Director of the Human Innovation Lab

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The Austin E. Cofrin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay seeks applications for the inaugural Executive Director of the Human Innovation Lab, a university-wide initiative designed to develop Northeast Wisconsin's next generation of Pragmatic Problem Solvers.

The Human Innovation Lab represents UW-Green Bay’s reimagining of how a regional comprehensive university prepares graduates to contribute to a dynamic, forward-looking economy and society. The Lab will prepare students from every academic discipline to identify opportunities, solve meaningful problems, and create value within organizations, communities, and entrepreneurial ventures.

The Human Innovation Lab approaches its work through three interconnected pillars:

• Human Capability – cultivating durable human skills including curiosity, creativity, communication, collaboration, leadership, resilience, ethical judgment, and entrepreneurial thinking.
• Applied Technology – preparing students to thoughtfully leverage emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and data-informed decision making, to enhance human potential.
• Real Problems – engaging students in authentic interdisciplinary challenges developed in partnership with businesses, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, government agencies, and community organizations.

The Executive Director will provide dynamic leadership for one of UW–Green Bay's key initiatives, building a distinctive model for interdisciplinary innovation and experiential learning that strengthens both student success and regional prosperity.

Working collaboratively across the University and community, the Executive Director will cultivate a campus-wide culture of innovation while building meaningful partnerships with employers, entrepreneurs, alumni, investors, foundations, economic development organizations, and community leaders throughout Northeast Wisconsin.

The Executive Director reports to the Dean of the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business and supervises assigned professional staff, student employees, and affiliated personnel.

The successful candidate will contribute to a young, growing, forward-looking university embedded within Wisconsin's third-largest metropolitan area. The Green Bay community provides exceptional opportunities for collaboration with nationally recognized organizations in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, food production, paper, technology, and professional services. The Human Innovation Lab seeks to prepare the University’s graduates to thrive in rapidly changing organizations and communities.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and operational management for the Human Innovation Lab, advancing its mission, vision, programming, assessment, and long-term sustainability.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve high-impact interdisciplinary learning experiences that engage students from across UW–Green Bay's undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Lead signature initiatives aligned with the Lab's mission.
• Foster a university-wide culture of innovation by collaborating with faculty, staff, academic leaders, Faculty Innovation Fellows, and students across all colleges to embed innovation and problem solving throughout the student experience.
• Build and sustain strategic partnerships with businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, investors, alumni, economic development organizations, and community partners that expand opportunities for students while strengthening Northeast Wisconsin's innovation ecosystem.
• Serve as an ambassador for the Human Innovation Lab through public presentations, community engagement, regional collaborations, and strategic communications.
• Partner with the Dean of the Cofrin School of Business to cultivate philanthropic support, pursue grants, develop corporate sponsorships, and engage donors in advancing the mission and long-term sustainability of the Human Innovation Lab.
• Supervise professional staff, student employees, interns, and affiliated programs supporting the Human Innovation Lab.
• Teach up to two undergraduate or graduate courses annually in support of the Entrepreneurship program and related innovation initiatives.
• Contribute to the strategic priorities of the Cofrin School of Business and the University while supporting institutional initiatives, assessment efforts, and continuous improvement.

Department:

Cofrin School of Business

Compensation:

Competitive compensation commensurate with qualifications and experience.

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree or Bachelor's degree plus 10 years of professional experience in Business, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Leadership, Organizational Development, Design, Public Administration, Higher Education, or a closely related field at the time of application.
• 7 years of progressively responsible experience, including demonstrated leadership in entrepreneurship, innovation, business creation, venture development, corporate innovation, or comparable initiatives, including demonstrated experience translating ideas or opportunities into new programs, products, services, ventures, or organizational value.
• Demonstrated success developing and leading complex programs, initiatives, organizations, or partnerships involving multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships with business leaders, entrepreneurs, community organizations, government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and/or other external partners.
• Demonstrated commitment to student development through experiential learning, mentoring, coaching, leadership development, or educational programming.
• Demonstrated success cultivating donors, securing philanthropic support, developing corporate sponsorships, obtaining grants, or generating other external resources.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success building regional innovation ecosystems through collaboration among universities, businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and government organizations.
• Demonstrated understanding of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and their application to innovation, entrepreneurship, and organizational transformation.

