Organization Overview 

The mission of Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) is to advance economic and community prosperity in the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands (Brown, Crawford,  Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, and Washington counties). ROI is growing potential and possibility through a focus on advanced industry sectors, regionalism, transformative school and workforce redesign, and placemaking strategies.

Job Summary 

With funding support from the National Imperative for Industrial Skills (NIIS), ROI is launching a multi-year, multi-layered microelectronics (ME) education and workforce initiative. NIIS is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office for Industrial  Policy through its Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program.  

ROI will lead this new initiative in the Indiana Uplands region, which aligns with local ecosystem priorities and addresses the nation’s critical need to increase ME production and skilled ME talent. The Microelectronics Workforce Development program will leverage ROI’s public-private partnerships in industry, manufacturing, K-12 education,  community colleges, post-secondary institutions, and local/state/federal agencies to promote and expand microelectronics training, education, and career pathways. 

The Program Director will lead all activity across the Microelectronics Workforce Development initiative’s four components: K-12 education outreach; fabrication of physical spaces for microelectronics training (“cleanrooms”); youth apprenticeship programs with high school and industry partners; and a post-secondary microelectronics certificate program. 

ROI is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic individual with senior management experience to drive the success of this sizeable and significant new initiative. The  Program Director will be supported by a full-time, dedicated Project Manager, who will manage the initiative’s activities, logistics, and team. Additional team members will be supervised by the Program Director and will support the K12 outreach, training hub,  youth apprenticeships in microelectronics, and postsecondary components. 

Key Responsibilities 

The Program Director will serve as the primary point of contact and collaborate with key stakeholders, including the project team, defense/government personnel, and the initiative’s ME Advisory Council, comprised of partners from local/state public and private agencies, industry, K-12, and post-secondary education. The Program Director will also work with the finance specialist on financial management, budgeting, and reporting. 

The core responsibilities of the Program Director will include the following:

  • Plan, organize, and implement strategies for:
    • the overall success of the comprehensive programming, 
    • risk mitigation,  
    • communications,  
    • data capture and program evaluation,  
    • financial stability, sustainability, and long-term viability,  
    • and team management 
  • With ROI leadership, create job descriptions for the budgeted and planned  program team; assist with the onboarding of new hires; create and foster a  collaborative, supportive team environment that seeks out professional  development for the growth and longevity of program personnel 
  • Reduce barriers, identify gaps, encourage collaboration, and pursue ongoing  opportunities for the program’s advancement and innovation 
  • Work with the ROI team to plan for, promote, market, and execute all  components of the project, including reporting 
  • Work closely with project partners and stakeholders 
  • Meet all federally mandated reporting milestones; meet all milestones and  deliverables across the first three years of the program 
  • Stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and approaches in workforce  development to inform program design and implementation 

Education, Qualifications, & Experience 

Skills, abilities, and experience required of a successful candidate include: 

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher with at least 5 years of related experience in project  management and managing teams 
  • Industry-relevant experience and expertise in microelectronics research,  education, and/or production 
  • Experience implementing, directing, and sustaining large-scale initiatives with  multiple partners and a complex budget 
  • Experience writing reports, managing finances, and analyzing data
  • Strategic planning and team leadership 
  • An understanding of the K-12 education ecosystem as it relates to talent pipeline  development and traditional and alternate post-secondary pathways (i.e.,  community college, trades/apprenticeships, college/university) 
  • Familiarity with defense/military operations, government contracts, federal  programs, and/or industry coordination and procedures 
  • Ability to manage time, talent, resources, and energy  
  • Solid writing and verbal communication and organizational skills
  • Aptitude for problem-solving with a creative and service-minded approach
  • Commitment to equity and a culture of growth  
  • Empathy and humility 
  • Positive and aspirational outlook 
  • Disposition for sticking with challenging situations and relationships  
  • Experience working with advisory boards 
  • Knowledge of quality implementation of STEM education and workforce  development programs 
  • Familiarity with the Indiana Uplands region 

Job Type 

Full-time salaried position 

Benefits 

Health, dental, and vision insurance, short- and long-term disability, health savings  account, retirement plan, paid time off 

Job Location 

Bloomington, Indiana, with a mix of in-office and travel within the Uplands region.  Occasional travel outside the region for in- and out-of-state conferences and state-level  meetings with mileage reimbursed at the current federal rate. 

Submit cover letter and resume to: 

Michi McClaine 
VP of Talent Development 
mmcclaine@regionalopportunityinc.org