Director of Sustainability #19-23

Director of Sustainability 

Faculty Hire Number: 19-23

Rank: Open Rank (12-month)

Effective Date of Apointment: August 21, 2019 (Subject to Budgetary Approval)

Salary: Dependent upon qualifications

 

About the University:

One of the largest universities in the country, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is an urban, comprehensive university that delivers award-winning undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 40,000 students annually and counts more than 330,000 alumni who elevate Southern California and beyond. Since its founding in 1958, CSUN has made a significant and long-term economic impact on California, generating nearly $1.9 billion in economic impact and more than 11,700 jobs each year. The LAEDC recognized CSUN as its 2015 Eddy Award winner for its positive economic impact. Serving more students on Pell Grants than any other institution in California, CSUN is also a social elevator and one of the most diverse universities in the country. CSUN ranks 13th in awarding bachelor’s degrees to historically underrepresented students and enrolls the largest number of students who are Deaf and hard of hearing of any U.S. state university. The journal Nature recently named CSUN a Rising Star for scientific research, and the NSF ranks CSUN in the top five nationally among similar institutions for graduates who go on to earn doctorates in the sciences. CSUN is where individuals rise. And through them, so does Greater Los Angeles and beyond.

Director, Institute for Sustainability

We are recruiting for an open-rank faculty position to fulfill the role of the campus-wide Director of the Institute for Sustainability (IS).  This is a great opportunity for an innovative and strategic leader to build on the campus’s exemplary efforts and accomplishments in sustainability.  CSUN is emerging as a national leader in this area, recently garnering multiple awards and accolades.  We seek an individual who can maintain and enhance the innovative and collaborative spirit espoused by the Institute.  The Director’s position is a 12-month appointment.  We seek a qualified candidate, with expertise in Sustainability or related cognate fields who can work in an interdisciplinary environment, in one of the following departments at the California State University, Northridge: Anthropology, Chicano/a Studies, Geography and Environmental Studies, Geological Sciences, History, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, Recreation and Tourism Management, Urban Studies and Planning.   The successful candidate will be held to the standards and requirements of the college and department in which they are housed for recommending tenure and promotion, if applicable.  The position of Director will report to the Provost (or designee) and be evaluated annually. Within the Department of locus of tenure, the Director will teach up to two courses (one each semester) per academic year in his/her field of specialization.  The Director will collaboratively establish and implement campus and IS priorities to move CSUN and its community forward towards a more sustainable future.  Given the robust and broad goals of the IS, the Director must be a leader with broad and deep experience dealing with diverse stakeholders, including students, staff, faculty, administrators, other campuses, government officials and agencies, school districts, and peers at the national level.  The Director shall foster widespread student and faculty engagement in, nurture broader community relationships with, and enhance the scholarly activities and funding of the Institute.  All of this will be accomplished in collaboration with a talented and dedicated team of staff and faculty who are deeply engaged with many aspects of CSUN’s sustainability plans.  An MOU will be established at the time of appointment to address role expectations and evaluation process, as well as tenure and promotion criteria (if applicable).

Required Qualifications:  

Terminal degree from an accredited university in a discipline appropriate for one of the listed departments by the time of appointment. Proven research in appropriate specialization and experience in sustainability-related practices and applications. Excellent analytical and data analysis skills.  A track record of collaborative engagement with and/or management of projects. Evidence of effective leadership and interdisciplinary engagement across disciplines and divisions. 

Desired Qualifications

A demonstrated record of leadership experience and success. Experience with grantsmanship. Demonstrated record of teaching excellence in appropriate area of specialization.  Experience supervising staff and developing budgets and managing program expenses.

At time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must have authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work in the United States.

Responsibilities:  

Director Responsibilities

  • Collaboratively implement the Campus Sustainability and Climate Action Plans working with the Director of Energy and Sustainability (Facilities) and Green Core Team
  • Facilitate the research, analysis, and reporting of university resource use – water use, energy use, greenhouse gas inventory, transportation, and other related resource use activities
  • Incentivize and support sustainability research and projects, and lead efforts to secure extramural funding
  • Serve as an advisor to university leadership on planning and policy in sustainability
  • Act as liaison with on and off-campus partners and serve on relevant local, regional and national committees
  • Establish and manage priorities for various existing Institute working groups and committees
  • Collaborate with Departments that develop curriculum in sustainability
  • Oversee the  operations of the organic food garden and composting facilities
  • Engage with outside stakeholders, including various communities and community groups, in education, training, and research activities in sustainability
  • Develop partners and initiatives for collaborative work on sustainability related activities across the region and to expand our efforts and funding for clean technology and sustainability
  • Manage the Institute’s budget and supervise office staff and employees
  • Direct all IS outreach efforts

How to Apply:

Screening of applications will begin February 15, 2019.  Priority will be given to applicants who meet the screening deadline. However, the position will remain open until filled. Applicants should submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and three current letters of recommendation to the address below.  In later phases of the search process, applicants may be requested to provide verification of terminal degrees, licenses and certificates.

This institution is using Interfolio’s ByCommittee to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge to: http://apply.interfolio.com/57899.

CSUN’s Commitment to You:

CSUN is committed to achieving excellence through teaching, scholarship, learning and inclusion. Our values include a respect for all people, building partnerships with the community and the encouragement of innovation, experimentation and creativity. CSUN strives to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. CSUN is especially interested in candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence for all members of the university community.

For more information about the University, visit: http://www.csun.edu

General Information:

In compliance with the Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, California State University, Northridge has made crime-reporting statistics available on-line here. Print copies are available by request from the Department of Police Services, the Office for Faculty Affairs, and the Office of Equity and Diversity.

The person holding this position may be considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

CSUN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, and disability. Our nondiscrimination policy is set forth in CSU Executive Order 1096. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Faculty Affairs at (818) 677-2962.