Director (Part-Time) – Center for Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CSREI)

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We invite you to join William Paterson University: a wonderful community to learn, work, grow, and thrive. William Paterson University has been named to Forbes’ prestigious “Best Employers by State” list for 2024, recognizing the institution as one of the best-ranked employers in New Jersey based on nationwide surveys. WP is one of four education institutions on the Garden State’s list this year. Here is the link to the article forbes-best-in-state-employers-new-jersey-2024. William Paterson University is among more than 40 companies and organizations that will be honored with a 2024 NJBIZ Empowering Women Award for their commitment to supporting and elevating women employees.

William Paterson University employs approximately 1000 full time employees in the state who work in a variety of positions ranging from professors to administrative assistants and administrators, physical plant operations, campus police, athletics coaches, academic advisors, and more. William Paterson University supports a remote friendly hybrid work schedule for this role. William Paterson also boasts a four-day summer work week from mid-May to mid-August (Fridays off), during which all employees participate in our award-winning Summer Learning series.

Spanning more than 400 wooded acres in suburban Wayne, New Jersey – just 20 miles from New York City – our campus is one of the most diverse in the nation and it ranks in the top 4 percent of colleges for social mobility. William Paterson is a strong proponent of employees growing their careers there. More than fifty percent of the University’s roles are filled by promotions from within. We’re not only committed to social mobility for our students, but also for our employees.

Your work as a member of our team is important to our students and to the progress of our University. What you do here matters, and we value every contribution.

The Cotsakos College of Business (CCOB) at William Paterson University seeks a Director for the Center for Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CSREI). The Director reports directly to the Dean of the CCOB and works closely with the Regional Director of the William Paterson University Small Business Development Center and faculty in the College to achieve its entrepreneurship and innovation goals by leading efforts to secure grant and contract funding to support its research and operational initiatives and fostering collaborative research projects with faculty members. This role involves strategic planning, relationship building, and effective communication to advance the center's mission and strategic priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the CSREI in securing grant and contract funding from local, state and/or federal government sources, foundations, corporations, and individuals to support the center’s research and operational initiatives related to social responsibility, sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation in pursuit of its mission and vision.
• Foster collaborative research projects focused on social responsibility, sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation among William Paterson University faculty members, faculty at other higher education institutions and other organizations. 
• Promote and support entrepreneurial and innovation initiatives among WP students, faculty and the wider community.
• Supervise and mentor student projects in entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Develop and maintain a regional network of entrepreneurship-supporting resources to provide seamless connections for WP students and other entrepreneurs.
• Lead the updating of the Strategic Plan for the CSREI that aligns with the center’s mission, vision and strategic priorities and those of the CCOB and William Paterson University.
• Lead the CSREI in building and strengthening relationships with individuals and organizations in the county of Passaic and other communities directly served by William Paterson University (WP).
• Lead the CSREI in broaden its Pitch Fest and similar experiential learning events to include participation by community members.
• Leading the growth and development of the CSREI’s Advisory Council to fulfil a role(s) aligned with its core mission and vision.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Significant entrepreneurial and adult education experience.
• A master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., social entrepreneurship, public administration, business, or related disciplines).
• Proven experience in securing grant and contract funding for research projects.
• Strong leadership and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability t