How to Apply
The search committee will accept nominations and applications until the position is filled but screening of candidates begins immediately. Confidential nominations and applications, including curriculum vitae, letter of interest, and the names of three references, should be submitted as one document.
Who We Are
The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) of the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan maintains several long-standing data sharing research projects and programs and collaborates with other units in the Institute for Social Research and on campus. ICPSR's research faculty conducts research and develops extramural-funded projects. We have the opportunity to work with a large and highly skilled professional research staff at ICPSR on our projects. We engage with the energetic faculty of ICPSR and our partners.
ICPSR is an international consortium of 800+ academic and research bodies. We provide leadership and training in data access, curation, and analytical methods for social science. Collaborating with funders, including federal US agencies, ICPSR develops themed data collections and projects. Our research delves into digital curation challenges and policy initiatives. We established the Summer Program in Quantitative Methods in 1963, educating tens of thousands of researchers in introductory to advanced training in statistics, data analysis, and quantitative research methods.
Mission Statement
The Institute for Social Research (ISR) is the world's largest academic social science survey and research organization. With scholars from a wide range of disciplines, ISR acts as a national laboratory for the social sciences, advancing public understanding of human behavior through rigorous, wide-ranging research.
Our mission is to:
Conduct high-quality social science research
Share findings widely to inform public understanding and decision-making
Train future generations of social scientists
Job Summary
Reporting to the Director of the Institute for Social Research (ISR), the Center Director of ICPSR is responsible for the operations and personnel within the Center, and fostering a collaborative and productive relationship with the ICPSR Council who represent the 800+ academic and research bodies of the consortium. The ICPSR Council is advisory to this role and the ISR Director. This individual will lead the faculty and staff, seek external funding, and be prepared to speak prominently, nationally and internationally, on behalf of issues related to social science and its data infrastructure. We seek candidates whose background, experience, and vision for the future will provide innovative leadership of ICPSR in the context of the rapidly changing worlds of social science research, data, education, and information technology, as envisioned within the greater context of ISR.
Required Qualifications*
Candidates must have:
Ph.D. or the equivalent in a field related to the interests of ICPSR as well as significant understanding of social science research, data, and instruction.
A record of scholarly excellence, success in garnering external funding, recruiting and mentoring others, and leading change in an organization.
Candidates must be proactive and adept builders of relationships with other institutions and agencies involved in or supporting the collection and promulgation of large-scale data.
They must be clear and open communicators with staff at all levels.
Demonstrate the ability to successfully lead and manage an organization that has a diverse portfolio of funding sources. They will know how to set strategic priorities and policy for data curation and management, particularly as these relate to rapidly changing technology, user needs, institutional roles, and funding models.
Strong business skills are essential. Sound judgement, intellectual and practical agility, energy, and the organizational skills to handle multiple projects simultaneously are all critical.
Why Work at Michigan?
Benefits
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 any eligible family members and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
Generous time off
A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting upon meeting eligibility requirements
Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
Life insurance
Long-term disability coverage
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
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.
Additional Information
The Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan seeks to create a community of respect and authentic collaboration by recruiting and retaining individuals that represent a variety of voices as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to ground our research in varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.
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
Institute for Social Research job openings are posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is closed or filled.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.