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Center Assistant Director

How to Apply

Interested applicants should provide a cover letter detailing their specific interest in the position, CV and contact information for three references.

Job Summary

The new NSF-supportedCenter for Land Surface Hazards (https://www.geoclash.org/) program at the University of Michigan,Department of Earth and Environmental Science, (https://lsa.umich.edu/earth) is looking for a Center Assistant Director. The Assistant Director will be a key leader in the strategic and operational management of the Center, including responsibility for strategic oversight, financial management of a complex project, and personnel supervision. This role is essential to operationalizing the CLaSH mission to fundamentally change how communities understand and prepare for land surface hazards, such as landslides and flooding. The Assistant Director will support a complex, interdisciplinary team of geoscientists and engineers focused on building a novel scientific framework to improve hazard forecasting, develop educational programs, and enhance community resilience nationwide. This individual will work closely with the Center Director/Co-Director. TheCenter for Land Surface Hazards is currently funded for 5 years (https://record.umich.edu/articles/u-m-awarded-15m-to-transform-science-of-natural-hazards/) at $15M, with the possibility of renewal.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Why Work at Michigan?

We are so proud that the University of Michigan offerscomprehensive benefits (https://hr.umich.edu/benefits-wellness) to support your wellness as you plan for a stable and secure future. To enhance a career filled with purpose and opportunity, other benefits include:

+ Generous time off programs.

+ Our retirement plan provides two-for-one matching contributions.

+ Comprehensive options for health, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance.

+ Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses.

+ Tuition support, including the ability to take undergraduate courses in LSA at no cost.

+ Meeting-free days andcommunication norms (https://www.chronicle.com/article/what-happened-when-the-deans-office-stopped-sending-emails-after-hours/) that help you to "unplug" from work.

+ Access to deals, discounts, and attractions; seeUniquely Michigan (https://hr.umich.edu/benefits-wellness/work-life/uniquely-michigan) for details.

While you will primarily work from our central campus in Ann Arbor, LSA offers flexible work options. To support work-life balance, LSA has an email policy that limits non-essential emails to weekday business hours. We invite you to take a look atLSA's mission, vision, and values (https://lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision) .

Responsibilities*

The Center Assistant Director will perform the following duties and responsibilities;

+ Assume primary responsibility for operational continuity and timely execution of Center administrative activities, including budget and financial management of $3M/year, grant compliance, staff supervision, and facilities operations,

+ Serve as the Center's liaison to all essential university support teams (such as the Shared Services Center, Business Office, Procurement, Sponsored Research Office) to advocate for the Center's needs, resolve complex operational challenges, and integrate best practices.

+ Maintain regular contact with project partners including Senior Personnel and Primary Investigators, as well as 21 partners from other universities and institutions, in support of their center activities and management of their subcontracts.

+ Cultivate cross-campus collaboration with UM partners and stakeholders,

+ Manage coordinated project milestones and timelines including tracking of dependencies and shared resources,

+ Serve as a point of contact with external stakeholders,

+ Manage administrative staff and external contracts on day-to-day activities, including center operations, communications, center programs and event planning.

+ Facilitate programs in research, education and outreach conducting both formal and informal training of graduate and undergraduate students

+ Analyze and reviews project activities as well as carry out reporting requirements dictated by internal and sponsor guidelines, including end-of-fiscal year carry-forward planning and justification,

+ Support growth of new research endeavors including identifying opportunities to submit new external grants to pursue the center's mission.

Required Qualifications*

+ **Education** : Master's degree in business administration, geosciences, engineering, public policy, or a closely related field.

+ **Project Management Experience** : Minimum of 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in project, program, or research management roles, with demonstrated expertise in managing complex project milestones, deliverables, and timelines.

+ **Supervisory Experience** :Proven experience in supervising and managing administrative staff and/or contractors.

+ **Grant Management** :Comprehensive knowledge of the full lifecycle of federal grants, including budget preparation, post-award management, financial tracking, and compliance reporting (with experience working with agencies such as the National Science Foundation).

+ **Financial Oversight** : Demonstrated ability to manage, reconcile, and report on complex project budgets.

+ **Communication Skills** : Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

+ **Documentation and Reporting** :Ability to produce clear, concise, and accurate project documentation, research reports, and summaries. Experience translating complex technical information for a general audience is required.

Desired Qualifications*

+ **Education** : Ph.D. in a relevant field such as geosciences, engineering, business administration, or public policy.

+ **U-M Systems Experience** : Experience with University of Michigan financial, human resources, and grant management systems.

+ **Subject Matter Expertise** : Strong working knowledge of geosciences and geohazards, with familiarity in research design, research methods, and natural hazards research.

+ **Budget Management** : Demonstrated experience managing budgets in excess of $1 million.

+ **Technical Communication** : Experience drafting technical reports and preparing grant proposals.

+ **Grant Administration** : Direct experience with National Science Foundation (NSF) grant policy, procedures, and execution.

+ **Stakeholder Engagement** : Proven ability to serve as a liaison and manage relationships with a broad array of stakeholders, including senior leadership, external agencies, and government organizations.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about thework modes (https://hr.umich.edu/working-u-m/my-employment/ways-we-work-resource-center/ways-we-work-implementation-group/modes-work) .

Additional Information

This is a full-time, 12-month term-limited position with a possibility of renewal based on the availability of funding, the availability of work, and overall successful performance. Work modality is primarily in person, with some flexibility for remote/hybrid work.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Job Detail

Job Opening ID

269699

Working Title

Center Assistant Director

Job Title

Acad &/Or Res Prgm Ofcr Inter

Work Location

Ann Arbor Campus

Ann Arbor, MI

Modes of Work

Onsite

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

FLSA Status

Exempt

Organizational Group

College Of Lsa

Department

LSA Earth & Environmental Sci.

Posting Begin/End Date

10/16/2025 - 10/30/2025

Salary

$85,000.00 - $107,000.00

Career Interest

Administration