The Role
MTS seeks a full-time Senior Director to lead our flagship Ocean Enterprise Initiative. Launched in 2023, the Ocean Enterprise Initiative aims to spearhead innovation, thought leadership, and economic development within the Ocean Enterprise. The Initiative, which includes the signature program Dialogues with Industry, is supported by partners at the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), Kongsberg Discovery, and L3Harris.
MTS is committed to expanding and sustaining this global initiative over the coming years with the goal to catalyze the growth of vibrant Ocean Enterprise business clusters, bolster robust global ocean observing systems, support NOAAs Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerator Program, and underpin sustainable growth in offshore energy markets and the blue economy.
The successful incumbent must have proven executive leadership capability, critical thinking skills, exceptional program management and operations experience, a deep understanding of marine science and technology, the ability to successfully engage and develop trusted and enduring relationships with professionals at the highest levels of industry, government, and academia, and possess a keen understanding of program management, thought leadership, and complex network engagement. Reporting to the CEO and serving as a member of the MTS senior leadership team, the Senior Director must be based in the US, with a preference for contiguous time zones.
This role includes the following essential functions, and other duties as assigned:
Program Leadership—Lead the member- and partner-driven design, expansion, and delivery of the Ocean Enterprise Initiative. Working closely with program staff and contracted support, lead and ensure the successful delivery of all aspects of the program, including but not limited to soliciting input and feedback on community priorities from across the ocean enterprise, expanding the community of professionals engaged with the program, large- and small-event coordination, facilitating complex and nuanced discussions, preparation of pre- and post-event material and reports, and ensuring timely and accurate drafting of needs assessments, impact reports, repositories, and roadmaps. Manage annual budget process with sponsors, grant reporting, and all financial oversight of program resources. Serve as the staff lead and direct supervisor for a growing team that includes one full-time program manager and multiple contracted professionals.
Network Engagement—Cultivate trusted and enduring relationships with ocean and marine technology professionals spanning industry, academia, government, and non-governmental organizations, including at the highest levels of leadership. Ensure consistent and sustained engagement of this stakeholder community in structured dialogues, small group convenings and expert working groups, and large format workshops and conferences. Focus network engagement towards the actionable and timely generation of outputs that drive outcomes on topics as wide ranging as ocean observing systems, coastal and climate resilience technologies, renewable energy systems, and the blue economy workforce. Working closely with MTS colleagues, establish and deepen collaborative relationships between network members and the MTS member community, including professional committees, sections, and MATE regional competitions.
Complex Collaboration—Lead the collaborative development, implementation, and assessment of strategies to increase community engagement in the Initiative; refine topical priorities for future activities; and ensure tangible impact of program deliverables on short- and long-term MTS and community needs. Serve as the administrative lead for planning and coordination of Initiative activities within MTS, with the global partner planning group, and program sponsors. Work closely with peers and colleagues across MTS, including staff and volunteers, to ensure Initiative outcomes support the MTS mission and growth priorities and that all available and appropriate MTS resources are utilized to support successful Initiative outcomes.
Requirements
What You Bring to the Role
- A master’s degree from an accredited academic institution and at least seven years of full-time program leadership experience. A combination of education and experience will be considered.
- Extensive experience working with and a deep network of current professional connections spanning industry, non-governmental organizations (e.g., IMO, World Bank), intergovernmental (e.g., IOC, WMO, GOOS), and ocean-focused government agencies (e.g., NOAA, CSIRO, GEOMAR, IFERMER).
- Demonstrated ability to manage and successfully achieve complex and dynamic program deliverables, including through delegation of activity to full-time staff and contracted support.
- Keen attention to detail as well as demonstrated time- and project-management skills, including an ability to meet multiple deadlines, in a distributed company, by maintaining a high level of organization, professionalism, and accountability.
- Demonstrated ability to use critical and strategic thinking to inform decisions in an ambiguous environment.
- Demonstrated ability to collect, interpret, and extract key details from myriad data to inform the refinement of near- and long-range project and program strategies.
- Exceptional attention to detail, a highly refined ability to solve complex problems (sometimes with incomplete information), and desire to inform decisions with the best available data.
- Proficiency in using database management software (CRM, ASM), project management tools (e.g., Trello, Teams, MS Project), and business productivity software (Microsoft, Adobe) to manage project, network, and member data and to generate analytics to inform strategy and tactics.
- A passion for the oceans and a hunger to learn about ideas and developments at the cutting-edge of marine technology.
- Superior written and verbal communication skills with the ability to draft concise, compelling messages.
Travel—Frequent travel required up to 25%, including both domestic and international destinations, to represent the Ocean Enterprise Initiative at tradeshows and conferences, to attend MTS staff retreats, to meet with program partners, to support expert working group convenings, and to lead large-format conferences and workshops for participants across the global ocean community.
What We Have to Offer
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience and negotiable, with annual bonus opportunities.
- MTS staff work flexible hours and are fully remote.
- 403(b) retirement match up to 5%, vested immediately.
- 100% employer paid medical, dental, and vision for you (90% employer paid for dependents).
- 3 weeks paid annual leave, 2 weeks paid sick leave, 13 paid holidays, and company closure days.
- $200 per month work from home stipend to help you succeed in a remote environment.
Application review will begin May 24, 2024 and continue until filled.
