Director

Tennessee Tech • Cookeville, TN

44d

About The Position

The College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech University invites applications for
the position of Director of the Center for Energy Systems Research (CESR). We
seek a dynamic and visionary Director who will guide CESR to regional and
national recognition as a leader in modern resilient, secure, and scalable
energy systems in a new era of energy challenges and opportunities. This is a
full-time, nine-month tenured faculty appointment at the rank of full professor,
including some guaranteed summer support, with tenure in an appropriate
department of the College of Engineering, determined based on the candidate's
expertise. Target start date is August 1, 2026.

The Director serves as the chief executive officer of CESR and directly reports
to the Associate Dean for Research. The successful candidate will provide
strategic vision, leadership, and guidance to advance CESR's regional and
national prominence in resilient, secure, and scalable energy systems,
leveraging already established strengths and expertise of the college. The
Director will lead research development, secure external funding, manage budgets
and personnel, with a primary focus on fostering interdisciplinary collaboration
and outreach activities beyond the college domain. The individual is also
expected to maintain an active research program and contribute to instruction
within their tenure home department.

The Center for Energy Systems Research is one of Tennessee's Centers of
Excellence within the College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech University.
Founded over 40 years ago, CESR has received continuous state funding throughout
its history and is currently supported by the State of Tennessee at $1.2 million
per year. CESR has a long history of externally funded research in energy
systems and maintains strong partnerships with the electric power industry and
government agencies. The incoming Director will build and sustain a
collaborative, faculty-centered research culture that actively engages College
of Engineering faculty and supports their growth as researchers and scholars.
The College of Engineering enrolls approximately 3,200 students across multiple
undergraduate and graduate degree programs and is home to multiple research
centers. The College of Engineering is rapidly expanding and modernizing,
including the addition of new offerings in Nuclear Engineering. For additional
information, visit https://www.tntech.edu/engineering/
[https://www.tntech.edu/engineering/].

Tennessee Tech is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic vision, leadership, and guidance to advance CESR's regional and national prominence in resilient, secure, and scalable energy systems
• Lead research development
• Secure external funding
• Manage budgets and personnel
• Foster interdisciplinary collaboration and outreach activities beyond the college domain
• Maintain an active research program
• Contribute to instruction within their tenure home department

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed