- Job ID: 952138
- Business Unit: North Dakota State University
- Location: Fargo
- Posted: 07/19/2024
- Full/Part Time: Full-Time
- Department: AES Directors Office
- Close Date: 08/13/2024
Position Information
The Executive Director of the NDSU Food, Energy, and Water Security (FEWS) Initiative will lead the strategic direction, management, and operations of the program. With extensive experience and a deep appreciation for research excellence, the position will provide visionary leadership to address the interconnections between food, energy, and water systems and contribute to advancing innovative solutions in these critical areas.
This is an exciting opportunity for an individual interested in building a new program that is driven to address societal challenges at the nexus of food, energy and water security. The Executive Director will work closely with academic, industry, and government stakeholders to foster interdisciplinary research, develop partnerships, secure funding, and promote the mission of the initiative.
This position is grant funded and reports to the Associate Director of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. In addition to a Ph.D. and FEWS subject matter expertise, the Executive Director must have strong leadership and relationship building experience, strategic planning abilities, experience developing and leading multidisciplinary research teams, and excellent communication skills.
- Provide visionary leadership for NDSU’s efforts related to the Food, Energy, and Water Security Initiative.
- Work collaboratively with campus leadership and existing Food, Energy, and Water-related efforts such as the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute (NDWRRI) to create multidisciplinary research programs that solve complex problems in the food, energy, and water security space; encourage a team approach to solving complex programs; drive innovation and creativity; and spur commercialization of intellectual property developed by NDSU scientists.
- Collaborate with scientists and administrators within the USDA Agricultural Research Service and the Economic Research Service to ensure the successful completion of joint projects.
- Cooperate on the technology readiness level transfer from research and development at the university and accelerate to higher levels.
- Drive innovation in research by seeking additional partnership and commercialization opportunities for research conducted under the initiative’s auspices.
- Communicate research results and success to a variety of audiences, including scientists and engineers, policymakers, elected officials, and stakeholders.
- Report to the office of the Associate Director of NDSU Agricultural Research, and in conjunction with the Vice President for Research and Creative Activity and the Vice President for Agriculture, manage budgets related to various federal initiatives that fall under the Food, Energy, and Water Security Initiative.
- Steward financial resources to ensure access to centralized functions such as administration, communication, budget and financial support, and data analytics; ensure resources are appropriate and available to all participants.
- As a result of this work, encourage and promote the submission of high-quality, multidisciplinary, competitive federal grants.
- Engage private industry in collaborative research activities.
- Manage intellectual property issues related to this work and ensure that the institution and its faculty, staff, and students engaged in this work have ample opportunity to protect their IP development through the NDSU Research Foundation.
Advertised Salary: Commensurate with experience.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Agriculture, Engineering, or related field
- Demonstrated subject matter excellence in a food, energy, or water security-related scientific field
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Three years administrative experience
- Experience working with teams that are diverse
- Experience working with teams that are dispersed geographically and discipline-wise
- Experience working with teams where responsibility is delegated and accountability is expected
- Strong track record of success leading multidisciplinary research teams
- Experience working collaboratively across departments, disciplinary fields, and organizations
- Experience working in academic research; or federal research agencies; or corporate research and development
- Experience managing complex budgets
- Demonstrated commitment to the land grant mission
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in creating effective multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research teams to accomplish the goals of large-scale projects
- Outstanding track record of securing and managing federal funding in related areas
- Experience commercializing research
- Five-plus years administrative experience
- Experience outside of academia (industry, corporate, federal agency)
Applicant Materials Required:
- Letter of application outlining interest and qualifications for this position.
- CV
- List of 3 professional references
Position is open until filled, for initial review please submit no later than August 14, 2024.
For any question on the job position please contact heidi.grunwald.1@ndsu.edu
Benefits:
NDSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes single or family health insurance coverage with premiums paid for by the university – with an effective date for new employees the first of the month following date of hire. Other benefits include: wellness benefits, basic life insurance, retirement plan, tuition waiver, annual leave, EAP, sick leave and holiday pay. Optional benefits include: supplemental life, dental, vision, long-term care insurance, flexible spending account, and supplemental retirement plans.
About Us:
North Dakota State University is distinctive as a student focused, land-grant, research university. We educate leaders who solve national and global challenges by providing affordable access to an excellent education that combines teaching and research in a rich learning environment.
NDSU is in the highest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, R1, granted to the top research institutions in the country.
NDSU has offices across the state of North Dakota, and the main campus is in Fargo, on the Minnesota border. Along with Moorhead, Minnesota, Fargo forms one of the largest metropolitan centers between Minneapolis and Seattle. The community is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live.
No Smoking Notice:
As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.
EO/AA Statement:
North Dakota State University is an Equal Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable.
Diversity Statement:
NDSU strives to be a community of belonging, recognizing unique differences as strengths of our university. We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce that supports a community in which diverse populations and perspectives will know and learn from one another. NDSU values candidates who are committed to our core values of respect, inclusivity, community, creativity, excellence, impact, innovation, integrity, resilience, responsiveness, and transformation. Successful candidates will be committed to and help advance our strategic goal to create and maintain an open and respectful environment to promote inclusivity and diversity as a cornerstone of education, research, and outreach.
Veteran’s Preference Notice:
This position is subject to North Dakota Veteran’s Preference requirements.
Reasonable Accommodation Information
North Dakota State University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resources at 701-231-8961 or ndsu.hr@ndsu.edu.
