Founding Director, School of Engineering

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Founding Director has a historic opportunity to create the first engineering school at a public research university in the St.

Louis metropolitan region. This program is vital to the future of UMSL and the region. It will expand educational opportunities for students and contribute to the growth of companies including Boeing, Ameren, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Honeywell, and Burns & McDonnell.

At this pivotal time, the director of the UMSL School of Engineering will focus on the following :

Develop a strategic and entrepreneurial vision for the UMSL School of Engineering.

Hire the first faculty cohort in the new UMSL School of Engineering.

Oversee the outfitting of the new engineering teaching and research laboratories.

Foster a culture of inclusive excellence that promotes faculty, staff and student morale to ensure a sense of belonging and advance the School of Engineering’s commitment to cultural competency.

Working collaboratively with senior leaders on campus, the director will champion and advocate for the School of Engineering and serve as the external face of the school in the community.

The director of the School of Engineering must embody strong leadership qualities and serve as a passionate advocate for the school within the university community.

This individual should be dedicated to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and excellence while actively promoting the school’s mission, values and achievements to university leadership and across the institution.

Strategically grow the School of Engineering’s enrollment and resource base.

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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A terminal degree in engineering and a proven record of success in teaching, research / scholarship and service commensurate with the appointment as a tenured faculty member at the rank of Professor in the School of Engineering.
• A record of outstanding administrative and leadership success in academic organizations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes :

Leadership :

Leadership skills that promote collaboration on achieving common goals that balance empathy and accountability and that emphasize integrity, confidentiality and tact.

Program Startup :

Experience in launching and growing engineering academic programs.

Accreditation

Experience with a commitment to maintaining ABET accreditation of engineering programs.

Metropolitan Engineer Preparation :

Experienced and enthusiastic about working in a metropolitan and urban setting, particularly in educating engineers who contribute to the economy of the greater St.

Louis region and beyond.

Collaboration and Commitment :

Demonstrates commitment to excellence in advancing educational programs, research opportunities, and innovative program development.

Willingness to collaborate with partners within and outside of the UMSL campus.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills :

The ability to communicate effectively, compassionately, and empathetically with staff, faculty, and students and create an environment that is positive, collegial, and transparent with a commitment to shared governance.

Student-Centered Mission and Decision-Making :

Evidence of collaborative and strategic decision-making aligned with a student-centered mission, supporting research and academic programming.

Innovative Program Development :

Experience in developing and implementing innovative programs or initiatives to enhance student access, enrollment, retention and success for a largely diverse set of college students including but not limited to first-generation, adult learners, returning students, transfer students, community college graduates, veterans, parents, working professionals, international, students with disabilities, students with diverse academic backgrounds, and more.

Values Commitment :

Experience in valuing the uniqueness of every individual and striving to ensure inclusive learning and working environments.

External Partnerships :

Leadership in building productive corporate, community college, and other local and regional partnerships. Experience developing long-term plans and strategies for maintaining and strengthening those relationships as well as inspiring trust and confidence.

External Resource Generation :

An enthusiasm for and proven record of accomplishment in raising funds from a variety of sources, including private donors, foundations, corporations and government agencies, as well as through outreach to alumni.

Academic Excellence and Financial Acumen :

A scholar with impeccable judgment, a demonstrated research record, and a commitment to academic excellence in recruiting, developing and retaining faculty and practitioners.

Possesses an astute understanding of university finances and the relationships among academic priorities and budgeting.

The university invites nominations and applications (letter of interest and full resume / CV). Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until an adequate pool is established, or until the appointment is made.

Later in the search process, additional information may be sought from interested candidates, along with the names and contact information for at least five references.

Candidates will be notified before references are contacted.

It is preferred, however, that all nominations and applications be submitted prior to September 30th, 2024

The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law.

This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations.

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