Executive Director, Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Rank III or IV

Position #30-001 | Download as PDF

• Leadership
  • Provide leadership and direction to integrate Divisional strengths and encourage synergistic interactions among Division scientists.
  • Develop and implement strategies that lead to building teams capable of competing at a high level by leveraging the inherent strengths of the Division and fostering collaboration among faculty members from all DRI Divisions as well as scientists external to DRI.
  • Position the Division in the broader national and international research community.
  • Provide a broad base of knowledge and interest in the areas of research being conducted by the Division and represent the Division to both the public and various funding entities.
  • Provide direction to individual faculty to maintain high morale and assist in program development.

• Research Program Development and Implementation
  • Interact with funding agencies to market DEES’ capabilities and to attract external research funds and foster collaborative efforts with other institutions.
  • Benchmark Division-wide trends in scientific products such as peer-reviewed publications, reports, proposals, and patents.
  • Promote the Division by understanding and integrating Divisional strengths and to identify areas of scientific growth and opportunity and by acquiring sufficient extramural funds to support this integration.
  • Prioritize allocation of Divisional funds for development of externally funded research programs.

• Management and Division Representation
  • Lead efforts in workforce planning and recruitment of new diverse faculty and staff; develop strategies to enhance retention of faculty through incentives that reward success in developing externally funded research.
  • Collaborate with DRI and NSHE leadership to develop and coordinate teaching opportunities, and facilitate undergraduate and graduate research efforts.
  • Work with Division Business Manager to establish revenue projections, set budget priorities, allocate Division funds, and coordinate fiscal affairs with the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration.
  • Ensure optimum utilization of existing equipment and facilities; prioritize on-going facilities’ needs and advocate for additional resources where necessary including through the pursuit of extramural funding.
  • Address human resources issues and employment actions such as hiring, annual evaluations of faculty, approval of staff evaluations, mentoring, and recommendations of faculty for promotions and awards.
  • Ensure compliance with DRI/NSHE policies and state/federal regulations.
  • Participate in the overall DRI leadership team to determine new areas of research, support Vice President for Development efforts, and assume other assignments, as needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. or equivalent graduate degree in archaeological, biological, geological, earth sciences, or a related field or professional experience commensurate with an advanced degree.
• Broad understanding of earth and ecosystem sciences.
• Evidence of success in building and leading research programs in governmental, private sector, or university settings.
• Evidence of significant scientific achievement including a record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal, collaborative, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience in managing fiscal budgets for similar sized organizations.
• Evidence of management experience in supervising personnel, conducting performance appraisals, and managing conflict.
• Any applicant must be a citizen of the United States and be able to obtain and maintain both US Department of Energy "Q" and US Department of Defence Top Secret clearances, which may require a background investigation by the Federal government with possible subsequent re-investigations.

STRONGLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Direct experience in the soft-money research environment, such as in a national laboratory, university institute, government, or high-level consulting firm.
• Creativity in identifying research issues and pursuing research avenues that will enhance DEES’s academic prestige and financial standing.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The successful candidate will be offered the position contingent upon passing a mandatory test for the absence of any illegal drugs as defined in 10 CFR 707.4 as well as satisfactory credit, criminal and background checks.

The individual who is offered and accepts this position must provide, within 30 working days of his/her start date of the position, a copy of the transcript(s) of the highest degree he/she acquired, as awarded by an accredited institute as recognized by the United States Department of Education and/or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

SALARY/BENEFITS

Starting salary is commensurate with experience and education. DRI offers a benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance; 12.25% matching retirement by DRI with retirement options through TIAA-CREF, Valic and/or Fidelity; paid annual and sick leave, 11 paid holidays; and tuition reduction at NSHE institutions for employee, spouse and dependents. Additionally, there is no state income tax and no social security deduction.

The Desert Research Institute is an Affirmative Action / Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and employs only U.S. citizens and persons lawfully authorized to work in the United States.