Managing Director

Position #: 01001297
Salary Range:  Dependent on Qualifications and Experience
Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Position Summary
Founded in 1924, the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science provides training, consultation, and research support services to faculty, staff, and students across the UNC-Chapel Hill campus and beyond. It is led by a half-time UNC faculty member, positioned under the Vice Chancellor for Research, and funded through state/university appropriations and grants/contracts led by Institute staff. The Institute employs approximately 20 full time professional staff and 15-30 part time graduate students.

The Institute is situated within a campus with a continually growing and diverse faculty, staff, and student body. We encourage applications from women, minorities, and individuals with a commitment to building a diverse and inclusive organization where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive together.

Reporting to the Director, the primary responsibility of this position is to manage daily operations at the Institute. This involves the management of professional personnel who head the business/service areas of the Institute, supervision of administrative staff, and overseeing hiring, budgeting, and personnel management. In addition, the Managing Director plays an important role in determining and implementing strategic planning for the Institute, and is responsible for its financial management. As head of operations, the managing director stands in for the Director when he/she is unavailable; supports Institute researchers with grant/contract-funded research; ensures that all activities happen on time and within budget; analyzes internal operations and identifies areas of process enhancement; develops, maintains, and monitors adherence to standard operating procedures; proactively protects employee safety; ensures that all employees have ready access to needed resources. As head of personnel management, the Managing Director oversees recruiting, onboarding, professional development, performance management, and retention of staff to build and maintain a highly inclusive culture in which employees thrive and organizational goals are met; oversees employee productivity and maintains culture of flexibility for employee work styles and schedules while ensuring that Institute goals are met; ensures all employees receive meaningful performance reviews and conducts performance reviews for direct reports; works closely with university HR staff to ensure that all HR tasks are completed accurately and efficiently. As the individual primarily responsible for the Institute’s financial management, this position works with the director to develop actionable financial strategies that ensure alignment with short-term and long-term objectives of the Institute; manages the Institute’s budget, investments, and expenditures; manages the recharge center and ensures collection of all agreed upon fees for services provided by Institute staff; works with university Office of Sponsored Research and the Institute business office staff to ensure smooth financial management of externally funded projects. The Managing Director promotes the Institute and contributes to strategic planning by helping determine organizational vision and strategy; translating strategy into actionable goals; building and maintaining trusted relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders; collecting and reporting metrics to demonstrate outcomes of the Institute’s work; pursuing internal and external funding opportunities.

The successful candidate for this second-in-command position will be a team player with a strong yet collaborative approach to managing and supporting talented, highly-motivated professionals united in their mission to conduct and support scientifically rigorous research that contributes to better lives for the citizens of North Carolina and the world.

Educational Requirements
Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required; for candidates with proven track record of managing similar organizations, will accept undergraduate degree with at least 7 years of experience.

Qualifications and Experience

  • Minimum of three years’ experience managing an organization of 20+ employees and associated operating budget. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
    Outstanding analytical and problem-solving abilities.
  • Ability to evaluate and balance needs of the organization with needs/desires of individual employees.
  • Experience preparing, submitting, and/or administering federal grants/contracts preferred.
  • Management experience in academic setting preferred.

Application Types Accepted
Applications will be considered until position is filled. Please submit an online application for position # 01001297 to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Human Resources at http://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/166103

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.