Conditions of Appointment:

The home campus of this position is Green Bay and the successful candidate may occasionally be required to travel to or work at the Marinette, Sheboygan or Manitowoc Campus, based on operational needs.

Position is a full-time Academic Staff appointment. A pre-employment education check which includes, but is not limited to, the verification of academic credentials will be conducted on the finalist(s). A criminal conviction investigation will be conducted on the finalist(s) and if there is prior work history within the last 7 years with Universities of Wisconsin, a personnel file review check for employee misconduct. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, the University does not discriminate on the basis of arrest or conviction record.

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 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.

How to Apply:

Click the Apply button and follow the prompts on the screen.

Please be sure to complete all required fields, and include all required documents before submitting your application. Once submitted, you will not be able to edit or attach any application materials. Files must be complete to be considered. Please include the following documents:

• Cover letter specifically addressing qualifications for the essential job functions
• Resume

Application Deadline

To ensure consideration, please submit application materials by Sunday December 13, 2026.

Contact Information:

If you have any questions, need accommodations, or submitted your application with missing materials, call or email:

Human Resources

Phone: (920) 465-2390

Email: jobs@uwgb.edu

The Successful Candidate

The successful candidate will be expected to work inclusively and respectfully within a diverse campus community and practice civility in the workplace. The University welcomes applicants who are dedicated to the appreciation and promotion of inclusivity and equity as crucial components in the pursuit of organizational excellence.

In addition, the successful candidate will have strong oral, written, interpersonal, and organizational skills, demonstrated integrity and strong leadership, and the willingness to work independently and as part of a collaborative team. The University invites applicants who are dedicated to enriching the quality of life for students and the community by embracing the educational value of diversity, promoting environmental sustainability, encouraging engaged citizenship, and serving as an intellectual, cultural, and economic resource.

Benefit Details

The Universities of Wisconsin provides an excellent benefits package to meet the diverse needs of its employees. For benefits eligible positions, this includes several health insurance options, with annual deductibles as low as $250/individual and $500/family. Our benefits package also includes dental, vision, several life insurance options, AD&D and Accident insurance and Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts. We participate in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), where employer contributions begin immediately, and employees are fully vested after 5 years of service. The Universities of Wisconsin also provides supplemental retirement savings programs including a 403(b) and Deferred Compensation.

In addition, eligible employees receive several types of paid leave benefits, which are prorated for employees working less than 100%. This includes 9 legal holidays, 36 hours of personal holiday and between 96-130 hours of sick leave annually and paid parental leave. Eligible employees earn 13-27 days of vacation each year, depending on years of service and employment type.

For more details, please review the benefit quick guide linked below.

• UW System Employee Benefits Brochure

• Total Compensation Estimator

Employee Misconduct

All final candidates will be asked to provide names, email contact information, and/or phone numbers for three (3) references, with at least one being from a manager or supervisor, during the interview process. All final candidates must be asked, prior to hire, whether they have been found to have engaged in, are currently under investigation for, or left employment during an active investigation in which they were accused of employee misconduct, sexual violence or sexual harassment. When obtaining employment reference checks, these same misconduct, sexual violence or sexual harassment questions must also be asked.

Confidentiality Statement

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis.Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

Annual Security Report

For more information regarding the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the surrounding area, see our Campus and Community section. For Campus Safety information see our University Police website and our Annual Security Report (for a paper copy please contact the Office of Human Resources at (920) 465-2390). This report includes statistics about reported crimes, as well as information about crime prevention and campus security policies and procedures.

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.