Director Jobs

Virginia Tech is seeking a strategic and effective leader to serve as the Executive Director of the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment (ISCE). As one of Virginia Tech’s four research investment institutes, ISCE champions the fundamental role that the social sciences and humanities play in society. Its mission is to enhance Virginia Tech’s capacity and leadership in the social sciences and humanities by catalyzing innovative, interdisciplinary, and translational research and scholarship addressing critical individual and social concerns impacting people and places in Virginia, nationally, and globally. The Executive Director position is an extraordinary opportunity to collaborate across Virginia Tech and work with stakeholders to further advance the university’s priorities as a senior member of the research and innovation leadership team. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation, and working closely with other institute directors, the main focus of the Executive Director will be to shape the Institute’s strategic direction and establish priorities that will leverage existing strengths and resources to address complex societal challenges through high-impact research and scholarship. In collaboration with faculty across departments, schools, institutes, and colleges, the Executive Director will create and lead a comprehensive interdisciplinary research strategy to elevate Virginia Tech’s national and international reputation as a leader in innovative, solution‑oriented social science research and humanities scholarship. The Executive Director will communicate with stakeholders effectively and frequently, be of the highest integrity, act as an excellent and trustworthy steward of university resources, and be transparent in resource allocation and decision making. The Executive Director must be a respected scholar (a tenured, full professor) actively engaged in social science research with a clear record of success leading and supporting cross-, inter-, and transdisciplinary efforts. The successful candidate will be a visionary collaborator who designs strategies and executes plans to further elevate an active research enterprise in support of Virginia Tech’s Beyond Boundaries initiatives and its two presidential priorities – Global Distinction and Virginia Tech Advantage. As a member of Virginia Tech’s senior leadership, the Executive Director collaborates closely with senior leaders of the University, helping establish priorities and execute initiatives through regular engagements as a member of the President’s Council, Academic Affairs Council, and Research and Innovation Council. As one of four investment institutes at Virginia Tech, ISCE’s collaborations and partnerships, within and across colleges and other areas of the university, are essential to the success of the Institute and its affiliated faculty. ISCE strategically invests in four thematic areas (global policies and practices; health and human development; risk and resilience; and community and environments) and other targeted research areas, primarily supporting faculty activities that have the potential for extramural funding. In so doing, ISCE makes available financial and tailored technical assistance that supports the development of individual faculty members and promotes participation in interdisciplinary teams. ISCE provides financial support to faculty through several funding mechanisms as well as through three ISCE centers and several associated centers. In addition to tailored technical assistance offered to faculty teams, the institute also provides mentoring, both to individuals and through structured programs; hosts speakers and seminars; and engages in activities to foster collaboration and teamwork. The social science and humanities communities at Virginia Tech are broadly defined and inclusive of faculty in traditional social science and humanities disciplines and departments, faculty in behavioral and cognitive science, public health and policy sciences disciplines and departments, and individual faculty embedded in departments not traditionally aligned with the social sciences but whose research addresses pressing social challenges. ISCE actively engages with faculty across STEM fields, life sciences, engineering, architecture, business, and the arts and design, recognizing that complex societal problems require collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches. Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.