Position Announcement - NN0128
Position Overview
Organization: College of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences
Title: Director of the Institute of Molecular Engineering & Science (i-MES)
Search #: NN0128
Position Details
INTERNAL UW CANDIDATES ONLY
The University of Washington seeks a Director of the Institute of Molecular Engineering & Science (i-MES) to develop funded programs housed in the country’s first Molecular Engineering facility dedicated to the cross-disciplinary work of designing, synthesizing, processing and fabricating molecular systems and value added products. The Director will have a vision for harnessing the tremendous potential of molecular engineering and science for societal impact in alternative energy, medicine, manufacturing, and other emerging areas.
The i-MES Director is responsible for fostering the growth of a high impact molecular engineering & science program and managing the facilities in which this work will be carried out. Responsibilities include fund raising from state and federal agencies, industry, and foundations; fiscal management; operational and strategic planning; establishment, implementation, and measurement of goals and objectives; implementation of policy and procedures; and partnership strengthening and communication.
The i-MES Director will be appointed (for up to a five-year term) by and report to jointly the Deans of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering or their designees.
The selected candidate will have ample opportunities to harness collaboration with a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary Centers and Institutes including the NSF-STC on Materials and Devices for Information Technology, the NSF-MRSEC on Genetically Engineered Materials Science and Engineering Center, the NIH-funded Microscale Life Science Center, and the Institute of Advanced Materials and Technology.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Advocate for support of interdisciplinary areas involving molecular engineering and science
- Collaborate with department chairs on requests to the Provost for interdisciplinary start-up support for new hires and equipment proposals (such as Murdock, Keck, and NSF MRI) for i-MES facilities
- Allocate support funding generated through i-MES grant and contract expenditures
- Oversee the management of i-MES budgets, including administration of grants, operational costs, staff salaries, fiscal reports, and record documentation; Monitor center operating budgets and expenses; Initiate planning of budgets and operational plans
- Oversee the operation, evolution, and expansion of i-MES user facilities
- Coordinate i-MES seminar program
- Coordinate the design, construction, and i-MES space assignments in the new Molecular Engineering and Science Building
- Develop new academic programs (such as interdisciplinary Ph.D.)
- Promote the i-MES program at state, national, and international levels, and work with Deans and development officers to build strong private donor pools and corporate partnerships
- Identify and secure funding for program operations from external (federal and corporate) funding agencies
- Coordinate and communicate policies and procedures (grants, funding, policy, practice, operational plans) to center administrators and faculty sponsors
- Promote public relations, diversity, and partnership enhancement programs to heighten public awareness and support for i-MES
- Coordinate, supervise, and evaluate activities of i-MES staff; Provide assistance as requested in the recruitment of the i-MES staff
- Meet regularly with center administrators/faculty to discuss center plans; coordinate opportunities across departments; assist and facilitate planning and growth opportunities for staff and program; ascertain consistency with the strategic plan; and review program curriculum
- The i-MES Director will chair a faculty i-MES Executive Committee, composed of selected department chairs, institute/center directors, and faculty. Members of the Executive Committee shall be appointed by the Deans of COE and A&S
- For PIs who have been allocated and occupy i-MES space in the Molecular Engineering and Science Building, the Director will need to negotiate with appropriate Departmental Chairs and Deans to determine what allocation of a-IDC (i.e. RCR) to i-MES is appropriate, given any administrative support that is being provided to that PI by i-MES.
- Work cooperatively with relevant interdisciplinary Centers and Institutes on campus.
- Maintain i-MES records and archives in accordance with local and state policies and procedures
Requirements
- Doctoral degree in a science, mathematics, engineering or equivalent combination of education and experience plus several years of experience in leadership and management in an agency, program, or work unit addressing academic interdisciplinary research and development in science, engineering and/or medicine
- Demonstrated sensitivity to and expertise in interdisciplinary research and diversity issues in higher education and familiarity with the organization and operation of these activities
- Management and leadership experience with skills in organizational development, policy making, teamwork, interpersonal relationships, planning, project coordination and completion, and effective communication
- Experience working with diverse research centers and institutes, business and industry, granting agencies, colleges and universities, and professional groups
- Demonstrated fundraising experience through state/federal government, preparation of grant proposals and foundation requests, and general fund-raising from business and industry or other sources.
Applications should be sent to the following address by July 24, 2009:
Alex Jen, Professor and Boeing-Johnson Chair
Materials Science & Engineering
Box 352120
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
ajen@u.washington.edu
If you have a question about the details of this search / position please contact the hiring unit directly. Thank you for your interest in this position at the University of Washington.
