Director, American Rocketry Challenge

Director, American Rocketry Challenge

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Position Summary:

The American Rocketry Challenge Director is responsible for successfully managing and executing all aspects of AIA’s American Rocketry Challenge. They act as liaison for the American Rocketry Challenge with organizations and individuals including registered teams, AIA member companies, academic institutions, associations, Congressional staff, the National Association of Rocketry, NASA, the Department of Defense, consultants, and AIA staff. This position reports directly to the Senior Director, American Rocketry Challenge.

The American Rocketry Challenge is the world’s largest rocket contest and the aerospace and defense industry’s signature STEM program, with nearly 5,000 students nationwide competing annually. The contest provides students in 6th – 12th grades the opportunity to design, build, and launch model rockets and gain hands-on experience solving engineering problems. To learn more about the American Rocketry Challenge, as well as the Aerospace Industries Association and National Association of Rocketry, please visit https://rocketcontest.org/about/

This position does not require experience with rocketry, aerospace, or engineering.

Strategy/Program Management (100%)

• Oversees and manages American Rocketry Challenge strategy, program, sponsorships, partnerships, grants, and in-person activities.
• Collaborates with AIA senior leadership to develop strategic vision and/or program frameworks.
• Develops and manages project timelines, budgets, and plans for American Rocketry Challenge programs and initiatives.
• Advocate and lead efforts for a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible contest.
• Proactively evaluate program impact by capturing key metrics and taking actions towards improvement.
• Design and implement new initiatives in line with emerging trends and best practices.

Execution:

• Manage and execute contest registration, Title I grant selection and distribution, and qualification flight submission and evaluation as well as maintain up-to-date contest materials.

Event Planning:

• Plans and manages all event planning related to the program in partnership with the National Association of Rocketry, including the National Finals and International Rocketry Challenge.
• For the National Finals, this includes selecting and negotiating with venues, vendors, event set up, staffing, and exhibits.
• For the International Rocketry Challenge, this includes managing the U.S. national team’s participation and coordination with sponsors and foreign trade associations.

Communications:

• Coordinate with AIA’s Communications team to develop and execute internal and external contest communications strategies including email and social media.
• Collaborates internally with AIA’s Policy and Communications teams to increase awareness about the industry’s workforce efforts, as well as encourage students to pursue careers in aerospace.

Talent Development:

• Manage year-round internship program and directly supervise program intern
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Native understanding and extensive work within the Microsoft Office environment (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project planning programs, SharePoint) is required.
• Experience with SurveyMonkey Apply is a significant plus.
• Excellent communication skills conveying key messages to large groups in writing and in-person.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with individuals across various levels of the association’s hierarchy within a diverse organization.
• Ability to work under time pressure to meet deadlines and capability to quickly flex to changes in priorities. In addition, be flexible where extra hours are needed without always being asked.
• Ability to independently prioritize, multi-task duties, and collaborate across AIA. In addition, possesses well-developed interpersonal and time management skills.

Desired Skills/Experience:

• An Associate or Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience is preferred
• Experience as a project or program manager or in corporate social responsibility preferred.
• Experience in and passion for STEM education and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.

To apply, please send the following documents to (see our website):

• Resume
• Cover Letter

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AIA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression or veteran status. Military service valued, including those still serving in the National Guard or Reserve.