Executive Director of Sustainable Solutions Lab
Job no: 520255
Position Type: Staff Full Time
Campus: UMass Boston
Department: Sustainable Solutions Lab
Pay Grade: 35
Date opened: 18 Aug 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 02 Oct 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
General Summary:
The Sustainable Solutions Lab works to advance climate justice through
research, convenings and field building. As a cross-university initiative, the
Sustainable Solutions Lab (SSL) will, through explicit and strong
relationships among business, non-profit, and government agency partners,
promote and advance transdisciplinary research and practice to develop and
implement sustainable and equitable solutions to issues of climate change.
The Executive Director, Sustainable Solutions Lab provides leadership on all
major areas of the Lab's policy, research, communications and policy-impact
agendas, including strategic planning, as well as its financial and
programmatic development. The incumbent will be responsible for leading,
supervising, coordinating, and conducting new and ground-breaking thinking on
conceptualizing frameworks and developing metrics to assess impact of SSL
activities; and will engage with high level stakeholders from multiple
sectors, understanding current issues associated with climate change
adaptation and resilience from a breadth of perspectives ranging from the
natural sciences to policy to business to climate justice advocates. The
Executive Director will supervise and orchestrate SSL activities through its
advisory boards and will directly work with SSL Research Director and faculty
affiliates to advance their research and associated activities; will lead
fundraising and developing revenue streams to support SSL growth and
longevity, which includes writing, analysis, participation and leadership in
the dissemination, communication, and presentation of SSL products and
activities.
The Executive Director will supervise and direct the work of permanent and
other staff within the Lab; coordinate work across campus; oversee the Lab's
budget and endowment accounts; provide leadership on issues of concern that
intersect with the Center's mission, the University of Massachusetts Boston,
and beyond; work closely with the center's external advisors in shaping
partnerships; coordinate and engage in fundraising and grant-seeking
activities; organize and hold public and educational events; provide media
commentary, particularly as related to climate change and social equity;
provide written annual reports; and other related duties.
Examples of Duties:
Responsible for supervising, developing and implementing a broad and
impactful vision for the Sustainable Solutions Lab (SSL) and leading in
the development of outcome metrics and assessment of SSL activities on
implementation of sustainable and equitable solutions; responsible for
creating and implementation of SSL's strategic plan;
Lead in developing partnerships and collaborations internally and
externally that advance SSL; responsible for development of fundraising,
communications and outreach;
Direct and oversee the following boards:
SSL External Advisory board, which consists of stakeholders who support
the work through financial contributions and through opening doors and
connecting SSL to opportunities across the region; and
SSL Faculty Advisory Board, which consists of SSL faculty affiliates who
provide support, lead research and help guide the direction of the
center);
Lead in providing support to SSL faculty through connections on campus and
to community members/community organizations, support on research
proposals, professional development opportunities and promotion of their
scholarship and increased opportunities for thought leadership; work with
SSL faculty affiliates to develop research proposals that are relevant to
SSL's focus areas;
Recruit, hire, train and supervise staff, research assistants, post docs
and work study students; solicit proposals, develop contracts and
supervise a variety of consultants and sub-contractors for work on
research and programmatic grants;
Responsible for financial management of center including working closely
with Central Business Unit and ORSP on RFPs, sub-contracts,
reimbursements, accounts payable and accounts receivable; responsible for
financial reporting to UMB advisory board and funders;
Organize and supervise SSL efforts internally and externally;
Advance new models for research translation and the development of
projects and deliverables that further SSL's mission and focus on applied
research;
Facilitate and develop convenings and public engagement activities that
enhance the visibility and impact of SSL;
Collect and analyze information from a wide variety of sources; monitor
relevant material from conferences and seminars, government and
intergovernmental documents, academic journals, institutional databases,
relevant civil society organizations and NGOs;
Develop, supervise and manage new programs and projects for SSL;
Write a diversity of SSL reports, briefing memos, op-eds, media materials,
blogs and news articles;
Present SSL products through a various of media outlets, cultivate SSL
reputation as key resource for journalists;
Attend international and domestic conferences and seminars as required;
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
This position requires a proactive, strategic thinker who is excellent at
collaborating and moving forward a complex agenda.
Required:
Master's degrees in Business Administration, Urban Planning,
Sustainability, Public Health or a closely related field;
Several years of professional and/or managerial experience in climate
adaptation, politics or academia;
A record of innovative and successful leadership and experience in climate
change, policy, community and/or participatory research;
Experience in leadership of an academic/higher education collaboration and
demonstrated capacity to manage diverse projects in a university setting
;
Experience working with governmental and non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) on issues of environmental import (e.g., clean energy,
sustainability, climate adaptation);
Demonstrated success in securing grant funding;
Demonstrated success in working with individual donors;
Experience with financial management, and financial reporting;
Exceptional collaboration and group facilitation skills;
Experience managing staff;
Experience managing boards;
Deep interest in climate change and associated impacts on marginalized
populations.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :
Track record of impactful consortium and team building
Excellent verbal and written communication skills as evidenced through
publications, news media interactions, speaking engagements.
Competence to undertake assignments and manage teams with minimal
supervision.
Application Instructions:
Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three
professional references.
Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.
Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be
considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other
candidates will be considered after that period.
Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following
link:
Grade: 35
Salary Ranges
This is an exempt union position. This is a grant funded position with a
current end date of June 30, 2024, subject to renewal contingent on funding
and university needs.
All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.
UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.
As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are
provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable
accommodation is needed, please contact [email protected] or 617-287-5150
Applications close: 02 Oct 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
