Managing Director, BBISS - Open Rank Senior /Principal Extension Professional

Overview

Georgia Tech prides itself on its technological resources, collaborations, high-quality student body, and its commitment to building an outstanding and diverse community of learning, discovery, and creation. We strongly encourage applicants whose values align with our institutional values, as outlined in our Strategic Plan. These values include academic excellence, diversity of thought and experience, inquiry and innovation, collaboration and community, and ethical behavior and stewardship. Georgia Tech has policies to promote a healthy work-life balance and is aware that attracting faculty may require meeting the needs of two careers.

About Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is a top-ranked public research university situated in the heart of Atlanta, a diverse and vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. The Institute serves more than 45,000 students through top-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech's faculty attracted more than $1.4 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. Georgia Tech ranks among the nation's top 20 universities for research and development spending and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.
2. We strive for excellence.
3. We thrive on diversity.
4. We celebrate collaboration.
5. We champion innovation.
6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8. We act ethically.
9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

About Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS)

The Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) advances Georgia Tech's leadership in sustainability research, innovation, and partnerships. With a vision of a sustainable future for all, grounded in Georgia and global in impact, BBISS connects expertise across computing, engineering, design, business, policy, social, and natural sciences to address the most pressing sustainability and resilience challenges. BBISS serves as a catalyst and connector, bringing together faculty, students, industry, government, and community partners to develop technology-enabled, human-centric solutions.

Housed within BBISS, the Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) centers community engagement in the Institute's sustainability and climate research and education initiatives. SCoRE is committed to jumpstarting and stewarding authentic relationships and collaborations between Georgia Tech faculty, staff, and students and community partners working across the Southeast. They have established a broad, community-centered approach to sustainability as well as principles for collaboration.

The BBISS+ team demonstrates that sustainability research at Georgia Tech translates into real-world impact. The institute's commitment to transdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and strategic partnerships positions it as a model for how universities can address society's most pressing sustainability challenges with solutions that are grounded locally and impactful globally.

Atlanta, GA

The Managing Director serves as a strategic operating partner to the BBISS Executive Faculty Director (EFD), developing and leading BBISSs external partnership strategy grounded in the institute's academic research priorities while ensuring cohesive execution across the BBISS faculty leadership team (including the SCoRE Senior Director) portfolios and priority initiatives.

The position encompasses two key responsibilities. The first is extension responsibility (70%) translating BBISS's research mission into a into sustained, high-impact partnerships with industry, foundations, government agencies, national laboratories, nonprofits, and civic organizations and ensuring all external relationships advance research, extension, and service missions of BBISS. The second is strategic integration and organizational coordination (30%) - serving as primary integrator across EFD, Associate Faculty Director and SCoRE Senior Director portfolios and ensuring initiatives are executed in a coordinated and mutually reinforcing manner.

This is an exciting time to join BBISS as we grow our team, scale our initiatives, expand partnerships, and accelerate impact. Critical to success is serving as a bridge between BBISS's academic research strategy developed by the BBISS faculty leadership team and the external partnership ecosystem, translating research priorities into partnership opportunities, evaluating opportunities for strategic fit, and ensuring every relationship advances transdisciplinary research capabilities and BBISS's mission of fostering partnerships that translate knowledge into practice.

This position vacancy is an open rank announcement. Final job offer will be dependent on candidate qualifications in alignment with Research Faculty ranks as outlined in section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook (https://www.policylibrary.gatech.edu/faculty-handbook/3.2.1-research-faculty-hiring-and-promotion-guidelines

Extension Partnership Development (70%)

Strategic Extension Partnerships:

• Develop and lead the execution of BBISS's extension partnership strategy, translating research priorities into partnership targets across industries, foundations, government agencies, national labs, and community-based/nonprofit organizations.
• Provide strategic oversight to Director of Engagement/Sustainability (a shared position with the Office of Corporate Engagement) on industry partnership development, industry consortium strategies, etc. that align corporate interests with academic research capabilities and foster increased engagement and sponsorhip of applied research activities.
• Evaluate all partnership opportunities for strategic fit with academic research priorities and faculty capabilities; lead strategic planning for external engagement with BBISS leadership team

Relationship Development and Management:

• Serve as primary relationship manager for strategic foundation, government agency, non-profit and peer institution partnerships, ensuring each relationship advances academic research strategy
• Cultivate and steward complex, multi-year relationships that generate funding, research opportunities, and impact pathways aligned with BBISS research priorities
• Establish and manage BBISS External Advisory Board, recruiting high-caliber members from industry, government, non-profits, and philanthropy; coordinate biannual meetings and integrate board guidance into strategic planning
• Support philanthropic fundraising through prospect identification, cultivation, proposal support, and donor stewardship in close collaboration with Georgia Tech Office of Development

Partnership Execution and Visibility:

• Negotiate partnership agreements, MOUs, and research collaborations that advance BBISS strategic extension priorities and provide meaningful research opportunities for faculty
• Represent BBISS at national conferences, convenings, and strategic forums, effectively communicating academic research capabilities and strategic priorities to diverse external audiences
• Provide strategic oversight to high-profile events that elevate BBISS visibility, catalyze partnerships, and showcase Georgia Tech research

