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The New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge is seeking an Executive Director with cross-cutting skills in program development, marketing, funding, education research, and program management — plus strong technical skills and a STEM background.
About the Challenge
The New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge (“The Challenge”) is a STEM-based program whereby students in secondary education develop computational science or engineering projects over the course of an academic school year. Students submit proposals, interim and final written reports, and present their work to panels of experienced judges for evaluation in competition for awards and college scholarships.
Students learn the 5 C’s: Communication, Collaboration, Coding, Critical Thinking, and Creativity. Over 12,000 New Mexicans have developed these skills through the Challenge since 1990.
Position Overview
The Executive Director will lead program development, educational outreach, and day-to-day program management for the Supercomputing Challenge. The ideal candidate combines STEM expertise, education experience, and the ability to market the program, secure funding, and represent the Challenge at events across New Mexico and nationally.
R Required D Desired
Key Responsibility Areas
1. Program Development
- R Solid writing skills for marketing collateral and web content
- R Use technical tools for program marketing, including website development
- R Network and develop new contacts and opportunities
- R Strong STEM passion and vision to adapt the program into the future
- D Plan, develop, write, and submit grant proposals to government, public, or private entities
2. Educational Connections
- R Work effectively with teachers, students, and educational organizations
- R Education research or proposal-worthy educational background
- D Use cutting-edge technical tools for curriculum delivery
- D Network and develop people assets on behalf of SC
- D Help SC teams at NM schools (some programming skills an asset)
- R Recruit under-represented groups toward adopting computing skills
3. Program Management
- R Project management skills including financial reporting
- D Lead a program team and volunteer team; multitask, respond to changing demands, and meet deadlines and budget requirements
Role in Detail
Work with the management team for the New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge program by planning annual activities in conjunction with other program sponsors. As a representative of the Challenge team, make presentations about the Challenge.
Travel will be required several times during the year to in-person Supercomputing Challenge events, recruiting visits to student camps, teacher professional development sessions, and conferences appropriate to soliciting participation and sponsorships.
Manage the program’s budget and write reports about the program. Provide help to students in areas of science, computer languages, parallel computing topics, utilities, code performance, and other facets of a high-performance computing environment. Tasks include answering questions and solving technical problems by telephone, electronic mail, and visits to area schools.
Plan the curricula for the Challenge Kickoff conference and summer teacher professional development. Be involved with planning the annual exposition and awards ceremony held in the spring at Los Alamos National Laboratory or somewhere in Albuquerque.
Skills & Qualifications
Required Skills
- Develop and market an education program for high school and middle school students and their teachers
- Interact with program sponsors, volunteers, parents, and alumni
- Perform education research and present the program at national levels
- Recruit diverse participants from across geographic regions and under-represented groups in computing
- Effectively manage an education program
- Demonstrated experience with one or more programming languages
- Web programming and database software experience
- Effective oral communication in classroom and/or team situations
- Experience working with teachers, students, and educational organizations
- Documented success working independently and in a team environment
- Experience leading a program requiring multitasking, adapting to changing demands, and meeting deadlines and budget requirements
Desired Skills
- Plan, develop, write, and submit grant proposals to government, public, or private entities
- Use effective technical tools toward curriculum delivery
- Network and develop people assets on behalf of the Supercomputing Challenge
- Scientific and/or computing research experience
- Customer service experience
Education
Bachelor’s degree or higher in a STEM field or other related technical discipline, with experience in education.
How to Apply
Submit your resume or application materials to director@supercomputingchallenge.org.
Questions about this posting: (505) 412-2558