program metrics and impacts. Using the tools and information available, ensure and deliver regular reporting to all stakeholders.
• In addition to leading the team of program managers, the National Director will be responsible for responding to requests for event participation and creating MI hosted thought leadership events, congressional testimony, and creation of content to enhance the awareness of the initiative and our impacts.
• Serve as a key program leader and speaker to relevant internal and external stakeholder audiences about the program’s goals and objectives.
• As the initiative leader, this individual has responsibility for the development, tracking and maintenance of the program budget and ensuring adherence to plan. 
• The above list of responsibilities is representative of the position and is not intended to limit or preclude other responsibilities and tasks that may be associated with or added to the position.

Location:

 Flexible. Hybrid work environment available.

Qualifications:

• Experience in a combination of roles including program operations, communications, fundraising, corporate relations, non-profit, trade association, or the strategy practice of a major consulting firm as well as experience with Department of Defense workforce transition programs is highly desirable.
• A minimum of 10-15 years of experience, including extensive C-suite contact with the ability to effectively work with Fortune 500 CEOs and senior management. Basic understanding of workforce and education development is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree, preferably in business, marketing and/or communications.
• Ability to make things happen; ability to set and maintain priorities and overcome obstacles. Proven ability to grow and manage programs.
• Demonstrated ability to both lead and be part of a team.
• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and presentation skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite of products including Excel required, experience with Salesforce preferred.
• Travel approximately 30% of the time.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.