Director, Talent and Network

Ford • Detroit, MI

21h • $112,680 - $212,760 • Hybrid

About The Position

Michigan Central is a 30-acre technology and cultural hub located in Detroit, where leaders, thinkers, communities, and creators come together to accelerate bold ideas and new solutions that shape our collective future. With access to world-class infrastructure, tools, and resources, Michigan Central empowers innovators and community members to collaborate on groundbreaking solutions to global challenges. Since opening in April 2023, Michigan Central has evolved into a vibrant and diverse ecosystem comprising approximately 2,000 employees from nearly 250 companies and startups. Together, these organizations work at the intersection of mobility and society, driving projects that create lasting impact and redefine how the world approaches mobility.
ABOUT THE TALENT DEVELOPMENT & PROGRAMMING TEAM
The Talent Development & Programming team exists to support the growth of the innovation workforce and founder network across our campus and Southeastern Michigan, using an equity-first, market-led approach. The team’s strategic priorities and initiatives span across K-12, post-secondary, and adult programming initiatives.
ABOUT THE NETWORK TEAM
The Network team focuses on the growth, platform, and experiences of all those who are a part of the network (or ecosystem) at Michigan Central. Our mission is to build the world-class capabilities for innovation to happen here—place, infrastructure, programming, experiences and policy—while growing the network through partnerships and products that increase retention, traffic, revenue, and regional impact.
Why This Role Matters
This role is essential to Michigan Central’s growing innovation ecosystem – supporting the systems, partnerships, and workforce that connect people to opportunity, and helps the campus and industries thrive.

Requirements

• Masters Degree, or comparable experience, in workforce development, innovation, strategy, placed based urban planning, public policy or talent programs.
• 5+ years’ experience supporting workforce development programs or initiatives, startup or innovation-driven environments, or education, with demonstrated experience in leading teams, building operational capabilities, and making the necessary choices that build a strategy.
• Dexterity and comfort working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment

Nice To Haves

• Strong collaborative, interpersonal skills including conflict resolution, negotiation and creative problem solving
• Creative and innovative mindset as it relates to employees’ workplace experience o Strong business acumen with visionary mindset
• Experience with project planning and management
• Strong ability to balance strategy with high-level execution and implementation o Human-centric and empathetic thinker
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to interface at all levels of an organization, both internally and externally
• Understanding of diversity and inclusion
• Inclination towards action on strategic imperative

Responsibilities

• The Director for Network and Platform will put strategies in place that position Michigan Central as a platform where others come to succeed.
• This role will continue to refine the talent strategy to be differentiated, show immediate impact, and enable convenings that can capitalize on our programs.
• You will also be responsible for our strategic partners in this space, including: Boys and Girls Club, GVSU, WSU, UMCI, and future workforce partners that join the ecosystem.
• Your role is to find mutual value, while balancing capacity and impact.
• This role will also be responsible for working across the network to find collaboration and strategic opportunities to bring partners together.
• This role has to balance strategy with doing and will need to dig into existing programs, understand the nuances, and then build the next steps with operational excellence.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director