Executive Director, Daugherty Water Food Institute

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The University of Nebraska seeks a dynamic and visionary leader for the position of Executive Director of the Daugherty Water for Food Institute (DWFI). As an Institute of the University of Nebraska, DWFI is engaged in research, academic programs, and outreach programming that involve all the University’s campuses.

DWFI is a research, education, and policy institute of the University of Nebraska committed to helping the world efficiently use its limited freshwater resources to ensure the food supply for current and future generations. Founded in 2010 to address the global challenge of achieving food security with less pressure on water resources through improved management of water in agricultural and food systems, DWFI was launched with the announcement of a $50 million gift from the Robert

B. Daugherty Charitable Foundation, one of the largest gifts in the University of Nebraska’s history. The founder of Valmont Industries in Omaha, Mr. Daugherty had a deep commitment to the efficient and sustainable use of water to feed a growing world population.

The Executive Director has the unique and exciting opportunity to lead a premier research, education, and policy analysis institute that has global impact. The Executive Director provides leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for the Institute’s three primary missions of research, education, and policy (including Extension/outreach) with the goal of achieving lasting and significant impact on achieving food security with less pressure on water resources.

The Executive Director’s primary charge is to continue to build DWFI as a global leader in the international water and food communities by developing and nurturing local, national, and international partnerships with the public and private sectors, pursuing collaborative opportunities, demonstrating achievement of results, and ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the Institute.

The Executive Director oversees a core leadership team that includes a Director of Research, Director of Policy, Director of the Nebraska Water Center, Director of Water Climate and Health program, Director of Public Relations and Communications, an Associate Director, and an Assistant Director in addition to the Institute’s Faculty Fellows, post-doctoral fellows, graduate, and undergraduate students. The Executive Director reports to the NU Vice President and IANR Harlan Vice Chancellor.

The University seeks a leader with vision, scientific expertise, and administrative experience to promote DWFI as a global leader in water for agriculture. The Executive Director will be a passionate advocate for the Institute who brings ideas, positive energy, and the motivation to work with others to find solutions to a looming crisis. The Executive Director will embrace the importance of the Institute’s mission and its focus on high quality research with practical applications that are accessible to the world community.

The Executive Director must have outstanding credentials that bridge water and agriculture research, broad international experience and connectivity, strong fund-raising skills, and an impressive record of collaboration inside and outside the academy.

This is a 100% administrative appointment that will be located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The executive director will be appointed to a five-year renewable term, subject to satisfactory annual reviews and a formal…