Associate Director, STEM

Our Mission

We’re fighting for a country where all communities can support themselves and their families. Through collaboration and commitment, we break cycles of poverty and injustice to create a more just society. For everyone.

Our Vision

To be an equalizer for poor communities by providing quality education and training through a national network of local affiliates. We believe investing in people is the answer to addressing the national labor shortage. We know we can ensure people of all races and all backgrounds are successful for the good jobs America’s employers need to fill.

Position Summary

**This position is based in Minneapolis and requires 4 days/wk in office.

The Associate Director of STEM serves as the operational leader and second-in-command of OIC of America’s STEM Department. Reporting to the Executive Director of STEM, this position is responsible for the day-to-day management, implementation, and continuous improvement of STEM programs, workforce pathways, staff supervision, events, affiliate support, and departmental operations. The Associate Director translates strategy into execution and oversees the full STEM and Workforce Development continuum, from K–12 STEM engagement through career-connected learning and workforce pathway implementation.

Key Responsibilities

Department Operations & Leadership

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership for the STEM Department.
• Supervise STEM staff and support performance management, goal setting, and professional development.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and retention of STEM staff.
• Establish systems, workflows, and operational procedures that support efficiency and accountability.

Program Implementation & Oversight

• Oversee implementation of STEM Saturdays, STEMFest, STEMLinx Workforce Pathways, and future STEM initiatives.
• Ensure programs are delivered with fidelity to approved models and standards.
• Monitor implementation timelines, deliverables, and program quality.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts based on program outcomes and participant feedback.

Workforce Pathway Development & Management

• Oversee implementation and expansion of the STEMLinx K–Career continuum.
• Ensure alignment between STEM exposure, career exploration, workforce readiness, postsecondary success, and employment outcomes.
• Coordinate pathway development with employers, postsecondary institutions, workforce boards, and affiliate partners.
• Monitor participant progression across pathway stages and recommend improvements to increase retention and outcomes.
• Support development of internship, apprenticeship, mentoring, credentialing, and career coaching opportunities.

Curriculum & Program Quality

• Ensure curriculum implementation aligns with program goals, industry trends, and workforce needs.
• Collaborate with curriculum staff and subject matter experts to maintain high-quality STEM learning experiences.
• Support curriculum updates, standardization, and continuous improvement efforts across markets.

STEMFest & Event Operations

• Provide operational oversight for STEMFest and major STEM engagement events.
• Coordinate planning timelines, logistics, volunteers, vendors, exhibitors, and event readiness.
• Support after-action reviews and implementation of lessons learned.

Affiliate & Partnership Support

• Serve as the primary operational liaison to STEM affiliates.
• Support affiliate readiness, onboarding, training, and implementation of STEM programming.
• Develop operational tools, resources, and implementation guides for affiliate use.
• Monitor affiliate performance and provide technical assistance to support program quality and consistency.
• Coordinate operational requirements related to university, corporate, and community partnerships.

National Engagement Infrastructure

• Oversee development of national volunteer, exhibitor, and industry partner engagement systems.
• Support strategies that convert volunteers, exhibitors, and sponsors into long-term partners.
• Ensure systems are in place to support STEMFest growth across multiple markets.

Data, Evaluation & Performance Management

• Builds and maintains departmental KPI dashboards and reporting systems and ensures data quality.
• Monitor participant outcomes, attendance, retention, and performance metrics.
• Support grant, sponsor, and affiliate reporting requirements.

Strategic Execution

• Translate departmental strategic priorities into annual workplans, project timelines, and measurable objectives.
• Monitor progress toward departmental goals and ensure accountability for deliverables.
• Prepare operational updates and recommendations for senior leadership.

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide direct supervision of assigned STEM personnel, including program coordinators, pathway staff, career coaches, volunteer engagement personnel, interns, contractors, and future STEM team members.
• Establish performance expectations, accountability measures, and departmental goals.
• Conduct performance evaluations including regular 1:1 and quarterly check-ins that support professional growth and development.
• Lead regular staff meetings and foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, customer service, and operational excellence.

Financial Management

• Monitor program and event expenditures against approved budgets.
• Review invoices, contracts, and operational expenditures.
• Provide budget updates and recommendations to the Executive Director of STEM.
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiency and cost savings.

Qualifications:

• 7 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in education, workforce development, nonprofit management, STEM, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and managing teams.
• Experience managing multi-site programs, initiatives, or operations.
• Strong project management, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience using data to drive decision-making and program improvement.
• Ability to travel nationally as needed.
• Bachelor’s degree in education; workforce; nonprofit management of related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Compensation & Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $92,000-$105,000 based on a 37.5-hour work week for this exempt position. Salary offered may vary depending on relevant factors as determined by OIC of America, which may include, but are not limited to, background and experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, certifications and licensures internal salary ranges, geographic location and other organizational needs.

OIC of America offers a comprehensive package of benefits including 401(k) plan with 5% employer contribution vested immediately following the successful completion of a 90-day introductory period. Subsidized group health including medical and dental with employer paid vision coverage for the employee; healthcare flexible spending account; caregiver support program; wellbeing resources; commuter benefits program.

ADA Specifications:

• Ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.
• Ability to learn/translate/refer to technical material and produce extensive written communications.
• Ability to travel to external meetings both locally and nationally, including periodic overnight travel.
• Normal work requires frequent use of the telephone and computer (monitor, keyboard, mouse).
• Ability to be mobile at meetings and events.
• May be required to move about frequently in the office to access file cabinets, office equipment, attend meetings, etc.
• May require standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time during meetings and conferences.
• Must be able to communicate in large gatherings and conduct information sessions with technology so others will understand.

OIC of America will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to OICA’s transformation agenda, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties, as necessary.

Applicants in need of special assistance or accommodation during the interview process or in accessing our website may contact us by sending an email to kpasquarella@oicofamerica.org. In your email, please include your name and preferred method of contact, and we will respond as soon as possible.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to attracting and maintaining a diverse work force. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, status as a crime victim, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristics protected by federal and Philadelphia and Pennsylvania state laws.