Associate Director, Earth Systems Institute

New York University • New York, NY

12d • $110,000 - $130,000

About The Position

The Associate Director will shape and focus the Earth Systems Institute's organizational direction, serving as its operational backbone. This pivotal role provides comprehensive leadership and oversight, particularly during the Institute's critical launch and initial growth phases. Ensure the seamless execution of high-level research, educational, and external partnership initiatives while serving as the primary liaison to central administration and NYU's schools. Manage day-to-day operations, support faculty leadership, secure funding pipelines, build industry partnerships, and plan programming and events. Collaborate with leadership to conceptualize and implement new funded initiatives and fellowship opportunities, assisting with grantmaking, budgeting, and resource identification.

Requirements

• Master's Degree or equivalent
• 5+ years of progressively responsible administrative or operational leadership experience
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, staff, and cross-functional initiatives or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Proven financial and operational management expertise
• Strong ability to translate long-term strategic vision into daily, actionable execution
• Exceptional interpersonal and political acumen, including the ability to influence, build consensus, and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders across a complex academic environment
• Advanced organizational skills, with a demonstrated ability to autonomously launch, prioritize, and manage multiple high-level projects concurrently under tight deadlines
• Comfort navigating corporate, foundation, or institutional agreements through complex legal and administrative approval channels
• Superior written and oral communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex concepts for both academic audiences (e.g., science proposal writing) and external partners
• Demonstrated resilience and problem-solving capacity within an ambiguous, fast-paced 'start-up' or launch phase organization

Nice To Haves

• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience, preferably in higher education or a complex research organization
• Background in STEM disciplines, a degree in a STEM discipline preferred
• Experience launching and/or administratively managing a research center, institute or interdisciplinary initiative
• Familiarity with academic governance and research environments

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations
• Support faculty leadership
• Secure funding pipelines
• Build industry partnerships
• Plan programming and events
• Conceptualize and implement new funded initiatives and fellowship opportunities
• Assist with grantmaking, budgeting, and resource identification
• Serve as the primary liaison to central administration and NYU's schools
• Ensure the seamless execution of high-level research, educational, and external partnership initiatives

Benefits

• New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. This pay range represents base pay only and excludes any additional items such as incentives, bonuses, clinical compensation, or other items.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level