Executive Director, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Santa Clara University • Santa Clara, CA

44d • Hybrid

About The Position

Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic University in Silicon Valley, seeks an innovative, charismatic, and entrepreneurial leader for the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Founded in 1986, the Markkula Center is a leader in the broad-based study and practice of ethics in the domains of biotechnology and health, business, government and politics, leadership, religion, media, and technology. The Center plays a central role in the university with connections to faculty and students in all of its schools. The center’s emphasis on applied ethics extends its influence beyond the campus to Silicon Valley and the larger world, as it aims to educate and empower individuals and organizations to make ethical choices and create ethical organizations. The Executive Director is the chief executive of the Center with full responsibility for the vision, strategy, fundraising, reputation, and leadership of the Center. In addition, the Executive Director, who reports to the Provost, is a University leader, ensuring that the Center advances the overall mission and reputation of Santa Clara University. While the successful candidate will serve full-time as Executive Director, she or he also will hold a faculty appointment at Santa Clara University and have a successful research program in some area of ethics.

Requirements

• Expertise in applied ethics
• Vision and strategy: ability to appreciate the vital role an ethics center can play in the university and in society, with creativity and an innovative spirit. Ability to express that vision in ways that inspire and motivate others, and articulate long- and short-term strategies for achieving the Center’s vision.
• Leadership: ability to recruit, guide, and motivate highly talented staff; sustain an organizational culture at the Center that is innovative, professional, compassionate, and committed to diversity; inspire colleagues and the Advisory Board, and communicate a compelling vision for the future of the Center that engages a diversity of stakeholders.
• Fundraising: prepared to engage in development activities to provide short- and long-term resources to advance the operations and goals of the Center.
• Communication skills: potential as a thought leader, prepared to contribute to public dialogues on important contemporary issues, engage with the media frequently, and make audio, video and in-person presentations to a wide range of audiences. Ability to express ideas effectively in written and spoken word.
• Genuine appreciation for the goals and values of an academic institution
• Understanding and support of the values and ideals of Jesuit education, especially Santa Clara University's commitment to creating a more humane, just, and sustainable world through teaching, scholarship, and service
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial, leadership, management, organizational development, and consensus building skills
• Demonstrated oral, presentation, and written communication skills, with a premium on clarity and persuasiveness
• Demonstrated ability to be a successful fundraiser
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful strategic and operational plans
• Demonstrated ability to shape and build a strong organization with multiple programs and common purpose
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and interact effectively with a broad range of internal constituencies and external partners
• Strong sense of purpose combined with flexible thinking, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to learn from others
• Master's/Advanced Degree required
• Minimum of 15 years of experience
• Significant experience in a senior leadership position in academia, industry, government, or the non-profit sector
• Ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment and to promote and contribute to an inclusive and respectful workplace.

Responsibilities

• Advances the mission of the Center and sustains progress in service of that mission; promotes the vision of the Center’s role on campus, in Silicon Valley, and in the world
• Continually reviews and enhances long- and short-term strategies for the Center to achieve its vision
• Leads a team of entrepreneurial program directors, supporting innovation in the Center’s focus areas
• Defines the research and scholarship agendas for the center, while maintaining an active research agenda themselves
• Develops and grows relationships and networks with key intellectual, business, government and philanthropic leaders in Silicon Valley and beyond
• Engages donors to fund the work of the Center
• Represents the Center publicly and serves as a significant voice in public discourse on key ethics issues
• Creates relationships and joint programs with all schools and colleges, and other units throughout the University
• Engages closely with the Center’s Advisory Board of community leaders and Steering Committee of faculty advisors
• Acts as a leader in the University, taking on tasks and assignments from the Provost and President at their request
• Hires, directs, inspires, and motivates staff and affiliated faculty to achieve the Center’s mission and vision
• Creates an annual budget for the Center and manages to that budget

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees with programs and resources designed to promote and sustain personal health care, well-being, and the financial objectives of our employees and families.

What This Job Offers

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