How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
Job Summary
Michigan Engineering seeks to hire an inaugural Executive Director for the Michigan Engineering Leadership Center. The Leadership Center will substantially enrich College of Engineering (CoE) students' learning experience and professional development by providing structured leadership education that focuses on the unique roles and responsibilities of engineers and by connecting and coordinating the large number of related activities, organizations, and offices across CoE. In partnership with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, the Executive Director will guide the philosophical, strategic, and tactical efforts to establish the Center, which will leverage and meaningfully integrate on-campus and off-campus experiences into clear and personalizable leadership development roadmaps for our students. Link to executive summary from the 2024 Leadership Center Report.
The Executive Director will report to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education.
Who We Are
Michigan Engineers are world-class educators, researchers, students and staff who strive to build a people-first future. As part of a top national public research institution, Michigan Engineering's mission is to provide scientific and technological leadership to the people of the world, develop intellectually curious and socially conscious minds, create collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promote an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.
Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
- Generous time off
- A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
- Maternity and Parental Leave
Responsibilities*
Direct the overall strategic planning and implementation, policy development, organizational development, and resource allocation (fiscal, administrative, and staff) for the Michigan Engineering Leadership Center. Contribute to the development of an engineering-specific leadership philosophy and approach that emphasizes positive personal, organizational, and social transformation. Plan, direct, and prepare recommendations for fiscal and administrative resource allocation and funding for budgets, endowments, grants, contracts, and gifts. Recommend, review, and direct personnel planning including position descriptions, reporting relationships, classification, compensation, and performance planning for Leadership Center staff. Direct and manage Leadership Center operations. Specifically, the Executive Director will:
- Leverage the Michigan Model of Leadership as well as other leadership principles of particular relevance to engineers.
- Develop and enact a clear vision for leadership development in CoE students through both curriculum and practice that engages students in a reinforcing manner during the entirety of their studies in CoE.
- Bring a depth of knowledge of trends and best practices in transformational leadership and in student professional development, particularly in the context of leadership development.
- Apply the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the process of forming the Center and its services to ensure active community engagement and access for students of all backgrounds.
- Oversee key ADUE programs that offer experiential and leadership development opportunities, such as ArtsEngine, the Center for Social Engaged Engineering & Design, Honors & Engagement, International Programs in Engineering, the Multidisciplinary Design Program, and the Wilson Student Team Project Center.
- Coordinate efforts with other CoE programs offering leadership development opportunities such as the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Engineering Center for Student Organizations through the Office of Student Affairs.
- Engage CoE faculty and staff to gather further input, socialize plans, and develop programming for the Leadership Center.
- Create a means for online engagement by the CoE community (e.g., students, faculty, staff, alums) with the Leadership Center, such as a website, dashboard for single-entry access to all-things-leadership in CoE, etc.
- Further develop tools such as SPIRE to guide all students in their development of leadership and other competencies related to professional development. Collaborate with other UM leadership centers through the Michigan Leadership Collaborative.
- Work with the Michigan Engineering Office of Advancement to secure an endowment for sustained operation and growth.
Required Qualifications*
- 8+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience and strategic responsibility over groups with significant scope.
- Demonstrated expertise with mission and vision development and program execution including administrative, operational, human resources, and financial principles and practices.
- Experience as a strategic leader of a large successful team and proven ability to attract, retain, build, develop, and mentor talent.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
- History of successful collaborations across all levels of an organization.
- Experience coordinating with marketing and media experts.
- Knowledge of professional norms in leadership development, engineering practice, higher education student development, and academic research.
- Successful history of work with external grants and gifts.
Modes of Work
Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
- Present information at events and in meetings.
- May require travel across campus to conduct work and deliver materials.
- May require work during early mornings, nights, and weekends.
- May require domestic travel.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.