Networking and Partnership Manager

Bennington College invites applications for a Networking and Partnership Manager. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Networking and Partnership Manager manages the overall project administration and leads communication, outreach, and engagement initiatives for the Vermont PFAS Environmental Research Network project (PERN), for which Bennington College serves as the lead coordinating institution. 

This position reports directly to the Director of Institutional and Academic Grants and is tasked with establishing a durable statewide research network across Vermont's academic, governmental, and community sectors. Collaborating with campus faculty and staff, the Manager cultivates strong partnerships with researchers, community members, public agencies, and key stakeholders dedicated to addressing PFAS contamination. Key to success in this role is the capacity to foster trust, engage varied constituencies, and nurture impactful collaborations across institutional and community environments.

This role is supported by grant funding with an anticipated conclusion date of June 30, 2030. Continuation or renewal of this contract is strictly contingent upon the NSF/PFAS grant. This position is primarily on-site, with hybrid working considerations at the managers discretion. 

Bennington serves a diverse student population inclusive of members of ethnically/racially minoritized, international, LGBTQIA+, and disability communities, as well as diverse gender identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, and political beliefs. Our staff and faculty also reflect diverse and intersecting backgrounds and identities. All employees are expected to be respectful and responsive to these differences in the service of building a community that promotes student and employee success and community cohesiveness. Each individual (faculty, staff and students) will be accountable for upholding these values.  The College’s approach to pluralism and inclusivity—both as fields of inquiry and practice—is to prioritize flexible thought, and to invite the examination of access, value, power, and privilege through its institutional policies and areas of study. We encourage applicants from diverse realms of interest, backgrounds, experience, and accomplishment to apply.

Qualifications 

1. Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Public Policy, Communications, Higher Education Administration, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).


2. A minimum of three years of experience managing multi-institutional programs, preferably funded by federal agencies like the NSF, EPA, or NIH. 


3. Experience and knowledge of PFAS contamination is desirable.


4. Proven track record of developing and maintaining partnerships across diverse groups (faculty, state agency officials, and community activists)


5. Experience managing complex, multi-institutional outreach activities.


6. Strong organizational, time-management, strategic communication, event planning, and stakeholder management skills.


7. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.


8. Strong organizational, time-management, project-coordination, and problem-solving skills.


9. Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and customer-service skills.


10. Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, professionalism, and ability to handle confidential information appropriately.


11. Ability to foster inclusive collaborations across diverse institutional types and non-academic sectors.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion and acceptable results of a background check.

Compensation: The annual salary for this position starts at $55,000.

Bennington College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, retirement, and tuition benefits, including Tuition Exchange scholarships. The College also offers an on-site fitness center as well as generous time off benefits.

General Responsibilities

• Network & Partnership Building: Build and maintain cross-sector collaborations among diverse academic institutions, government entities, and community stakeholders across the Vermont jurisdiction.


• Inter-Project Coordination: Facilitate structured engagement and alignment with other active NSF EPSCoR projects in the Vermont jurisdiction, specifically the E-CORE (VT-STRIVE) team, and the Vermont Technology Council.


• Communications & Outreach: Develop and execute project-wide communication, public outreach, and scientific dissemination strategies to elevate the project’s local, regional, national, and global visibility.


• Workforce & Diversity Integration: Coordinate outreach programs that support multi-level STEM workforce development and inclusive engagement practices across partner organizations. Assist PERN co-PIs with the organization and implementation of a summer Environmental Field Course for the PERN network.


• Project Administration & Event Management: Manage day-to-day administrative operations, organize logistics for strategic-planning meetings and the annual PERN network meetings, coordinate continuous improvement cycles, and organize workshops and science symposia.


• Reporting & Evaluation Liaison: Work closely with the Project Evaluator and PERN Co-PIs and the Advisory Board to collect metrics, support annual reporting, track milestones, and feed data into the EPSCoR Data Outcomes Collection System (EDOCS).


• Help maintain and curate content for a PERN Project Website.

The College

Bennington College is a small residential liberal arts college in southern Vermont, long distinguished for its progressive approach to higher education. The College was founded in 1932 on the principle of active engagement in learning, which is manifest in individualized plans of study developed by students together with faculty. We serve a diverse student population, and our faculty and staff also reflect diverse backgrounds and identities.  Our aim is to educate students towards self-fulfillment and constructive social purposes, and we believe that equity, diversity, and inclusivity--in community and in curriculum--are vital to achieving those aims.

Nestled at the foot of the Green Mountains in Vermont, the campus consists of approximately 370 acres. The College was named one of ten with the best architecture by Architectural Digest.  From campus, it is a short drive to the cultural offerings of the northern Berkshires in Massachusetts, Albany, New York, and many of Vermont’s top recreational centers. New York City, Boston, and Burlington, Vermont are all within three and a half hours by car.