Director, STEM & Puerto Rico Emerging Workforce Transformation in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Puerto Rico Science Technology & Research Trust
Job Description
Job Title: Director, STEM & Puerto Rico Emerging Workforce Transformation
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (PRSTRT)
Location / Hours: San Juan, Puerto Rico / Full-Time
Type of Contract: Regular Position (Probationary Period)
Overview of the Organization
The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (“PRSTRT” or “Trust”) is a private non-profit organization created in 2004 to encourage and promote innovation, transfer, and commercialization of technology and creation of jobs in the technology sector. We contribute to Puerto Rico’s public policy for science, technology, research, and development. The Trust’s mission is to invest, facilitate and build capacity to continually advance Puerto Rico's economy and its citizens’ well-being through innovation-driven enterprises, science, technology, research, and public health. Our vision is that Puerto Rico is a globally recognized innovation hub.
The STEM & Puerto Rico Emerging Workforce Transformation Program reimagines and transforms STEM education and workforce development through strategic partnerships, innovative learning experiences, and public policy advocacy. The program serves students, teachers, and professionals with high-quality, accessible learning opportunities, with the aim of strengthening the island's talent pipeline and meeting the needs of emerging industries and technologies. Its work spans formal and informal education, capacity building, and workforce development to support Puerto Rico's economic growth and competitiveness.
Purpose
The Director, STEM & Puerto Rico Emerging Workforce Transformation leads Puerto Rico's strategy to develop a future-ready STEM workforce by aligning education, industry, government, and innovation ecosystems to prepare students and professionals for careers driven by artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, data science, sustainability, and other emerging technologies.
The Director will position the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust as the island's leading catalyst for STEM talent development, workforce innovation, and economic competitiveness while building talent pathways from K-12 through professional careers.
Key Responsibilities and Duties
Strategic Planning & Policy:
- Develop, communicate, and maintain Puerto Rico's five-year STEM & Workforce transformation strategic plan, using best-in-class plans from other jurisdictions as reference to becoming Puerto Rico's: STEM Talent Development, Workforce Foresight, and Innovation Pipeline Organization.
- Foster, influence, and participate in the development and deployment of Puerto Rico's Future Workforce Strategy. Enable a statewide workforce foresight activity and identify emerging skills and occupations critical to Puerto Rico's economic growth.
- Serve as the Trust's principal liaison with the Puerto Rico Department of Education, Schools and Universities and corporate partners.
- Develop workforce dashboards and use labor market intelligence to drive program decisions and measure impact.
Program Development & Delivery:
- Design, launch, and support STEM & workforce transformation programs, focus areas: science, biotechnology, AI literacy, technology, data science, robotics, among other programs, summer camps, and in-school activities.
- Build Industry-Aligned Talent Pipelines connecting K-12, universities, technical colleges, employers, and workforce partners to create seamless career pathways.
- Expand Work-Based Learning Opportunities in areas such as: Registered Apprenticeships, Internships and Industry Projects.
Talento Boricua Project Leadership (STEM):
- Serve as the STEM & Emerging Workforce development liaison for Talento Boricua project, setting its scientific and educational direction.
- Define the emerging workforce development project pipeline model, assign dedicated resources and collaborate with the project core team in the strategic goals.
- Coordinate with partner institutions, employers, and government agencies so that project activities are complementary and avoid duplication.
- Ensure program design is evidence-based and draws on national and international best practices STEM education and emerging workforce transformation.
Funding & Partnerships:
- Secure funding for STEM & emerging workforce transformation programs by researching and submitting proposals to foundations, corporate entities, and federal agencies, involving partners as appropriate.
- Develop compelling narratives that support funding goals, working with the Trust's grants team and other internal and external contributors.
- Coordinate collaborative efforts and partnerships to improve student outcomes.
- Drive Workforce Innovation Partnerships establishing high-impact collaborations among:
- Industry, Government, Universities, School Systems, Federal Agencies, STEM focus professional organizational to address emerging talent needs.
Knowledge, Management & Growth:
- Monitor effective STEM education and workforce development practices nationally and internationally and translate findings into program recommendations.
- Manage program budgets, financial reporting, and administrative oversight.
- Supervise, develop, and support staff, and foster cross-functional collaboration across the Trust.
Since our organization is going to change to meet the needs of new designations, you can expect, anticipate, and assume that your job description will change to meet this challenge.
Qualifications & Technical Job Requirements
- Strategic Workforce Foresight: Ability to anticipate future workforce demands and translate trends into actionable programs.
- AI and Emerging Technology Fluency not necessarily as a technical expert but as a strategic leader. Areas such as: Generative AI, Data Analytics, digital transformation, among other emerging technologies.
- Ecosystem Building: Ability to convene and align: Industry, Academia, Government, Nonprofits around shared workforce goals.
- Data-Driven Leadership experience using: Workforce analytics, Dashboards, Impact evaluation.
- Resource Development and Fundraising: Federal grants, Foundation funding, Corporate sponsorships.
- Communication and Influence: Exceptional ability to communicate in both English and Spanish with different stakeholders, sponsors, academia, government and industry executives.
Experience & Educational Requirements
- Master's degree in a STEM field, or in education or education innovation with a STEM focus. PHD in STEM related area is desired.
- Five (5) + years of professional experience leading a program or comparable initiative, including managing grants, programs, or complex projects.
- At least three (3) years of experience supervising direct reports.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of trends and standards in STEM education and the STEM pipeline.
- High proficiency in computer systems, software applications, and online collaboration tools.
- Experience with Puerto Rico's education, workforce transformation, or innovation ecosystem.
- Experience developing grant proposals for federal agencies or private foundations.
- Experience leading multi-stakeholder partnerships across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
- Experience with budgeting and financial planning for programs of significant scope.
“The Trust is an equal opportunity employer; we strive to maintain a workplace atmosphere that is free from discrimination. To those ends, the Trust provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, social status, political affiliation, religion, physical or mental disability, veteran status, perceived or real domestic violence victim status, sexual harassment victim status, stalking victim status, and/or any other basis protected by law.”
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