Search Firm Opportunities

Iowa State University periodically partners with a variety of Search Firms for some searches. Applicants who wish to be considered for these positions must apply via the Search Firms application instructions below.

Jobs

Department Chair of Architecture

Department Chair of Aerospace Engineering

Ames National Laboratory Director

 

Department Chair of Architecture

The Department of Architecture in the College of Design at Iowa State University is seeking an accomplished leader with demonstrated achievements in architecture for the role of Department Chair to support and promote the interdisciplinary and collaborative work of all departmental faculty and staff. As a Carnegie Foundation designated Research-Extensive institution, we seek an individual in the field who will support the department’s long-standing scholarly excellence in education, research, and design. The Chair will be expected to foster collegiality and enhance our unique land-grant university status by upholding and inspiring our work both on- and off-campus. The new Department Chair will enrich our community as we pursue an appropriate balance in knowledge building and sharing, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

The successful candidate will oversee a dynamic department comprised of about 330 undergraduate students, 40 graduate students, and 40 faculty across the areas of architectural design, building technology, design communication, history/theory/culture, design education and professional practice. The Chair will be an advocate for members of the department in their relationships with allied programs, college and university administration, alumni, the profession, and the public. We seek a candidate who supports all three dimensions of the land-grant mission: education, research/creative inquiry, and outreach. Candidates must demonstrate experience and aptitude in strategic planning and facilitating communication to support success for all students, faculty, and staff. As an academic leader, the candidate must show an in-depth knowledge of their own field, an understanding of the breadth of architectural research and creative practices and exhibit an appreciation and respect for allied disciplines.

The Chair is the designated executive officer of the department and is responsible for personnel matters, including faculty recruitment and advancement, budget, student recruitment, departmental governance, collaborative engagements, and external relations. The chair also oversees central administrative operations of the department, including curriculum and teaching as well as assessment and accreditation. In this capacity, the Chair serves at the pleasure of the Dean of the College of Design. The proposed start date for the position is January 1, 2024 or until the position is filled, and is a full-time appointment at the rank of associate or full professor with tenure.

Duties of the Chair:

  • Provides leadership, strategy, and vision for the department working with faculty, students, and administrators;
  • Articulates departmental mission, values, and interests, within the university and beyond;
  • Implements a clear vision for advancing the department in all three dimensions of the land-grant mission: education, research/creative inquiry, and outreach;
  • Supervises curriculum and teaching and oversees program assessment and accreditation;
  • Supervises all faculty within the department;
  • Mentors and supports departmental faculty members through promotion and advancement;
  • Plans and manages departmental financing, budget, and workforce in coordination with finance and human resources support;
  • Maintains and strengthens interdisciplinary connections with other college/university programs, as well as with communities, professionals, and other external stakeholders (alumni, donors, and industry partners);
  • Supports college/department/university efforts in recruitment, marketing, communication, and fundraising;
  • Promotes the visibility and impact of the department and its students and alumni in national and international contexts; and
  • Engages in scholarship and/or teaching activities.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

  • A terminal degree in architecture or a closely related field
  • An exemplary record of achievement in design, scholarship, and/or professional practice sufficient to qualify for appointment as a tenured faculty member 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Significant recognition in research and/or teaching in one or more of the following areas: architectural design, building technology, design representation, history/theory/culture, design education, professional practice, or a related field;
  • Experience in academic administration and/or relevant project management and supervisory experience,
  • Demonstrated abilities related to fiscal duties, negotiation, personnel management, and fostering collegiality
  • Evidence of successful public relations, fund raising, and/or donor cultivation

Application Instructions

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full consideration, applications should be received by August 15, 2023.

Contact Information for Applicants

Buffkin/Baker, an executive search firm, is assisting the university in this search. Inquiries of interest, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically, in confidence, to: 

Mr. Martin M. Baker, Managing Partner;
Dr. Pelema Ellis, Associate Partner,
Buffkin/Baker; 
isuarchitecture@buffkinbaker.com 

 

Department Chair of Aerospace Engineering

The Department of Aerospace Engineering (AERE), in the College of Engineering at Iowa State University (ISU), invites applications for the Vance and Arlene Coffman Department Chair position. The endowed chair will be responsible for the scope and effectiveness of the Aerospace Engineering Department's teaching, research, and outreach efforts.

Candidates are expected to have an exemplary achievement record in research, teaching, and service at a level sufficient to qualify for appointment as a tenured Professor. They will have demonstrated a commitment to excellence through diversity and inclusion, a proven professional leadership record, strong communication and team-building skills, and the ability to lead others by creating and facilitating a collegial environment. They must be committed to the department’s outreach activities and interactions with external stakeholders and motivate others in a shared vision. An appreciation for university-industry collaborations, technology transfer, and intellectual property management will be treated as an asset. We seek a dynamic and innovative leader with a bold vision for the future of Aerospace Engineering.

The College of Engineering is committed to sustaining a collegial, positive, and productive environment for each individual and for the collective benefit of all. All faculty members are expected to exhibit and convey good citizenship within department, college, and university activities, interact collegially, and maintain the highest integrity and ethical behavior standards.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. or equivalent qualifications in Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field
  • Exemplary record of achievement in research, teaching, and service in a university, national laboratory, or industry at a level sufficient to qualify for appointment as a tenured Full Professor

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience directing interdisciplinary programs in education and research
  • Budget and personnel management experience
  • Experience in fundraising, donor cultivation, and stewardship
  • Evidence of achieving excellence through diversity and inclusion
  • Demonstrated accomplishment of visionary leadership and collaborative team building

Application Instructions

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. However, to receive full consideration, applications should be received by August 15, 2023.

Contact Information for Applicants

Buffkin/Baker, an executive search firm, is assisting the university in this search. Inquiries of interest, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically, in confidence, to: 

Mr. Martin M. Baker, Managing Partner;
Dr. Pelema Ellis, Associate Partner,
Buffkin/Baker; 
martin@buffkinbaker.com

 

Ames National Laboratory Director

Ames National Laboratory seeks applications and nominations for its next Laboratory Director to lead and enhance its ongoing world-class, mission-driven research of delivering critical materials solutions to the nation. Ames National Laboratory conducts fundamental science addressing chemical and materials challenges, with a focus on three long-term strategic directions: critical materials and upcycling science, atomistic and molecular design and control for energy and chemical conversion, and novel synthesis to manufacturing.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

  • Ph. D. in an area aligned with the research activities of the Laboratory
  • Outstanding scientific credentials and accomplishments to merit a faculty position at ISU

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Established record of visionary, collaborative scientific leadership and effective organizational management
  • Track record with, and a commitment to, diversity and inclusion and an understanding of the benefits that diversity, inclusion, equity, allyship, and accessibility bring to the Ames National Laboratory and ISU communities
  • Passion for and the ability to energize and sustain the multi-disciplinary culture of Ames National Laboratory
  • Demonstrated evidence of and commitment to developing and retaining talent within a research environment
  • Demonstrated evidence of a commitment to the safety, security, and well-being of employees, assets, and the environment
  • Ability to cultivate relationships and develop programs with the DOE’s Office of Science, other DOE offices, leadership of other national laboratories, and public stakeholders, including the State of Iowa, and other private customers to further the mission of the Laboratory.
  • Understand federal funding agencies and, preferably, have prior experience with and knowledge of the DOE: its culture, how funding decisions are made, and the environment of and partnership with federal funding agencies
  • Interpersonal skills needed to be a spokesperson to diverse stakeholders in promoting the mission, vision, and accomplishments of Ames National Laboratory. As needed, the Director will travel to DOE headquarters and other locations for direct interactions with relevant stakeholders.
  • Ability to leverage and build upon the unique opportunities afforded by the partnership of Ames National Laboratory and ISU, while also respecting their differences

Application Instructions

The complete application should contain a cover letter, résumé/CV, and list of references (as a single PDF file). The committee will begin reviewing materials immediately and will continue until the position is filled.  Priority will be given to applications received by August 1, 2023.

Contact Information for Applicants

All inquiries, nominations, and applications may be sent c/o the search firm at AmesDirector@RussellReynolds.com. For a complete position description and information about how to apply, please refer to www.ameslab.gov/ames-national-laboratory-director-s-search.