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Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Sustainability

Employer
University of Illinois Chicago
Location
Illinois, United States
Salary
Salary Not specified
Date posted
Apr 25, 2022

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), a major urban research university with an operating budget of over $3.4 billion, is seeking an experienced professional to serve as the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Sustainability in the Office of Planning, Sustainability and Project Management. UIC serves over 34,000 students comprising what is among the most diverse student bodies in the nation with 16 colleges, the University Library and just under 17,000 faculty and staff. UIC enrolled a record number of students at its campus again last fall, continuing a seven-year upward trend. UIC operates the state’s major public medical center and serves as the principal educator of Illinois’ physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and other health-care professionals. Visit UIC’s website (www.uic.edu) for more information.

The Office of Planning, Sustainability and Project Management (PSPM) is responsible, in collaboration with faculty, staff and students, for guiding the development of UIC’s physical campus and its sustainability initiatives in support of the University’s mission. This includes coordinating development of the campus master plan, initiating space and capital planning projects, overseeing the design and construction of new facilities and major renovation projects, setting forth UIC’s sustainability goals, developing programs to achieve the UIC Climate Commitments, maintaining campus facility records, and managing over 14 million net usable square feet of space in 190 buildings across over 250 acres.

Job Summary:

The Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Sustainability leads the planning and implementation of policies, programs, and processes to fulfill UIC's Climate Commitments and execute the Climate Action Implementation Plan (CAIP). Advises campus leadership on how the university can monitor performance towards achieving its sustainability goals and develops programs and projects across its core functions of operations, teaching, and research to maximize its Return-on-Investment. Manages and builds collaboration among various campus groups in order to pursue sustainability-related objectives and reduce duplication of efforts. Directs the Sustainability Team within Planning, Sustainability and Project Management (PSPM) and all its programs, initiatives and reporting requirements. Utilizes systems thinking, plan development, facilitates business process improvement, seeks funding through innovative sources, communicates about sustainability, evaluates projects, measures and reports, and builds external partnerships. Manages the university’s Sustainability Fee fund and monitors student projects.

Job Responsibilities (Essential Duties):

Lead institutional planning to fulfill UIC’s Climate Commitments. Represent UIC’s sustainability goals in campus level planning. Participate in integrative planning processes within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services (OVCAS), such as for capital, energy, grounds and transportation planning. Serve on search committees for key leadership positions within OVCAS to ensure that sustainability expertise is a component of those positions.

Further the University investment in sustainability across campus so as to maximize its return-on-investment, while achieving UIC's Climate Commitments. Develop methods and processes to monitor performance and develop and evaluate projects and programs. Assist in procurement of commodities and services that advance UIC's mission while achieving sustainability goals. Participate in procurement of services and products (RFPs) where sustainability is a key component.

Direct the Sustainability Team within PSPM by setting performance goals prioritizing responsibilities, developing work processes, supervising staff, and managing budget. Provide expertise to campus units needing direction and support to pursue sustainability-related projects and programs. Co-chair the

Chancellor’s Committee on Sustainability and Energy.  Guide and support the Chancellor’s Committee on Sustainability and Energy.  Deliver outreach, engagement, and training to campus. 

Guide the measurement and lead the reporting of progress on UIC's sustainability performance, in concurrence with UIC's Climate Commitments. Advise the development of performance indicators within OVCAS to monitor progress towards goals.

 Originate innovative fiscal and infrastructure solutions and evaluate the feasibility of implementation at UIC. Seek external funding and resources through advancement, grant writing, and partnerships. 

Develop process for student sustainability fee including project feasibility, budgeting, selection, award, monitoring progress and closeout. Oversee opportunities for student participation in sustainability initiatives through internships and volunteer service. Further curricular innovation and interdisciplinary programs. Manage the fiscal solvency of the Sustainability fee fund. 

Cooperate with other universities, the City of Chicago, agencies, and non-profits that advance sustainability locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally to further UIC's leadership and advance sustainability externally.

 Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned.

Job Knowledge & Skills, Education, Experience:

Master’s degree in a related field required. Degree, minor, certificate or research focus on sustainability preferred. 

At least eight (8) years full-time experience with at least five (5) years in sustainability, energy or environmental management, or public policy required. 

Experience with either environmental science, energy, health policy, sustainability, strategic and climate action planning, and environmental justice required. Familiar with institutional change management and best practices of sustainability in higher education preferred. 

Five (5) years managing a sustainability program in a college, university or large institution is preferred. 

Familiarity with sustainability science, systems thinking, grant writing, development preferred. 

Experience performing cost-benefit analysis of projects preferred. 

Well-honed group facilitation, consensus building, written and verbal communication, and presentations skills required. 

Ability to translate strategy into action, communicate at all levels of the organization, create partnerships, articulate goals within institutional and unit missions required.

Intermediate level knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Excel, Word, PowerPoint required.

For fullest consideration, please send a letter of interest, current resume and the contact information for up to three professional references by 5/25/2022 to: https://jobs.uic.edu  (Ref: HireTouch Job ID 163864).

The University of Illinois at Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with a disability.

Offers of employment by the University of Illinois may be subject to approval by the University’s Board of Trustees.  The University of Illinois will conduct background checks and other pre-employment assessments on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment.  Background checks will be performed in compliance with state and federal law.

As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.

The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899

University of Illinois faculty, staff and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordance with applicable University processes.

 

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