How to Apply
A cover letter and resume are important submissions for the hiring team to get a sense of your experience. In the cover letter, in two pages or less, please let us know how this role aligns with your career aspirations and skill set. Submit both a cover letter and resume as one file (because of system limitations).
Job Summary
The Office of the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action (OVPSCA) seeks a dynamic, collaborative individual to serve as the Assistant Vice Provost for Sustainability Education and Curricular Innovation in a fast-paced office whose culture is committed to mutual respect, equity, self reflection, and continual learning. Reporting to the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action and working closely with the Director of Strategic Initiatives in the newly-established OVPSCA and the Graham Sustainability Institute, you will be responsible for advancing and integrating climate, sustainability, and environmental justice literacy across the university's nineteen schools and colleges, leading the campus as living lab curricular portfolio for the OVPSCA, and leading the reimagining of the University's approach to delivering climate, sustainability, and environmental justice experiential education through internal unit-level engagement and external community partnerships.
What You'll Do
This is an innovative, high-impact opportunity for an experienced educator or practitioner passionate about sustainability, climate, and environmental justice education, as well as a visionary leader excited to create new models to deliver high-quality curricula and programs across a decentralized university. The Assistant Vice Provost shapes the university's academic identity and ensures graduates are prepared to address the climate crisis in any field, reflecting the institution's commitment to a resilient and just future. This position will also play a central role in building faculty capacity to integrate sustainability concepts and pedagogies into courses through training, resource development, and incentive programs. The role will also include engagement with a variety of stakeholders, including community members served by university education programs, faculty, and staff, and will be pivotal in designing, coordinating, and assessing initiatives that integrate climate, sustainability, and environmental justice concepts into the undergraduate educational experience, regardless of major.
Responsibilities*
The Assistant Vice Provost for Sustainability Education and Curricular Innovation will envision innovative models to deliver sustainability, climate, and environmental justice education (including experiential and problem-based models) that can be piloted and then implemented at scale.
The incumbent has the following core duties and responsibilities:
- Establish and implement a cross-cutting framework to integrate sustainability, climate, and environmental justice education across the university's nineteen schools and colleges.
- Develop metrics to measure the university's delivery of sustainability educational programs across the university's nineteen schools and colleges.
- Lead the development of university-wide programmatic initiatives, incentives, and training programs to support faculty to deliver sustainability, climate, and environmental justice curriculum, regardless of discipline.
- Partner with university units, including the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching on faculty development efforts, and the Center for Academic Innovation to develop sustainability, climate, and environmental justice-focused on-line educational tools.
- Partner with university units to establish and lead campus-wide sustainability, climate action, and environmental justice programming, such as a campus read program or similar programs.
- Serve as OVPSCA lead for the Michigan Community Climate Action Fellowship Program.
- Serve as OVPSCA lead to support implementation of the University of Michigan's campus as a living lab and the development of curricular programs to support the campus as living lab program.
- Serve as director of Sustainability Curriculum Community of Practice led by OVPSCA.
- Coordinate among existing land-based experiential learning programs, such as the University of Michigan Biological Station and Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Campus Farm, to support higher statewide and regional impact.
Required Qualifications*
- PhD or equivalent experience in climate, sustainability, higher education or related field.
- Demonstrated experience in curriculum development and faculty support
- At least seven years of experience in working in education or curriculum development or higher education.
- Demonstrated experience in gathering information, analyzing data and problem-solving, both independently and as part of a team.
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills, both written and oral. Examples of work products will be requested.
- Track record of leadership in sustainability and climate change initiatives
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
- Ability to prioritize multiple projects simultaneously and successfully meet deadlines.
- Ability to self-initiate, work creatively and collaboratively.
- Experience with quantitative and qualitative ways to measure learning outcomes.
- Knowledge of best practices in assessment and pedagogy in education, especially related to sustainability and climate education.
Desired Qualifications*
- Three to five years of experience working in organizations focused on sustainability, climate change, or environmental justice education.
- Knowledge of sustainability and climate change curricula.
- Experience with change management.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. 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.
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 Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.