Executive Director, Center for International Research, Education, and Development

Job Description

The executive director must be able to inspire a shared vision and provide strong leadership for this dynamic and entrepreneurial unit in support of the university's long-range plan to become a leading global land grant university in the 21st Century. A major responsibility of this position is providing direct leadership in grant-writing and organizing university, national, and international proposal and project implementation teams to pursue and staff new research and development opportunities. S/he will take a major leadership role in assessing and pursuing new funding opportunities and building teams in order to be successful in securing and implementing large international projects and programs.
The selected candidate will lead in securing USAID grants and also actively explore ways to expand the donor base to other U.S. federal and international funding agencies; engage with deans, department heads and faculty across the university to develop new opportunities for collaborative research; and represents the center within the university’s governance structure. The executive director provides oversight of the center and all the center’s projects to ensure university and donor fiduciary integrity and project/program quality performance. S/he meets regularly with financial and administrative staff, and project faculty and staff to review progress and help resolve implementation issues. S/he liaises as needed with donor program and contract officials to address high level issues. This may include undertaking visits to project sites to conduct project reviews and negotiations. The successful candidate should have the presence, gravitas, and diplomatic acumen to navigate the highest levels of government and the academy in settings around the world. The executive director must be able to thrive despite a challenging schedule. S/he must be an engaged leader who excels in building relationships. S/he must relish the opportunity to build an organizational culture, mentor junior colleagues and cultivate an ethos of excellence within a young university center. The executive director should come to the role with a track record of promoting a culture of accountability and service.
The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and building a cohesive team of dedicated colleagues who are empowered to develop and expand international research and development projects. S/he must be able to build trust-based relationships in support of long-term partnerships, both internally and externally. The next CIRED executive director will work with departments across the university to make Virginia Tech a more globally adaptive and versatile institution that engages with challenging bureaucratic environments in the developing world. They should have a strategic mindset with the ability to get granular when necessary. Partnership, collaboration and constant communication are crucial to success in the role. The executive director must be an astute, skilled and genuine bridge-builder. S/he must be both culturally competent in various settings and adroit in building relationships on any continent of the globe.

Required Qualifications

• Strong record of accomplishments in international research and development.
• Proven leadership in overseeing and managing the grant development process and successful record of securing grants from governmental and nongovernmental donor agencies.
• Comfortable traveling to developing countries in all regions of the world, including possible trips to countries experiencing civil unrest.
• Proven track record of fostering a collaborative team environment
• Transparent and inclusive management style
• Eagerness to learn from co-workers but also be willing and available to share his/her knowledge and experience to mentor colleagues and provide guidance to improve program performance.
• Proven commitment to gender equity and understanding of the role of gender in international development.
• Fluency in English
• Excellent presentation and communication skills
• Strong commitment to diversity is essential
• Ability to work legally in the U.S.
• PhD/JD or another earned terminal degree.
• Distinguished record of leadership and achievement in international development including demonstrated ability to secure and manage significant external grants, contracts, and/or private funding.
• Significant experience demonstrating increasing responsibility and leadership, including providing technical and administrative leadership, astute fiscal management, and oversight to a complex collaborative research and/or development unit.
• Demonstrated ability to work with leaders in the public and private sectors to promote collaboration across program areas.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing large-scale international projects.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize disparate data and solve complex problems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Engaging and dynamic personality with demonstrated ability to work effectively with academic, philanthropic and/or international communities.
• Significant experience within a higher education environment.
• Long-term experience living and working in a developing country.
• Experience collaborating and negotiating with USAID or other federal-level agencies.
• Excellent leadership skills with a commitment to the professional development of employees, ability to effectively communicate vision, set direction and make decisive decisions.
• Fluency in one of the following languages: French, Spanish, Arabic, or any one of the Asian or African languages.

Pay Band

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Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

150,000-160,000

Review Date

April 25, 2022

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Holly Carroll at hcarroll@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: March 7, 2022
Applications close: