Director, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
University of Illinois

Job Info

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Director

Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Founded in 1867, the University of Illinois is a world-class leader in research, teaching and public engagement. The university is widely noted for research excellence among the nation's most elite institutions. We regularly lead the nation in both NSF and DOE funding and FY21 research expenditures topped $730 million.

For more than 30 years, the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been the home of extraordinary interdisciplinary researchers who use cutting-edge tools to break barriers and solve stubborn societal problems. The University of Illinois seeks a collaborative, dynamic leader to create and sustain a vision for the institute's continued success.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign invites applications and nominations for the position of director of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, and especially encourages applications from women, underrepresented minorities, and those who can contribute to a climate of inclusivity. The Beckman Institute opened in 1989; it was one of the first interdisciplinary research institutes in the nation. Today, the institute's researchers share expertise from aerospace engineering, biology, bioengineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, neuroscience, psychology, and more. The director will provide visionary leadership ensuring the institute's position as a world leader in interdisciplinary and convergent research, training, and outreach of the highest quality, transcending the traditional university organizations and structures. Plan strategies to address grand challenges and deliver internationally recognized results for the benefit of science and society at large.

Among the responsibilities of the Director are the following:

Vision and Leadership:

• The director is expected to provide overall leadership and vision for the Beckman Institute guided by the Institute mission and core values, and advocate for convergent research, education, and outreach at large. With strong management skills, the director coordinates research, education, and outreach activities and initiatives with faculty, staff, and student groups. An inclusive servant leader of high integrity, and exceptional listening and communication skills, the director must have a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through expanding existing programs and establishing new programs to provide an inclusive and welcoming culture at the institute.
• A collaborative and empathic leader, the director engages and guides the institute researchers and staff in developing the strategic and implementation plan for the Institute. The director is expected to provide direction and overall administration for the development, coordination and implementation of interdisciplinary research, facilities, service programs, initiatives, activities, and professional services undertaken and provided by the institute. This includes identifying new programs and evaluating existing programs. The director is to support the institute theme leadership and staff to foster a culture of innovation and high-level performance both at the individual and organizational level.
• The director actively solicits input from faculty researchers, UIUC institute directors, and campus leadership regarding challenges, opportunities, concerns, and priorities for the institute, and integrate the advice from their management team for continuous improvement. The director is expected to be a mentor to institute's faculty, assist them in acquiring external support for research, and support activities that enable technology transfer.
• The director provides support for development and fundraising activities, in collaboration with campus and college leadership and stakeholders, and continues to steward the unique relationship between the institute and the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. The director is expected to cultivate and maintain collaborative relationships with external entities, for example, collaborating with Carle Foundation Hospital to lead, manage, and provide strategic vision of the Carle Illinois Advanced Imaging Center.

Research Administration and Operational Management:

• The director manages and oversees the institute's staff, human resources, and operational processes for maximum impact to the institute. Enablement and creation of opportunities for professional development of the faculty, staff, and students should be a priority. The director is expected to work enthusiastically and creatively to analyze problems and develop innovative and workable solutions and identify opportunities for innovation and excellence in administrative and operational management.
• The director represents the mission, vision, and research accomplishments of the institute to audiences within and outside the University of Illinois to steward and grow the financial resources to invest in advancement of the infrastructure and the institute's strategic priorities and success. The director is expected to identify and secure state, federal, and private sources of funding for the institute and the university to actively support collaborative efforts in sciences, engineering, arts and the humanities.

Personal and Collaborative Scholarship:

• The director is expected to be a renowned scholar in their chosen area of research, as well as an accomplished educator, and is expected to continue their research program and scholarly activities at Illinois while serving as the director of the institute.

The successful candidate will hold a doctoral degree relevant to the mission and goals of the institute and have an outstanding record of scholarly accomplishments appropriate for a full professor with tenure at a leading research university. Strong leader with an exceptional record of achievements that demonstrate an understanding of multi-investigator convergent research, education, and outreach activities. Management experience leading groups, organizations and/or programs in academia, government, or the private sector. Energy and enthusiasm for expressing the value of interdisciplinary, collaborative research at the national and international scale. Effective leadership, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, including interacting with various constituents of the campus and external communities. Excellent budget management, resource allocation, and decision-making skills. Strong advocate for diverse research areas, fostering empathy, and improving organizations in the areas of access and representation. Experience in academic research leadership administration preferred.

The successful candidate will hold a tenured position at full professor rank in the appropriate department on campus at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. This appointment has a start date that is negotiable. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Complete applications received by Monday, January 8, 2024 (extended closing date) will receive full consideration, but applications will be accepted until a candidate is identified. Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date. Apply for this position by visiting go.illinois.edu/Beckman Director using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of the posting and upload your 1) curriculum vitae 2) statement of interest, vision, and qualifications (no more than 2 pages) 3) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statement, and 4) names/contact information for three professional references. Finalists will be notified prior to their references being contacted.

The DEI statement should address your commitment to past and/or potential contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, by including your 1) Knowledge of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, 2) Experience working to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and 3) Plans for advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

In addition to direct applications, we are also accepting nominations. To submit a nomination, please send name of nominee and a short statement of their qualification to Sue Key, susankey@illinois.edu by Monday, January 8, 2024 (extended closing date). The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (OVCRI) will solicit additional required information from the candidate.

For further information, please contact Sue Key, Human Resources, susankey@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The university is located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana situated in Champaign County in east-central Illinois, and is situated about 140 miles south of Chicago, 125 miles west of Indianapolis, and 180 northeast of St. Louis. The University and its surrounding communities offer a cultural and recreational environment ideally suited to the work of a major research institution. For more information about the community, visit: https://yourewelcomecu.com/ or https://www.champaigncounty.org/.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify .

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal , or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu .

Requisition ID: 1020903

Job Category: Administrative
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu

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