Director, Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment (RAPID)

Director, Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment (RAPID)

Deadline: Position will be open until filled; application review will begin immediately

CONTEXT OF THE JOB: The University of Delaware Energy Institute (UDEI) is a campus-wide institute with several affiliated centers. The overall mission of the UDEI is to marshal and expand the University’s science, engineering, and public policy expertise in new and emerging energy technologies and, with its industry and government partners, to use this research to address the entire spectrum of challenges posed by our future energy needs. Serving as the umbrella organization for energy research at UD, UDEI provides a focal point and portal for energy-related research activities at UD and to promote and disseminate knowledge of these energy technologies and activities. The Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment (RAPID) center at UD is a newly established center, one of six centers across the US, under the Manufacturing Institute led by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). UD’s RAPID center will focus on process intensification and modularization technologies for energy and cost reduction and chemical manufacturing at decentralized facilities. The Science and Technology Director of the RAPID center of UD serves as a key leader for developing and enhancing the internal organization processes and infrastructure of RAPID and its affiliated centers. Reporting to the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Innovation and under the limited direction of the UDEI Director, the Science and Technology Director independently manages projects and personnel , reports to the federal government and AIChE, represents UD at Industrial, DOE, AIChE meetings, and coordinates with the directors of the other RAPID centers at meetings to enhance capacity and visibility, and ensures sound fiscal responsibility.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works with the board and director to craft strategic vision of RAPID in coordination with DOE, Industry, AIChE and its affiliated centers, then aligns organizational resources with it.
• Provides leadership, manages and reports on the scientific, administrative, and economic programs of RAPID and its affiliated centers portfolio, exercising a high level of independent judgment and self-direction.
• Develops strategic plan, organizes, helps direct, coordinate and control projects and advises leadership team on progress and issues of concern.
• Provides guidance and leadership on organizational monitoring and reporting through the logic model, annual activities for projects, and data collection. Leads submission of annual reports to AIChE, DOE, and responds to inquiries.
• Enhances visibility of the research and education enterprise of RAPID and its affiliated centers network by representing partners at the national and international level and provides leadership to the partners. Presents to local and national groups, including funding agency officers, on program progress.
• Makes project allocations and programmatic decisions aligned with scope of work of the grants while serving the research, education and workforce development needs.
• Manages (controls, oversees, and ensures sound fiscal operations) RAPID and its budget of significant size and complexity (~$4 M per year).
• Ensures compliance with all appropriate regulations.
• Provides active support for building RAPID to a position of national and international prominence by assisting in the generation of funding from federal and state agencies, foundations and the private sector.
• Provides guidance for program activities including outreach, volunteer coordination and partnerships development, as well as marketing, media relations, public relations and issues management activities.
• Develops other revenue sources including business arrangements and funding proposals.
• Manages the Intellectual Portfolio (IP) of RAPID and its partners.
• Ensures appropriate information flow both within and outside the organization.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. degree and seven or more years of related experience.
• Experience in program development, management, project timelines and deliverables, and evaluation.
• Experience in research, with emphasis on reactors, separations, and scale up.
• Effective interpersonal skills, persuasive oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with diverse individuals and groups (e.g., federal and state agencies, academic and business communities).
• Experience in writing special analyses for publication and to inform internal and external decision-making. Prepare briefings for congressional delegations, state legislators, agency representatives, advisory panels, faculty and other educators and the general public.
• Experience in management of personnel to meet milestones.
• Experience in interacting and leading discussions with state and federal agencies.
• Ability to think strategically and to recognize new opportunities; demonstrates understanding of academe to achieve results across disciplines, units/divisions, and functions; in-depth knowledge of missions and objectives and programs of federal funding agencies and prior management and supervisory experience.