Director of Operations & Outreach; Term

Director of Operations & Outreach (2-year Term)

Job Summary:

Northwestern University is launching a new initiative aligned with its strategic priority to lead in sustainability. This new institute will be dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research and education at the intersection of the environment and health, recognizing the interconnected nature of interventions that affect water, land, and air and impacts on human health. This forthcoming institute's first Director of Operations and Outreach (DOO) will play a key role in establishing the institute and promoting its mission and goals by leading the strategic business management and tactical operation of the institute.

The DOO innovates, implements and continually enhances the institute's programs and plans to ensure excellence at all levels. Proactively interfacing with institute leadership, the DOO manages current initiatives and long‑term planning in support of the institute's education, research and outreach mission. The DOO fosters the collaborative spirit of the institute with alliances both internal and external to the University. The DOO will also oversee evaluations, coordination with affiliate centers, and help build and coordinate relationships with relevant partners.

The DOO will focus on providing strategic leadership, attracting novel funding streams, and supporting faculty in executing their vision across the institute's four areas of emphasis (water, land, air, and health).

This position will support the faculty director of the institute, as described above. Specific responsibilities include: multidisciplinary research institute development; strategy implementation and operations oversight; staff supervision and hiring; partnering to identify, secure, and administer research funding; fund‑raising collaboration in partnership with Northwestern's development office (for donor relations) and/or grant funding institutions; budget and financial operations; research and interdisciplinary program development and implementation;

engagement with institute leadership and the University's central offices; communications and marketing support; creative/proactive ideas and strategy input and support.

This is a two‑year term position. Opportunity for renewal will be based on performance and available funding.

• Creates and maintains the infrastructure operating plan and process to enable efficient operations and compliance.
• Orchestrates and coordinates activities of many people in various departments to provide seamless support for the Institute's operations and research and educational programs.
• Determines the staff organization structure and supervises the recruitment, hiring, training and performance management of any new administrative staff. Continually stays abreast of external regulations.
• Manages capital and operating budget planning, purchasing and payroll expenditures, and regular reconciliation and reporting to ensure sound financial/fiscal management.
• Manages administrative aspects of space planning and other resource deployment.
• Coordinates with other budgeting units within the University.

• Works with the institute's faculty director and leadership team to support the Institute's growth, development, and expand internal and external relationships.
• Interacts with faculty and administration at NU, funding agencies, and university collaborators to ensure smooth execution of the Institute's initiatives.
• Serves as liaison to Northwestern's upper administration and central offices throughout the university; engages partners at other universities as needed.
• Initiates and nurtures regular, productive communication with faculty leaders, executive council, advisory board and sponsors.
• Assists the Director in the preparation of information reports, analyses, financial statements, and programmatic presentations.
• Proactively engages other NU centers, institutes, departments, and school partners.

• Manages & implements strategic operation plans.
• Reviews plans, meets with leadership & key faculty & staff, & recommends changes & improvements to…