Executive Director, Institute Society, Culture, and Environment
Listed on 2026-07-01
-
Management
Project & Program Management, General Management
Executive Director, Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment
- 536201
- Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
- Inst for Society/Culture/Envir.
- Executive / Director / Management
- Research / Scientific
- Faculty (Salaried)
- Virginia Tech
This position is limited to the faculty at Virginia Tech. The successful candidate must have a doctoral degree in their discipline and be actively engaged in social science research, with a record of recognized achievement in research, scholarly and educational pursuits, and service meriting appointment at the rank of Professor at Virginia Tech.
Job Description
About the position:
Virginia Tech is seeking a strategic and effective leader to serve as the Executive Director of the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment (ISCE). As one of Virginia Tech's four research investment institutes, ISCE champions the fundamental role that the social sciences and humanities play in society. Its mission is to enhance Virginia Tech's capacity and leadership in the social sciences and humanities by catalyzing innovative, interdisciplinary, and translational research and scholarship addressing critical individual and social concerns impacting people and places in Virginia, nationally, and globally.
The Executive Director position is an extraordinary opportunity to collaborate across Virginia Tech and work with stakeholders to further advance the university's priorities as a senior member of the research and innovation leadership team. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation, and working closely with other institute directors, the main focus of the Executive Director will be to shape the Institute's strategic direction and establish priorities that will leverage existing strengths and resources to address complex societal challenges through high-impact research and scholarship.
In collaboration with faculty across departments, schools, institutes, and colleges, the Executive Director will create and lead a comprehensive interdisciplinary research strategy to elevate Virginia Tech's national and international reputation as a leader in innovative, solution‑oriented social science research and humanities scholarship.
The Executive Director will communicate with stakeholders effectively and frequently, be of the highest integrity, act as an excellent and trustworthy steward of university resources, and be transparent in resource allocation and decision making. The Executive Director must be a respected scholar (a tenured, full professor) actively engaged in social science research with a clear record of success leading and supporting cross-, inter-, and transdisciplinary efforts.
The successful candidate will be a visionary collaborator who designs strategies and executes plans to further elevate an active research enterprise in support of Virginia Tech's Beyond Boundaries initiatives and its two presidential priorities – Global Distinction and Virginia Tech Advantage. As a member of Virginia Tech's senior leadership, the Executive Director collaborates closely with senior leaders of the University, helping establish priorities and execute initiatives through regular engagements as a member of the President's Council, Academic Affairs Council, and Research and Innovation Council.
The Executive Director of ISCE will have a calendar year appointment with at least 50% of their time committed to institute responsibilities. The successful candidate will be tenured at the rank of full professor. Contingent upon budgetary, programmatic and operational needs, alignment of executive director responsibilities may be adjusted according to university needs and strategic priorities. Manage an annual budget of ~$1 million in funds to advance the work of the institute designated to support interdisciplinary and strategically cross-disciplinary collaborations at a prominent R1 institution.
About the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment:
As one of four investment institutes at Virginia Tech, ISCE's collaborations and partnerships, within and across colleges and other areas of the university, are essential to the success of the Institute and its…
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