Director of the Shah Academy for Leadership and Innovation

General Summary of Position:

The Francis College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell is searching for an outstanding candidate to be the Founding Director of the Shah Academy for Leadership and Innovation. This founding director will put into action the vision for the academy by working with high-performing students who have excelled in the classroom and who have a demonstrated potential for leadership. The founding director will design and facilitate the delivery of an exceptionally robust menu of educational experiences for the students, build a network of professional executives who are invested in the mission of the academy, and develop and implement a sustainability plan to support the success of the academy activities and fiscal needs.

The college has just under 3,000 undergraduate and over 1,000 graduate students. The University serves the multicultural population of the Commonwealth and has been nationally recognized for its commitment to diversity by the American Society for Engineering Education and is also a Minority Serving Institution (MSI). UMass Lowell is a Carnegie Doctoral High Research (RU/H) university ranked in the top tier of US News' National Universities.

The campus is situated on the banks of the Merrimack River, a beautiful and culturally diverse area, and birthplace of America's industrial revolution. Cotton mills in Lowell, the only city to be awarded national park status by the U.S. National Park Service, opened in 1814 and the city has been a hub of invention and innovation ever since. UML continues that legacy of innovation throughout the campus. Its location 30 miles northwest of Boston offers unsurpassed enrichment of every type, including fine arts, dining, historical sites, and of course sports! Just north of Lowell, the grandeur of New Hampshire's White Mountains unfolds not far from the storied ski lodges of Vermont.

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

• Bachelor's degree
• 10 years of professional experience
• Excellent computer skills; strong knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint

Additional Considerations:

• Commitment to develop and sustain a set of robust fundraising activities
• Dedication to mentoring undergraduate students in Engineering
• The ability to work effectively with diverse groups
• Experience in engineering education and the design of effective and inclusive pedagogical approaches

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree
• Experience building and designing programs from the ground up
• Knowledge of industry recruiting strategies and hiring requirements for interns and new college graduates
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic partnerships with executive-level leaders for mentoring and other supporting activities for interns and new hires
• Previous experience working with industry

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is committed to increasing diversity in its faculty, staff, and student populations, as well as in curriculum and support programs while promoting an inclusive and nurturing environment. We seek candidates who can contribute to this goal and encourage candidates to apply and to identify their strengths in these areas. All applicants must submit a diversity statement (please see the required documents below).

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Only Internal Professional (SEIU 888 Professional Union) Bargaining candidates will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

This is an SEIU 888 Professional Union position, Grade P18.

Applications received by April 25, 2024, will be considered in the first review of candidates. However, later applications may be considered for this position. The search will close after an adequate number of qualified applications are received.

Please include the following documents with your application:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Vision Statement outlining the actions that you envision taking as the Founding Director
• Diversity Statement: In this statement, please describe how you can support UMass Lowell's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), justice, and belonging. Describe how past experiences and/or leadership (as applicable) have supported the success of students and/or colleagues; and/or describe the impact others have had on you as relating to DEI and your future plans for supporting DEI.
• Names and contact information of three references will be required during the application process.