Director of Green Buildings & Systems and Assistant Professor

Chatham University
Director of Green Buildings & Systems and Assistant Professor

Chatham University's Falk School of Sustainability & Environment has an opening for a Director of Green Buildings & Energy Systems at its groundbreaking Eden Hall Campus. We are seeking someone who brings experience both in professional practice and in the classroom so they can bridge key functions within Eden Hall's living, learning laboratory. Successful candidates will show how their training and experience prepare them to (1) oversee operations of state-of-the-art green buildings, on-site renewable energy systems, and a green wastewater treatment facility, (2) teach students within our interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and (3) help manage academic and community partnerships around green buildings and energy systems.

You will bring your passion for people, green buildings and renewable energy, your professional operations and teaching experience, and your excitement for working in a dynamic environment of students, other faculty, and professional staff. This position is a faculty appointment with an opportunity for advancement under Chatham's faculty rank system.

Chatham University strives to promote a campus environment that understands and embraces multiculturalism while increasing individuals' intercultural competence. We actively work to build and sustain a diverse and culturally vibrant campus, which promotes employee and student success and retention.

The recruitment of this position will be guided by a search advocate whose role is to support cultivating a diverse candidate pool and an inclusive approach to interviewing and selection that helps Chatham foster a diverse community of faculty, staff, and students.

This position will add to Chatham's mission "to prepare students to build lives of purpose, value and fulfilling work...by preparing graduates to be informed and engaged citizens in their communities; to recognize and respect the diversity of culture, identity, and opinion; and to live sustainably." Building on this mission, Chatham is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive learning, living and working environment for all members of the campus community. Learn more at: www.chatham.edu.

Position Summary
The Falk School of Sustainability and the Environment (Falk School) seeks an innovative practitioner and educator with experience both in professional practice and teaching. The Director will oversee operations and research related to buildings, energy & wastewater systems, general facilities management, and related procurement at Eden Hall Campus. The Director will facilitate related work with partners, while also teaching in an interdisciplinary and applied environment.

The ideal candidate will have practical experience related to sustainable buildings, sustainable energy systems, and experiential education. They will bring specialized training and skills in an area such as green building operations, renewable energy engineering, sustainable design, or related fields.

This is a 12-month administrative faculty appointment with responsibility for 6-9 credits of teaching per academic year plus additional support for Falk School faculty in collaborative teaching and research. Renewal and promotion follow Chatham standards for administrative faculty.

Duties and Responsibilities
Management responsibilities include (1) directing the operations of campus buildings, energy and wastewater systems, and general facilities functions, including related budgeting and procurement; and (2) leading the development and supporting the implementation of a strategy to leverage campus-based buildings and systems to drive research, student experience and academic learning outcomes. The Director will supervise full-time staff who support building and facility operations, as well as part-time student employees.

Educational responsibilities include a teaching course load of 6-9 credits per year in classes such as green building design and operations, renewable energy systems, and other topics related to the built environment. The Director will collaborate with other faculty to create experience-based student learning opportunities linked to Eden Hall for existing courses, as well as design new courses that make full use of Eden Hall's systems and facilities. The Director's educational responsibilities will include academic advising and supervising student thesis and capstone projects.

Community coordination responsibilities include acting as the Falk School liaison with community partners on projects connecting green buildings and systems at Eden Hall with nonprofit organizations, businesses, other universities, and government. The Director will support the Dean in fundraising for campus and educational projects related to buildings and systems and will co-chair the Eden Hall Buildings & Systems Council, a collaborative space where faculty, staff, and students share information, develop projects, and coordinate operations.

Required Qualifications

• Professional Practice: At least three to five years of experience managing, with an emphasis on sustainable practices, the daily operations of green buildings, renewable energy systems or related systems, in a commercial or other institutional setting, including experience overseeing staff, equipment, procurement, and budgets.
• Teaching: Experience teaching within academic or workforce training programs in both classroom and practice-based settings, in areas related to sustainability and the built environment.
• Academic Training: Graduate-level academic degree in a relevant field including, but not limited to, green building design or operation, renewable energy, electrical, civil or mechanical engineering, material science, business administration, or architecture.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with both graduate and undergraduate teaching, as well as student mentorship and supervision.
• Experience and strengths in diverse community engagements and partnerships, including collaborative project management.
• Knowledge of social justice issues related to the built environment and energy systems from either professional training or practical experience.
• Successful fundraising and grant management experience.
• A PhD or other terminal degree.

Chatham University offers competitive salaries, an excellent benefits package, including tuition remission for qualified employees and their dependents.

Interested candidates should visit www.chatham.edu/careers and follow the instructions to complete the application process. To ensure full consideration, please submit a cover letter addressing the qualifications of the position, resume, and contact information for three professional references. All documents should be uploaded at the same time at the time of application.

Chatham University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Persons of color, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Chatham University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, or national origin.