Executive Director, Innovative Campus

Job Description:

ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A leader who is hungry to build on what has been accomplished and have a real impact on the campus and the university, the Executive Director is the chief administrative officer of the Innovation Campus and provides overall leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for it. This person is responsible for developing and executing a clear growth strategy, aligning university priorities with external partner needs, and ensuring effective governance, financial stewardship, and appropriate management of campus programming and operations. The Executive Director works closely with university leaders to leverage the campus in service of the university's academic and research efforts, as well as with community and industry leaders to transform and strengthen the region's growing economy. In pursuit of these goals, the Executive Director serves as the primary external representative of the Innovation Campus, cultivating partnerships with corporate, government, and community stakeholders to attract industry, investment, and collaborative research opportunities. This person oversees program development, seed funding initiatives, facilities management, and revenue-generating activities, while fostering an environment that supports innovation, entrepreneurship, research commercialization, industry engagement, and workforce development. The annual operating budget for the campus is approximately $1.5 million. The Executive Director reports to the Executive Vice President for Strategy, Operations and Finance of Western Kentucky University and is supported by a team of staff.

More specifically, the Executive Director will address the following opportunities and challenges:

Set and execute an ambitious vision and strategy for the Innovation Campus

The Executive Director holds primary responsibility for defining a clear and compelling vision and strategy for the Innovation Campus. To do so successfully, this person will work in close partnership with university and community leaders to assess the institution's strengths, external partner needs, and broader market opportunities to shape a focused and achievable strategic direction. They will then translate that vision and strategy into action, aligning stakeholders and securing the resources necessary to support execution.

Contribute to the diversification of the regional economy

The city of Bowling Green and Warren County have historically had a thriving manufacturing economy, which has contributed to significant growth in recent years. Now, as WKU strengthens its research enterprise and as the city strategically envisions its future, the opportunity exists to create new regional economies in technology and healthcare. The Executive Director will play a meaningful role in this effort, shaping the Innovation Campus into an incubator-like environment for technology-oriented entrepreneurs and emerging healthcare ventures, supporting workforce development activities that both train students and encourage them to remain local, and strengthening ties with the Regional Technology Council (which is based on the Innovation Campus), the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, and other partners. This work will be inherently collaborative, aligning business, civic, and academic stakeholders to build broader support for a more prosperous and diversified economic future.

Strengthen the Innovation Campus's capacity to address regional needs through innovative activity

WKU's location in Bowling Green and proximity to Nashville are a major asset, and the Innovation Campus will play a central role in maximizing the potential of the university's location. To this end, the Executive Director will lead efforts to expand the Innovation Campus's regional footprint by attracting and supporting both established and emerging companies, offering them an accessible platform for growth, and connecting them to the university's research enterprise. This work is already underway, for instance through the Metals Innovation Initiative, which is headquartered on the Innovation Campus and brings together industry, academia, and government to advance a thriving metals ecosystem in Kentucky. An enterprising Executive Director will find further opportunities to address regional needs by convening key partners and leveraging the strengths of the university.

Partner with faculty to expand research translation and commercialization efforts

Under the leadership of the Associate Provost for Research, WKU has grown its research enterprise in recent years. The Executive Director will work closely with the Associate Provost for Research and the faculty to identify and advance research with applied potential, helping to translate early-stage ideas into viable ventures. This work will necessitate leadership at multiple levels. Strategically, the Executive Director will engage in deep conversation with the academic community about the role of the university as an anchor institution, about its potential to enhance quality of life in the region, and about the opportunity to encourage a broader base of funding. Tactically, this person will participate in building a more structured and effective pipeline for innovation efforts, including targeted support such as seed funding and faculty time allocation.

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

WKU understands that no single candidate will possess all the ideal qualifications and characteristics, but seeks candidates who bring many of the following:

• Demonstrated ability to execute an organizational strategy and translate vision into outcomes; strong project management and organizational skills, with particular attention paid to execution;
• A heightened sense of political acumen; the leadership presence needed to guide change, influence diverse constituencies, and build alignment around new strategic directions;
• Experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives involving academia, industry, and government; demonstrated capacity to foster collaboration among different stakeholders;
• Familiarity with applied research activity, research commercialization, or technology transfer; an appreciation for the academic, scholarly, and teaching missions of a research university;
• Ability to engage and build trust with faculty, researchers, entrepreneurs, and corporate partners;
• Knowledge of regional economic development practices and drivers of industrial growth; an interest in supporting entrepreneurship in targeted sectors such as technology and healthcare;
• Experience managing organizational operations, budgets, and personnel; the ability to leverage limited resources creatively and to maximize return on investment;
• Strong communication skills and the ability to serve effectively as the face of an organization;
• A team player with a natural curiosity and the desire to work hard to realize an ambitious vision.
• Bachelor's degree

Additional Information:

COMPENSATION

This is a 12-month, full-time position based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Total compensation will be commensurate with experience with an approximate target of $160,000. In addition, WKU offers comprehensive wellness and health benefits to employees and their families, including domestic partners and other qualified dependents, and takes pride in providing a workplace culture that supports balancing the responsibilities of work and family life. Paid time off for holidays, vacation and sick leave, and a tuition discount program for employees and dependents are also provided.

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Application Instructions:

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process.

Applications (including resume and cover letter), inquiries, and nominations should be submitted in confidence to Jackie Mildner, Keith Mason, and Pamela Carty via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/western-kentucky-university/executive-director-innovation-campus

URL: www.imsearch.com/open-searches/western-kentucky-university/executive-director-innovation-campus