This is an exciting time to join VIMS and the Batten School; we are operating under a new and innovative Strategic Plan, our faculty is growing, and we have recently secured a $100,000,000 gift to name the School – the largest gift ever to a school focused on coastal and marine sciences. In support of our efforts to amplify and accelerate our broad and dynamic research program, we seek strategic, forward-thinking individuals that are passionate about higher education and innovative scholarship and committed to the priorities laid out in our strategic plan.
Reporting to the Dean & Director of the Batten School/VIMS, the Associate Dean is responsible for leadership and administration of VIMS’ research and advisory services programs with support from a new Assistant Dean of Research and Advisory Services (focused primarily on the advisory services portion of the office) and associated staff. The incumbent serves in this full-time leadership and administrative position as leader for research activities at VIMS, under the Dean & Director, to ensure continued success of our broad research program.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Providing strategic thought leadership and effective administration that advances the research mission of VIMS and the Batten School, and that coordinates – with support and leadership from the Assistant Dean and other staff – the advisory services requirements of the institute, including governance for research and advisory services issues as delegated by the Dean & Director. This position will be focused approximately 75% on the research mission and 25% on the advisory services role (with the new Assistant Dean maintaining primary responsibility for advisory services).
- Participating in institutional-level decision making, and ensuring close coordination among the Office of Research and Advisory Services (ORAS) and the academic programs of the Batten School as well as operational and financial aspects of the organization
- Reviewing and approving all sponsored program contracts and proposals
- Leading efforts to represent the interests of VIMS and the Batten School to federal partners and program managers (e.g., NOAA, NSF, EPA) in Washington, D.C. to grow and broaden funding for innovative, multi-disciplinary research
- Leading efforts to facilitate and incentivize expanded participation in innovative multidisciplinary research teams that are responsive to federal and foundation priorities and that bring visibility to institutional scholars and scholarship
- Directing the ORAS office, including supervision of ORAS personnel
- Providing input to Section Chairs during faculty evaluations and reviews for promotion and tenure
- Supervising Center Directors and the Eastern Shore Laboratory
- In coordination with the Dean & Director’s Office and appropriate committees, writing, issuing, and interpreting policies that govern research activity
- Coordinating with the Dean & Director and Assistant Dean on advisory services directives from the executive and legislative branches
- Representing the organization, when appropriate, on scientific and advisory committees or identifying the appropriate surrogate
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Ph.D. in coastal or marine science or related field, with a record of scientific accomplishment sufficient to be hired at the Full Professor level and receive tenure within William & Mary’s Batten School
Competencies and Experience
- Excellent organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to exercise a high degree of diplomacy, collaboration, and problem solving
- Integrity, with the ability to navigate conflict effectively and advise on matters that may be sensitive or confidential; use of tact, discretion, sound judgment and decisiveness
- Effective communication skills, and the ability to interact with sensitivity across diverse groups of individuals
- Experience with the administration and/or governance of an academic or scholarly program at an institution of higher education
- Demonstrated record of sound financial management
- Demonstrated ability to design, develop and implement strong, interdisciplinary scholarly work
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with leadership or management of federal (e.g., NOAA, NSF, EPA) programs
- Experience working closely with an office of sponsored programs to manage programmatic activities
- Experience with institutional or programmatic data management
- Experience with environmental management
- Experience in dealing with non-academic issues / industry
