STEM Reentry Task Force

Founded in the fall of 2015, the STEM Reentry Task Force is now in its seventh year. The Task Force is a groundbreaking initiative co-led by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and iRelaunch to grow the number of employers offering return to work programs, and in turn the number of relaunchers who participate in them.

Two woman wearing hardhats while working in industrial setting

Given the technical focus of the Task Force, programs typically start with technical roles exclusively or with technical roles in the mix with non-technical roles. Task Force employer programs are open to all genders.

The Task Force runs on a collaborative model in which a group of employers join annually, each with the goal of launching a return to work program at their respective organization. The designated representative(s) from each employer form a cohort of program managers and meet monthly with leaders and experts from SWE and iRelaunch.

Diverse team collaborating with markers on clear wall

The cohort benefits from the subject matter expertise and reach of both SWE and iRelaunch, a best practices curriculum that is constantly being updated and refined to reflect the innovation in career reentry programs and programming, and from the collaborative experience with peer program managers of building their respective programs within the same time frame. Current Task Force members also get to hear from alumni Task Force members about their experiences as key topics are covered at monthly meetings.

Since inception, 34 employers have participated in the STEM Reentry Task Force, 24 return to work programs have launched, over 700 relaunchers have participated and over 80% have been hired after completing their Task Force employer program.

Congratulations....Our Career Reboot program, that you helped us launch, is going strong at CDM Smith and the incredibly talented women that have joined us to restart their professional careers have been amazing contributors. Thanks for helping us years ago to be the first in our industry.

Timothy Wall CEO, CDM Smith and 2019 STEM Reentry Task Force member