Executive Director, Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment

About the role

Virginia Tech is seeking a strategic and effective leader to serve as the Executive Director of the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment (ISCE).

Responsibilities

• Advance Virginia Tech’s national and international reputation in the social sciences and humanities research and scholarship through opportunities for faculty investment and mentoring and promotion of interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Develop a vision for supporting cutting-edge research that addresses complex societal challenges through high-impact research and scholarship.
• Align research investments with funding opportunities and forge strategic partnerships with governmental agencies, industry, and other stakeholders to drive the institute’s research agenda.
• Promote interdisciplinary linkages within the University.
• Manage Institute operations, including supervising and mentoring staff and maintaining fiscal accountability through effective budget planning.
• Provide interdisciplinary leadership and advocacy for faculty engagement and development, including support for promotion and tenure.
• Facilitate opportunities for faculty research and scholarship through internal funding opportunities, technical assistance, mentoring, and proposal development programs.
• Build and sustain relationships with key external stakeholders, including alumni, donors, advisory board members, and corporate and governmental partners.
• Support fundraising, advancement, and visibility of Virginia Tech through strategic external engagement and communication efforts.
• Provide ongoing mentorship, professional development, and leadership support to direct reports to foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in their discipline and be actively engaged in social science research, with a record of recognized achievement in research, scholarly and educational pursuits, and service meriting appointment at the rank of Professor at Virginia Tech.
• Visionary, inspirational, and strategic leadership with knowledge and experience leading research organizations, for example in academic institutions, research institutes, and/or centers or their equivalent.
• Significant research record and reputation that includes strong external funding support and evidence of interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Extensive knowledge, expertise, and vision for the connection of social science across disciplines and the application of those research outcomes in external settings.
• Experience building and championing the work of others, especially in a research setting.
• Proven ability to work across organizational boundaries with a variety of stakeholders to build and maintain relationships.
• High level of diplomacy, discretion, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven track record in management and budgetary responsibility.
• Demonstrated clear communication and negotiation skills.
• Appreciation for, and experience in faculty mentoring, particularly supporting faculty in engaging in sponsored research.
• Experience managing research resources, including seed funding, advocacy, and faculty support.
• Respect for shared governance and experience advocating for faculty, staff, and students.
• Demonstrated leadership and development of direct reports, and personnel management.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in their discipline and be actively engaged in social science research, with a record of recognized achievement in research, scholarly and educational pursuits, and service meriting appointment at the rank of Professor at Virginia Tech.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and leadership.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration and partnership-building.
• Research management and mentoring.
• External stakeholder engagement and fundraising.
• Effective communication and negotiation.
• Faculty development and support.

Benefits

• Exempt: Not eligible for overtime.
• Appointment Type: Regular.
• Salary Information: Commensurate with experience.
• Hours per week: 40+

Pay

Commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Regular.