Executive Director Alabama Water Institute - 529100

The University of Alabama•Tuscaloosa, AL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Alabama Water Institute (AWI) at The University of Alabama (UA) is seeking a visionary leader to serve as its Executive Director. AWI is a cornerstone of UA's research enterprise, focused on developing and implementing interdisciplinary solutions for water security. The institute collaborates with federal agencies, academic partners, and private innovators on research in areas like hydrologic forecasting, water quality, and hydroinformatics. AWI has a significant impact, leading a national consortium for a $360M NOAA Cooperative Institute award (CIROH) and expanding its work in national security and environmental intelligence through the Global Water Security Center. It also leads the CONSERVE initiative, connecting water research to agriculture, energy, and environmental stewardship. The Executive Director will be the chief architect of AWI's vision, strategy, and operations, working closely with university leadership to enhance its national and international reputation. This role involves strengthening relationships with key federal and state partners, fostering multi-disciplinary collaborations, developing sustainable funding models, and championing a culture of innovation. The position is a unique opportunity to shape the future of water research and technology at a leading research university, contributing to a water-secure future.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree with at least twelve years of progressively responsible experience, or a master’s degree with at least ten years of directly relevant experience in research administration, scientific leadership, or program management.
Professor of Practice appointment requires significant experience and a record of distinction in their profession outside of academia.
Ability to provide effective, practice-oriented teaching, research, or clinical expertise.

Nice To Haves

Record of excellence in research leadership, strategic vision, and collaborative accomplishment.
Record of success and experience directing cross-disciplinary research teams and initiatives, with achievements recognized at the national and/or international level.
Demonstrated success in government relations, including the development of competitive proposals, establishment of interagency collaborations, and acquisition of federal and/or state appropriations.
Experience working with major federal agencies engaged in water and environmental research (e.g., NOAA, USGS, US Army Corps of Engineers, NASA, NSF, USFWS, EPA).
Significant experience leading research and operational programs within an academic, industrial, and/or government environment, with a demonstrated ability to connect science, policy, and practice.
Deep understanding of various scientific, engineering, and policy disciplines represented within AWI and the ability to integrate these perspectives into a cohesive vision.
A reputation as a trusted and effective colleague and leader, known for fostering collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
Documented success in managing and developing staff and research professionals, with a proven capacity to recruit, mentor, and retain top talent.
Clear understanding of research funding landscapes and demonstrated success in developing, securing, and managing externally sponsored grants and contracts.
Demonstrated record of success in research management, program development, and partnership building.

Responsibilities

Oversee and direct the day-to-day activities and operations of AWI.
Develop, communicate, and execute a clear strategic vision that positions AWI as a world-class leader in water research, technology innovation, and applied solutions.
Conduct regular multi-year strategic planning to ensure organizational growth, competitiveness, and alignment with institutional and global research priorities.
Develop and maintain a sustainable multi-year financial strategy, in coordination with the AWI Director of Finance and Operations, to support responsible funding allocation, operational efficiency, and long-term organizational stability.
Lead, build, and support high-performing shared services teams that meet the research administration, operations, communications, workforce development, and public engagement needs of AWI and its research entities.
Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain talented staff and students.
Coordinate with academic units to support faculty development in alignment with AWI’s research priorities.
Establish clear performance expectations and evaluation practices for AWI teams and programs.
Establish and strengthen high-impact relationships with federal agencies (e.g., NOAA, USGS, DoW, NASA, USDA), state agencies, academic institutions, international organizations, and industry partners to advance AWI’s mission and broaden research impact.
Develop mechanisms, agreements, and technical exchange pathways that accelerate collaborative research, knowledge transfer, and operational implementation.
Represent AWI at national and international engagements, forums, and advisory conversations to expand AWI’s influence and elevate its institutional profile.
Support, strengthen, and expand existing AWI research entities (e.g., CIROH, GWSC, CONSERVE) to ensure they meet their scientific, operational, and partnership objectives.
Collaborate with academic units to attract, retain, and support faculty and researchers who advance AWI’s research impact.
Stimulate the development of new research centers, programs, and facilities that align with AWI’s mission and leverage the University’s research strengths and assets.
Identify, pursue, and secure resources to support AWI’s research, education, training, and engagement portfolios.
Ensure AWI maintains state-of-the-art research infrastructure and shared-use capabilities needed for competitive science.
Identify emerging research opportunities and coordinate proposal development for strategic and large-scale, multi-institutional projects.
Serve as the public face of AWI through speaking engagements, media interactions, legislative briefings, and stakeholder communications.
Guide external communications strategies to effectively highlight AWI’s contributions, outcomes, and impact.
Strengthen the connection between AWI research and communities by supporting education, workforce development, and public engagement initiatives.
Help translate scientific knowledge into operational tools, decision-support systems, and actionable insights that benefit government, industry, and society.
Perform other duties as assigned.