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Director of McMillon Innovation Studio, University of Arkansas

  • 1.  Director of McMillon Innovation Studio, University of Arkansas

    Posted 11-20-2020 16:42

    Summary of Job Duties:

    Reporting to the Executive Director of OEI, this position will oversee a highly creative team of staff and student leaders in the creation and growth of programs serving students across all disciplines at the University of Arkansas. Central to the role is the opportunity to build the culture of software development, agile teamwork, and product management across the university. The Director will also cultivate relationships with industry partners who provide mentoring and training to student teams; continually test new pedagogical approaches; oversee fundraising and revenue-generating activities; and partner with other programs and units across campus, including the Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Venture Innovation in the Sam M. Walton College of Business. The Director will also build and engage an advisory board consisting of members inside and external to the university.

    A strong understanding of intellectual property and corporate innovation is essential, as is fluency in product management. The Director should be entrepreneurial, ambitious, and passionate about fostering student success in an ambiguous economy.


    Qualifications:


    Salary Information:

    Commensurate with education and experience


    Required Documents to Apply:

    Cover Letter/Letter of Application, List of three Profesional References (name, email, business title), Resume

    Optional Documents:

    Proof of Veteran Status

    Minimum Qualifications:

    • Master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in computer science, business, engineering, or related field

    • Minimum of eight years of professional experience in corporate innovation, product management, or software development

    • Minimum of two years of supervisory experience

    • Demonstrated proficiency in the principles of product management and agile workflows

    • Demonstrated proficiency with user experience design and software development frameworks

    • Exceptional collaboration and communication skills

    Preferred Qualifications:

    • Experience teaching and/or coaching student teams in a higher education environment

    • Familiarity with lean startup and human centered design frameworks

    • Knowledge of R, Python, Java, and/or Ruby programming languages

    • Demonstrated grant-writing and/or corporate social responsibility fundraising success

    • Entrepreneurship and/or venture finance experience

    Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

    • Product management

    • Excellent oral and written communication skills

    • Project and people management

    • Budgetary management and tracking

    • Curiosity, an ability to engage with people from diverse backgrounds, and a collaborative spirit are essential

    • An agile mindset that is comfortable with ambiguity and able to respond to changing circumstances and feedback

    • A passion for recruiting and supporting students from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, gender, ethnic, and disciplinary backgrounds and an ability to maintain strong standards of diversity, equity and inclusion as a cornerstone of innovation


    Recruitment Contact Information:

    Sarah Goforth, SGoforth@Walton.uark.edu

    Apply here: https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UASYS/job/Fayetteville/Director--McMillon-Innovation-Studio_R0001370

    Michael E. Cummings, PhD, JD

    Assistant Professor

    Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Venture Innovation

    Walton College of Business

    University of Arkansas

    mcummings@walton.uark.edu

    Faculty page

    Google Scholar



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    Michael Cummings
    University of Arkansas
    Fayetteville AR
    (702) 623-1749
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