Associate Director, Institute for a Sustainable Earth

George Mason University is seeking an Associate Director for the Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE) in Chantilly, VA. This full-time administrative position involves leading transdisciplinary research initiatives, collaborating with faculty and stakeholders, and fostering partnerships to address societal challenges aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The role requires strategic engagement within the university and external organizations to enhance research impact. A criminal background check is required, and the position offers a hybrid work schedule.
Department: Office Rsrch Innov and Econ Impact

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and
experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

George Mason University’s Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE)
puts George Mason research and scholarship into action for a more
just, prosperous, and sustainable world. It serves as a networking
organization designed to connect diverse faculty, staff, and
students across all of George Mason’s academic units with each
other and with local, national, and global partners to build
vibrant communities of research and practice, enable
transdisciplinary research of consequence, and foster an innovation
ecosystem in northern Virginia that is focused on advancing and
scaling solutions to societal grand challenges. The ISE community
includes over 500 faculty and student researchers who conduct
research in the natural sciences, social sciences, computational
and data sciences, engineering, and humanities across all areas of
the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ISE
fosters partnerships focused on end-use research impact. Our
growing network includes dozens of community-based organizations;
local, tribal, state, and regional governments; professional
associations; research collectives; and international environmental
organizations.

About the Position:

The Associate Director acts as a collaborative, strategic, and
insightful leader to ensure successful initiatives. Reporting to
ISE’s Executive Director, the Associate Director works
collaboratively with the ISE team, George Mason leadership, and
faculty to develop and manage programs and initiatives that
catalyze, develop, and scale transdisciplinary research efforts
across the university. The Associate Director connects the
university, faculty, and students with key stakeholders – including
local, state, and federal agencies, non-governmental and
community-based organizations, and private sector partners – to
enable opportunities for George Mason faculty and students to
collaborate externally. The Associate Director actively identifies
opportunities for strategic engagement within the George Mason
community, works with faculty to identify internal and external
partnerships essential to expanding their research and scholarship
and cultivate partnerships to facilitate novel research-to-impact
initiatives that align with the SDGs.

Responsibilities:

Drive and Advance Transdisciplinary Research:
• Collaborates with leadership and faculty to identify strategic
opportunities for developing and scaling faculty-led
transdisciplinary initiatives – including those expected to emerge
from the university’s forthcoming Grand Challenges Initiative.
Enhances and implements ISE’s Network Catalyst Program by
facilitating the formation of transdisciplinary research teams,
connecting these teams with research development resources, and
providing strategic planning support to help scale their efforts
effectively.

Identify and Cultivate External Partnerships :
• Proactively identifies and establishes relationships with
external organizations to support the ISE community’s
transdisciplinary research goals. Fosters mutually beneficial
partnerships that advance transdisciplinary research and research
impact initiatives. Coordinates the development of collaborative
projects that integrate diverse perspectives and expertise from
both ISE and external stakeholders. Facilitates smooth
collaboration between internal and external partners to achieve
project goals.

Provide Project Launch Support:
• Works closely with faculty to facilitate the rapid launch of
newly acquired large-scale transdisciplinary grants. Develops
project plans outlining key milestones, deliverables, timelines,
and responsibilities for the grant launch. Coordinates and aligns
the efforts of grant stakeholders, including faculty,
administrative staff, and external partners. Provides strategic
guidance on job descriptions, qualifications, and recruitment
strategies to ensure the right talent is hired quickly and
efficiently. Facilitates faculty engagement with the Office of
Sponsored Programs to ensure all necessary contracts, agreements,
and compliance documents are prepared in a timely manner.

Pursue Grant Funding :
• Identifies opportunities and prepares grant proposals to expand
resources for ISE’s programs and initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in related field or equivalent combination of
education and experience;
• Relevant experience (typically 4+ years) managing
transdisciplinary research teams and/or partnership
development;
• Broad knowledge of sustainability science and practice;
• Ability to effectively coordinate, communicate, and collaborate
with faculty, staff, administrators, sponsors, and stakeholders
across multiple disciplines; and
• Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Terminal degree in related field;
• Relevant experience (typically 6+ years) managing
transdisciplinary research teams and/or partnership
development;
• Experience developing and managing programs;
• Experience developing major proposals for external
support;
• Experience working to put research into action through
innovation ecosystems and/or public policy engagement;
• Experience with research administration in a large, dispersed
university environment;
• Demonstrated program and/or project management skills with the
ability to manage multiple, simultaneous work streams;
• Ability to effectively cultivate and manage partnerships;
• Highly effective collaborator and team member;
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills;
• Demonstrates adaptability and resilience to change and
complexity; and
• An understanding of research translation processes.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the
Associate Director, Institute for a Sustainable
Earth at https://jobs.gmu.edu/.
Complete and submit the online application to include three
professional references with contact information, and provide a
cover letter and resume.

Posting Open Date: December 5, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by: January 6, 2025

Open Until Filled: Yes

Mason Ad Statement

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in
Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135
countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in
Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning
locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason’s diversity is a
campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is
meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at
our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at
jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition.

Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its
community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or
veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

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http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/