Plan, manage, and execute student summit programming at SME events, the SME Bright Minds Community of Scholars program, and the state and national SkillsUSA Additive Manufacturing competition to provide students with valuable insights into employment and career development opportunities in manufacturing, engineering, and technology. Research and identify opportunities to establish partnerships and strategic relationships with industry, government agencies, high schools, universities, secondary and post-secondary students, and workforce development partners that may enhance Foundation programming.
MAJOR FUNCTIONS:
- Design, lead and execute student-centric programming at student summits to build awareness of manufacturing technology and career opportunities, including but not limited to student summit agenda development, strategic oversight of keynote speaker selection, establishing partnerships with hands-on competition providers, recruitment of schools and event exhibitors, high-level coordination of partner communications, and ensuring seamless execution of all logistical components, i.e., shipping, summit room set up, on site student registration and check in, audio/visual set up, etc.
- Collaborate with SME Events and SME+ platform vendor to develop a student game on the SME app, that enhances engagement, aligns with event goals and provides measurable insights on student and exhibitor interactions.
- Develop and execute a national recruitment strategy targeting high priority high schools across the country for student summits, including but not limited to school identification, outreach, and securement, student registration, school communications, and pre-event training;
- Develop and manage an exhibitor engagement strategy to maximize participation in student summits, including identifying, recruiting, and training exhibitors, aligning their participation with workforce development initiatives and measuring exhibitor engagement outcomes.
- Leverage the CRM to develop data driven insights and performance metrics for tracking school and exhibitor engagement and making continuous improvements.
- Lead the planning and execution of state and national SkillsUSA Additive Manufacturing competitions, including but not limited to competition development, strategic partner management at the national level, and oversight of all competition related logistics and outreach.
- Drive the promotion and expansion of SME student membership among student summit and SkillsUSA attendees, ensuring a measurable increase in engagement and retention.
- Oversee the promotion and integration of SME Education Foundation scholarship opportunities within student summits and SkillsUSA programming, ensuring seamless alignment with SME’s workforce development strategy.
- Develop and manage annual budgets for all student summit and SkillsUSA activities, providing comprehensive financial oversight, forecasting program costs, and ensuring alignment with long-term Foundation goals.
- Inform the development of student summit highlights for monthly promotion in Manufacturing Engineering and on smeef.org.
- Lead the Community of Scholars program, building a national network of future industry leaders and serving as the primary point of contact for up to 120 college students on all things SME (i.e, events, Tooling U-SME, Workforce Development, Media and Membership)
- Develop and implement an engagement strategy for Community of Scholars students, ensuring active participation, industry exposure and professional growth
- Strengthen and expand the SME mentorship program, ensuring meaningful mentor-mentee experiences through structured onboarding, guided touchpoints, and measurable outcomes.
- Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, education, event planning or related field..
- At least five (5) years of experience in event management, workforce development, education programming or related fields.
- Proficiency in CRM (Salesforce.com), MS Office Suite, and other relevant software applications.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop reports, presentations, and marketing materials.
- Ability to collect, synthesize, and analyze data to drive program improvements and inform decision-making.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and manage relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, including schools, exhibitors, and industry partners
- Experience managing program budgets, tracking expenses, and ensuring financial accountability.
- Experience in sales, customer service, or partnership development preferred.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with strong multitasking capabilities.
KEY COMPETENCIES:
- Event Planning and Execution
- Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management
- Strategic Marketing and Outreach
- Program Development and Strategic Planning
- Data Analysis and Performance Management
- Effective Communication and Collaboration
- Technology Proficiency: CRM, Microsoft Office, and Event Management Tools
- Public speaking, Facilitation and Stakeholder Engagement
- Budget development and management
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Normal office environment.
- Regular, in-person attendance required.
- Primary office location: Southfield, MI.
- Travel required.
- Ability to lift and move 25 lbs.
POSITION TITLE: Program Manager Student Engagement
GROUP: SME Education Foundation
FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
SME is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Applicants must live in the United States and legally be authorized to work there without sponsorship.
The salary range for this position is $70,920 - $88,650 per year, based on experience and qualifications. Offers typically fall within this range based on individual qualifications and budget availability. In addition to base salary, SME offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 403(b) with company matching, generous paid time off and holidays, professional development and training opportunities, and additional wellness and work-life balance benefits. Certain positions may also be eligible for bonus/incentive compensation, subject to role and company policies.
