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Business Mentor For Master in Business Analytics, 2020-21

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Position description

Business Mentors (hereafter, “Mentors”) are experienced industry professionals that advise and guide practicum (https://gsm.ucdavis.edu/msba-practicum-projects) teams over the course of the MSBA year, from September through the following June.

In a professional consulting environment, entry level consultants are trained by the firm’s Directors and Partners. If the practicum engagement is viewed as a consulting project, the Mentor functions in the role of a senior partner, guiding the student team’s “client” relationship and project flow. The specific nature of guidance varies by project needs, from organizational counselor to a coach for specific consultative skills.

The role requires ongoing collaboration with:
● the MSBA Director of Analytics Strategy (hereafter “Director”, who has overall responsibility for the success of the practicum),
● As needed, Mentors for other MSBA projects, and
● Graduate School of Management faculty providing technical expertise to project.

Typical Mentor responsibilities include, in roughly decreasing importance:
● Guiding students’ consulting relationship with the MSBA Industry Partner (MIP), i.e., the client
○ Monitoring and ensuring productive, regular and substantive client interactions
○ Ensuring that well-documented and measurable expectations are created, and the associated deliverable s (be they software, reports, documentation, user training, or intermediate artifacts) are of professional quality
○ Coaching key MIP-facing presentations and reports
● Ensuring that comprehensive and accurate business considerations are incorporated into strategy, planning, and implementation
○ Ensuring that teams obtain early MIP buy-in on a feasible project scope and implementation plan appropriate to expectations embedded in the Project Description
○ Providing ongoing guidance on strategic and organizational implications of data and process analysis conducted by the team
● Synchronizing project health with the Director
○ Conveying early warnings of deviations from project plan or divergence from MIP expectations
○ Providing feedback on team performance and individual team-member contribution to Director, both informally, and as input into course grades
○ If requested, on an exceptional basis, mentoring team on non-MIP-facing deliverables for the practicum-related three-course sequence customarily taught by Director (BAX 461, 462 and 463)

When the particularities of specific engagements require, the above list of responsibilities may be modified in consultation with the Director.
Expectations
● A Mentor is expected to mentor three teams; however, disruptions in the plan may require a Mentor to take on an additional team (this has never actually occurred)
● Mentors will be required to sign a confidentiality and/or intellectual property agreement for each assigned project
● In assigning projects, Director will consult with each Mentor to minimize, if not entirely eliminate, any conflicts of interest w.r.t. other professional ties
● Regular team huddles, in person or via web-conference (e.g., Zoom), are essential to monitoring and maintaining progress in the student setting. Mentors will meet with each assigned team at least once every other week
● Mentors will join the Director’s Executive Mentor discussion approximately once a month. Attendance via Zoom will be available
● From time to time, Mentors are invited to major MIP-facing events such as the project kick-off or the presentation of the final report; on such occasions in-person connection with MIP stakeholders is desirable, but is understood to be at the Mentor’s judgement * This subject to change due to COVID-19
● When a closer connection with the MIP is desirable, Mentors are empowered to open a direct relationship with MIP personnel in consultation with the Director

Applicants should have at least a Masters or relevant work experience in the desired area of study and be familiar with standard business frameworks.
Potential candidates should submit their application online via the RECRUIT system only. Please submit a vitae or resume, evidence of teaching ability and contact information for three references. There is an initial review date for this recruitment, however the position will remain open until filled. Only completed applications will be reviewed.

The Graduate School of Management is interested in candidates who are committed to the highest standards of scholarship and professional activities, and to the development of a campus that supports equality and diversity. The University of California is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
This position is covered by a collective bargaining unit. UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco free campus.

CONTACT: Academic Operations and Planning at the Graduate School of Management (jobs@gsm.ucdavis.edu).

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Evidence of Teaching - Examples include course materials such as syllabus or course evaluations.

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested.

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)
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Job location

San Francisco, CA