Soil Health Center Director - 140956

The Center Director reports to the Principal Investigator and serves as a strategic advisor, program representative, and operations manager providing leadership for the Soil Health Center program development, including strategic planning, grant writing, communications, and project management. The Center Director will independently oversee Microbiome research operations within the Soil Health Center and will also be responsible for various microbiome research programs. The Center Director will serve as the primary liaison for local, national, and international strategic partnerships with collaborators, donors, foundations, and farmers.

The Center Director will draft and coordinate proposal development with business office financial staff and will execute specific projects. The Center Director will monitor and evaluate strategies in Microbiome projects to measure progress and assess impact. The position will be responsible for budget management for the Center and will oversee over research budgets that include personnel, genomic sequencing, and research costs. The Center Director will draft and edit grant proposals, research regulatory documents, manuscripts, donor mailings, and broadly distributed scientific articles. Responsible for strategic staffing and providing work direction to lab personnel. Serve as a supervisor for staff employees.

The Center Director will assist the PI in pursuing potential project development and assumes oversight for specific projects or programs for the Center. The Center Director will have a broad understanding of microbiome research and engages with networks and leadership in a range of stakeholder sectors. The Center Director will work with PI on formulating short- and long-term planning and procedures, including attaining private and federal grant funding and private donor relationships. The Center Director will develop and organize conferences and other public forums.

• Advanced degree in biological science or equivalent experience / training. Terminal degree in a related field (PhD, JD, MD, etc.).

• Academic background and experience in selected area of research. Thorough knowledge and experience with microbiome and soil research. Thorough knowledge necessary to apply principles, practices and procedures in the completion of assignments. Demonstrated ability and knowledge to provide technical advice concerning precision nutrition and various microbiome research programs.

• Experience with federal research and funding.

• Highly skilled fundraising experience. Highly skilled in communication with stakeholders and agencies regarding opportunities and development of research.

• Advanced knowledge of administrative, budgetary, human resources and financial principles and practices.

• Proficiency in Microsoft (MS) Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and Adobe (Acrobat, Illustrator, Photoshop) products.

• Demonstrated ability to draft program strategies and workplans. Demonstrated ability to write, edit, and disseminate informational materials. Demonstrated ability to write, edit, and review project grant proposals, technical reports, and journal publications.

• Strong oral and written communication skills. Effective presentation skills. Demonstrated ability to conduct presentations targeted to a range of professional and community-based audiences; facilitate group processes in a variety of settings.

• Demonstrated skill to communicate clearly, effectively, tactfully, and patiently in person, on the telephone, and in writing. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with scientific and governmental agencies as well as the public. Comfortable with public speaking and giving scientific/technical presentations.

• Strong ability to think creatively and independently on concepts requiring advanced analytical skills. Demonstrated leadership and ability in creative program development and strategic planning, and in project and proposal development. Demonstrated organizational and decision-making abilities to prioritize competing work assignments in order to meet deadlines and adherence to quality standards. Demonstrated ability to organize work and schedules with changing priorities, frequent interruptions and minimal supervision; ability to exercise mature and independent judgement; demonstrated ability to work independently on detail oriented projects.

• Efficient interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups to achieve results. Demonstrated skills in motivating and fostering collaborative planning to identify common goals, program or project parameters, and outcomes. .

• Advanced ability to work collaboratively with internal and external peers and managers. Demonstrated ability to lead and influence others. Skill in planning, organizing, and directing the work of professional and administrative staff engaged in a project. Demonstrated experience in leading and participating in collaborative teams and networks to realize common goals. Skilled in designing collaborative strategies to incentivize participation and action.

• Demonstrated ability for effective resource and short and long-term planning, decision making, results delivery, team building, and the demonstrated ability to adapt to emerging issues.

• This is primarily an on-site position, with a hybrid work option and frequent travel required.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.