FISC Program Manager

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POSITION SUMMARY:

Leads the development, implementation, and ongoing operations of one or more academic programs to ensure effectiveness in meeting strategic, departmental, and student development goals. May manage the program budget and outreach activities and supervise program staff. Strives to create a welcoming, equitable, and inclusive work environment.

The Farm and Industry Short Course Program Director reports to the Department Chair in Animal and Food Science, and is responsible for advancing the College vision, goals and objectives. The primary responsibility of the FISC Director is to coordinate the activities required within this academic program, including promotion, marketing, and onboarding students into the current program, as well as working to refine and develop the program for future students.

Excellent interpersonal communication and mentoring skills are necessary for interacting with a variety of stakeholders including faculty, staff, students, industry partners, and members of the community. Self-starting abilities, strong problem solving and organizational skills along with a positive attitude toward faculty, staff, students and the public are required for this position.

This position is a full-time annual appointment. The standard university hours are 7:45-4:30 Monday-Friday.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Leads the development and implementation of academic program initiatives

• Serves as the liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups to identify and maintain academic program-related partnerships

• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and academic program objectives

• Evaluates existing academic program strategy and makes recommendations to unit leadership for program enhancement

• Will manage the unit budget and approve unit expenditures

• Assists stakeholders with preparing and/or maintaining documentation, financial management, and/or reporting requirements related to sponsored grants, contracts, or agreements

• Provides full service advising resources and services, provides information about educational options and academic requirements, and communicates directly with students regarding all aspects of the advising process

• Manages degree programs and/or certificates, high impact practice programming and events, and curriculum development and implementation

• Develop and manage promotional materials for both print and online platforms, including maintaining the FISC webpage on the UWRF website.

• Communicate and follow up with prospective students; attend dairy industry events to promote the FISC program.

• Build relationships with high school agriculture teachers across Wisconsin and Minnesota.

• Coordinate with UWRF Admissions to align FISC recruiting efforts with campus events and enhance staff understanding of the program.

• Review and act on FISC applications; coordinate post-admission communications and onboarding with Residence Life, Student Billing, and other campus groups.

• Collaborate with the CAFES Accountant to create and manage the annual budget, track expenses, and report regularly to the CAFES Dean.

• Maintain and grow the FISC alumni database; plan alumni events and establish a working relationship with the FISC coordinator at Madison.

• Teach one or two 1-credit FISC courses each semester; develop course schedules and advise FISC students.

• Lead the FISC industry advisory group and explore new course offerings, including electives, second-year options, and expansion beyond dairy.

• Award certificates upon successful completion of program requirements.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Assists stakeholders with preparing and/or maintaining documentation, financial management, and/or reporting requirements related to sponsored grants, contracts, or agreements

• Provides full service advising resources and services, provides information about educational options and academic requirements, and communicates directly with students regarding all aspects of the advising process

• Manages degree programs and/or certificates, high impact practice programming and events, and curriculum development and implementation

• Leads the development and implementation of academic program initiatives

• May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees

• Serves as the liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups to identify and maintain academic program-related partnerships

• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and academic program objectives

• Evaluates existing academic program strategy and makes recommendations to unit leadership for program enhancement

• May manage the unit budget and approve unit expenditures

Department: Animal & Food Science

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. degree in an agriculture-related discipline

• Demonstrated interest and ability to provide effective dairy husbandry or farm management training in an educational environment

• Proven ability to effectively communicate with faculty, staff and students

• Strong problem solving, analytic and organizational skills

• Self-starting abilities are essential

• Strong Interpersonal skills to develop relationships with multiple stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate or professional degree beyond BS with direct applications to animal agriculture industries

• Dairy farm management experience or work with industries providing service to the dairy farm

• Teaching experience in an academic setting

• Experience with facilitating applied research and grant projects/laboratory classrooms/field trials

How to Apply:

Applicants are required to apply online. UWRF will not consider paper, emailed or faxed applications. Applicants are required to provide:

• Resume

• Letter of interest specifying qualifications and experience (cover letter

Deadline to Apply: Initial review of applications will begin upon receipt. For full consideration, applicants should submit all required materials on or before November 3, 202 5.

Employees receive excellent benefits including exceptionally low-cost comprehensive health, dental and vision benefits; employer match of Wisconsin Retirement System contributions of 6.95%; an attractive amount of paid leave per year in addition to paid sick leave. To learn more about our benefits, go to

https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/quickguidegrad.pdf

UW-River Falls does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources at 715-425-4941.

Contact Information:

Inquiries should be addressed to:
Steven Kelm

Search Chair

steven.kelm@uwrf.edu

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials

The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the final candidates may be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

Title IX Notice

As required by Title IX and federal regulations, UW-River Falls does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs or activities, including in admission and employment. Questions about the application of Title IX may be referred to UWRF’s Title IX Coordinator at titleix@uwrf.edu ; the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights; or both. For more information, please see uwrf.edu/titleIX .

Criminal Background Check and Reference Check Policy

Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you, your most recent employer, and all previous Universities of Wisconsin institutions and State of Wisconsin agency employers from the past seven (7) years to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment per Universities of Wisconsin Administrative Policy 1275.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies can be viewed at https://www.uwrf.edu/Police/Annual-Security-Report.cfm or call University Police at 715-425-3133 for a paper copy.

Reasonable Accommodations

UW-River Falls provides reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or an accommodation in applying because of a disability, contact hr@uwrf.edu or 715-425-3518.

Academic Freedom & Freedom of Expression

The University is committed to academic freedom and freedom of expression, and provides all members of the University community the broadest possible latitude to explore ideas and to speak, write, listen, challenge and learn, pursuant to Regent Policy Document 4-21 Commitment to Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression .

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.