Position Announcement: Director, Center for the Environment, Discovery Park, Purdue University

Purdue University seeks an individual with vision and demonstrated leadership skills to guide an innovative team of scholars as the Director of the Center for the Environment in Discovery Park on the West Lafayette, Indiana campus (http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/). Discovery Park – where disciplines Converge to Solve Global Challenges – is internationally recognized as a leader in interdisciplinary research, distinguished by a convergence of physical, life, and engineering sciences, along with data science, advanced digital technologies as well as social sciences and humanities.

The mission of the Center for the Environment (C4E) is to promote proactive, interdisciplinary research, learning, and engagement at Purdue addressing important environmental challenges. The Center helps to connect faculty and students across departments and disciplines who working on these challenges, supports innovative projects, and increases the impact of Purdue's work on important environmental issues through outreach and stakeholder engagement activities. We work closely with campus faculty to integrate interdisciplinary environmental education and training with research.

The Director of the Center for the Environment is expected to encourage use of the unique infrastructure of Discovery Park, the Center's startup resources, and Purdue's extensive recent investments in environmental studies and engineering to combine discovery, engagement, and learning activities into a world class Center at Purdue University. Discovery Park is home to Purdue's large-scale interdisciplinary research and engagement programs where the entire spectrum of the mission of the land grant university is realized from fundamental and applied research to continuing education and economic development. Nestled on 40 acres on the southwest edge of Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, our complex of facilities provides open, collaborative research environments where interdisciplinary projects are connected throughout Purdue, Purdue Research Park and the world. The Director reports to the Chief Scientist and Executive Director of Discovery Park and provides a leadership role for interdisciplinary environmental programs on campus working closely with Academic Deans, Department Heads, Discovery Park researchers, the faculty affiliated with the Center for the Environment, and external stakeholders.

The Director should be a Purdue faculty member at the rank of a full professor with demonstrated excellence and record of accomplishments in environmental science, engineering and/or management. Administrative experience in the leadership of multi-investigator research projects is desired, as is experience in helping to build new interdisciplinary environmental programs integrating research, education, and engagement with non-academic constituencies. Experience with university/industrial partnerships is also desirable.

The Director will demonstrate a commitment to excellence in teaching. To receive full consideration, submit a two-page vision statement that outlines qualifications for the position and a curriculum vitae. All documents and questions must be directed electronically to dpsearch@purdue.edu. Full review of applications will commence April 1st, 2018; applications will be accepted until the position is filled. A background check is required for employment in this position.

Purdue University’s Discovery Park Administration is committed to advancing diversity in all areas of faculty effort, including scholarship, instruction, and engagement. Candidates should address at least one of these areas in their cover letter, indicating their past experiences, current interests or activities, and/or future goals to promote a climate that values diversity and inclusion.

Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.