Strategic Integration and Organizational Coordination (30%)

Cross-Portfolio Coordination:

• Serve as primary integrator across Associate Director and SCoRE programs, ensuring initiatives are complementary, coordinated, and mutually reinforcing
• Translate strategic priorities from Executive Faculty Director and Associate Faculty Directors into integrated annual strategic plans with clear timelines, deliverables, and accountabilities; ensure signature initiatives (e.g., AI4Sustainability, Resilience) move forward with momentum and coordination

Operational Coordination and Execution:

• Work in close partnership with Director of Business Administration to translate annual strategic plans into operational plans and resource allocation, ensuring effective organizational operations and strategic execution,
• Oversee execution of multi-year strategic priorities; track progress, identify barriers, facilitate solutions; lead quarterly strategic planning and coordination processes.

This position vacancy is an open rank announcement. Final job offer will be dependent on candidate qualifications in alignment with Research Faculty ranks as outlined in section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook (https://www.policylibrary.gatech.edu/faculty-handbook/3.2.1-research-faculty-hiring-and-promotion-guidelines

Senior Extension Professional

• A Master's degree in environmental science, policy, business, engineering or public administration and seven (7) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of that degree, or related disciplines.
• A Master's degree in environmental science, policy, business, engineering or public administration and nine (9) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree, or related disciplines.
• A Doctoral degree in environmental science, policy, business, engineering or public administration, and four (4) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree, or related disciplines.

Principal Extension Professional

• A Master's degree in environmental science, policy, business, engineering or public administration and eleven (11) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of that degree, or related disciplines.
• A Doctoral degree in environmental science, policy, business, engineering or public administration, and seven (7) years of relevant full-time experience after completion of a Bachelor's degree or related disciplines.

• Terminal degree (PhD, JD, or equivalent)
• Experience in sustainability-related sectors
• Deep working knowledge of federal, state, and/or foundation funding landscapes
• Experience developing industry research consortia or public-private partnerships
• Experience establishing and managing advisory boards or multi-stakeholder governance structures
• Existing networks in relevant sectors (industry, government, foundations, nonprofit)
• Experience with community-engaged research or civic innovation initiatives
• Track record of collaboration with development/advancement offices

Preferred Experience

• 15+ years progressive leadership in higher education research administration, nonprofit leadership, or related sectors
• Deep understanding of academic research environments, faculty priorities, and university research strategy
• Track record of developing and executing partnership strategy; proven ability to identify which partnerships to pursue, secure significant funding, and advance research objectives
• Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives across organizational boundaries
• Experience with matrix organizations and dotted-line relationships; representing organizations externally and building strategic networks

Submit the following materials:

• Cover letter (2 pages maximum) describing your interest, relevant experience, and approach to developing partnership strategy grounded in academic research priorities
• Curriculum vitae or resume

• Business development and partnership strategy: Identify and pursue opportunities, cultivate relationships, develop proposals, close agreements, and generate revenue through sponsored research, gifts, and strategic partnerships
• Research strategy translation: Translate academic research priorities and faculty capabilities into compelling partnership opportunities and narratives for diverse external audiences
• Bridge-building across cultures: Navigate and communicate effectively across academic, corporate, government, and nonprofit contexts; translate external opportunities into research impact pathways
• Managing through influence: Direct and coordinate work through partnerships, dotted-line relationships, and professional networks rather than direct authority
• Entrepreneurial mindset: Comfortable with ambiguity, building new initiatives, adapting to evolving priorities

For any inquiries, please contact Kristina Chatfield at kchatfield30@gatech.edu

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The Institute is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and Institute policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia ("USG") and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of an individual's race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

This is not a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will not be required to drive.
This role is not considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position will not travel
This position does not require security clearance.

Working Conditions

• Reporting: Reports to Executive Faculty Director (who has a 50% administrative appointment in BBISS); serves as strategic operating partner
• Key partnerships: Office of Corporate Engagement, Office of Federal and State Relations, partner IRIs, Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2), Office of Commercialization, Office of Development
• Direct reports: Structure to be developed collaboratively based on Deputy Director's background and strategic direction; may include directors supporting external engagement and/or research development
• Travel: 25-30% within Georgia and nationally for partnership development, conferences, stakeholder engagement
• Schedule: Standard business hours with occasional evening/weekend for events
• Autonomy: High degree of independence and self-direction; strategic decision-making with appropriate escalation to Executive Director for major decisions
• Environment: Opportunity to define and shape evolving role; comfort with ambiguity essential

Compensation and Benefits

Georgia Tech offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience and qualifications:

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive health and retirement; professional development support; tuition assistance programs
• Opportunity to work at one of the nation's leading research universities in a dynamic, mission-driven environment

Successful candidate must be able to pass a background check. Please visit http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/employment/pre-employment-screening