Executive Director, Center for Community Systems

Title: Executive Director, Center for Community Systems

Department: Center for Community Systems

Reports To: Dean, Hillier College of Architecture & Design

Position Type: Staff

Position Summary:

The Executive Director of the Center for Community Systems at the Hillier College of Architecture and Design (HCAD) is responsible for the leadership, development, and management of a dynamic, multi-million-dollar university research center. The center comprises a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, associated faculty/researchers, students, and subcontractors. The Executive Director is responsible for envisioning the Center's diverse scope of research, technical assistance, and planning activities, and then competing and securing millions of dollars in grants and contracts to execute that vision. This role also involves partnering closely with the College to create and enhance collaboration and educational and research opportunities and experiences for both students and faculty.

Essential Functions:

Serve as Principal Investigator for millions of dollars in grants. Responsibilities include: preparing work plans; completing the funder's required forms; developing and managing project budgets; administering the project through the university's online systems; hiring subcontractors; ensuring that requirements of the grants and contracts are met or exceeded; conducting technical work; closing out grants/contracts; and coordinating with NJIT's Sponsored Research Administration, Legal Affairs Office, Risk Management Department, and Office of Strategic Communications, as well as the home college (HCAD); and managing the staff and students assigned to each grant.

• Direct a multi-disciplinary staff of professionals, students, and subcontractors; identify needs and funding for new positions; hire new staff; manage the staff; and oversee the administrative requirements of the staff.
• Envision, develop, and implement the Center's vision, mission, and goals to maintain its status as a multi-million-dollar university research center; develop strategies to accomplish those goals; develop the Center's work plan and budgets; and collaborate closely with associated faculty/researchers to ensure alignment with academic and research objectives.
• Collaborate and integrate the Center’s initiatives with the research and teaching endeavors of the college, enhancing educational opportunities and advancing interdisciplinary research initiatives.
• Undertake the Center's development activities including networking with NJIT/HCAD faculty, the faculty of other universities, government officials, industry leaders, and foundations; identifying funding opportunities; assembling multi-disciplinary project teams; preparing grant applications and proposals; and conducting presentations to potential funders.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and represent NJIT/HCAD and the Center for Community Systems in various venues and activities and in the media, to increase NJIT/HCAD's and the Center's external exposure and to advance the university research center's practice within the state and across the US.

Prerequisite Qualifications:

Education: Master’s degree in Environmental Planning, City and Regional Planning, Environmental Science, Urban Design or related field required. Ph.D. preferred.

• Experience: Minimum fifteen (15) years of experience spent progressively building a multidisciplinary background in practice and/or research in such areas as environmental planning, climate change resilience, community engagement, brownfields redevelopment, or other related fields. Minimum ten (10) years administrative experience, including managing a staff and developing and managing multi-million-dollar budgets.
• At the university's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be exempted where the candidate can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the university, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior experience serving as a director or other leadership position in a university research center, consulting firm, or government department.

• Substantial successful management and leadership experience with a track record of strategic planning, innovation, and program building.
• Strong strategic planning and leadership skills with demonstrated ability to: lead cross-functional teams; foster synergetic and collaborative experiences to enhance and promote educational opportunities at the home college (HCAD); determine new focus areas to peruse; identify and secure millions of dollars in funding; develop work plans and measurable goals; assess staff and program progress; and guide improvement when needed.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, think strategically, creatively problem solve, and meet deadlines in a complex, multidisciplinary work environment.
• Experience with grant or contract management, including grant or project proposal writing experience.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively engage multiple audiences.
• Experienced public speaker.

Bargaining Unit:

Non-Aligned

Range/Band: 5

FLSA:

Exempt

Full-Time