Director

Overview

The Director provides overall leadership and management for all Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) operations, programs, and initiatives, including research, education and training, and advisory and outreach services (e.g., Marine Advisory Services, Communications Outreach, and Legal Advisory Services). The position is full-time, 12-month and the salary for this position is competitive and commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.

The National Sea Grant College Program, administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is a federal/state partnership that matches NOAA Sea Grant expertise and resources with state academic institutions. The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC), created in 1972, is one of 34 Sea Grant programs. Consortium members include Auburn University, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, The University of Mississippi, The University of Southern Mississippi and the University of South Alabama. The bi-state resources include nearly 3,200 square miles of inland water and 966 miles of estuarine shoreline and support more than 7 million residents. MASGC operates through its strategic plan with guidance from a board of directors and advisory council. The University of Southern Mississippi serves as the fiscal agent for the consortium. The Director is responsible to the MASGC Board of Directors in the performance of his or her duties.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for all MASGC functions, including administration, research, education, and outreach.
• Oversee strategic planning and implementation in accordance with Sea Grant policies and grant goals and objectives.
• Manage daily operations, including staff supervision, workflow oversight, and program development.
• Develop and manage the consortium’s operating budget; identify and secure external funding sources.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the National Sea Grant Office, the Sea Grant Association, Congressional representatives, and other stakeholders.
• Cultivate collaborative relationships with consortium institutions, government agencies, industry leaders, and community partners.
• Lead recruitment and professional development of MASGC staff.

Minimum Qualifications

An earned Ph.D. from an accredited college or university in a relevant discipline in marine or coastal sciences, or fisheries-, wildlife-, conservation-, or land management, marine or ocean engineering, or a closely related field; evidence of five (5) years administrative leadership experience including supervision of employees; evidence of a distinguished and sustained scholarly record.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Familiarity with Sea Grant program mission.
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective relationships with board members, community members, industry partners, faculty and staff, federal agency partners, elected officials and external organizations. Ability to collaborate with all stakeholders to achieve common goals and facilitate knowledge exchange
• Ability to plan, organize, and execute complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and timelines. Proficiency in project management tools and techniques to ensure successful implementation and completion of tasks in accordance with deadlines.
• Capability to develop and implement strategic plans including the identification of new opportunities for research collaboration, and industry and community engagement.
• Proficiency in analyzing data to identify trends, evaluate program effectiveness, and make data-driven decisions to optimize innovation processes and resource allocation. Ability to interpret research findings and market insights to inform strategic decision-making.
• Strong leadership skills to motivate team members and drive performance towards achieving organizational objectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders, including the ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner. Experience in preparing reports, presentations, and proposals for all audiences.
• Knowledge of the sponsored program process.
• Dedication to university‑based research, education and training, advisory and outreach activities.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, environments, and demands while maintaining a high level of performance. Resilience to overcome challenges and setbacks encountered during the implementation of initiatives.
• Understanding of federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing Sea Grant programs, research and extension and adherence to ethical standards and compliance with relevant laws and policies.

Preferred Qualifications

• An earned Ph.D. from an accredited college or university in a relevant discipline in marine or coastal sciences, or fisheries-, wildlife-, conservation-, or land management, marine or ocean engineering, or a closely related field;
• evidence of ten (10) years administrative leadership experience including supervision of employees with preference for administrative experience in a Sea Grant program; experience in leading and managing multi-, inter-, and/or trans- disciplinary team; and evidence of a distinguished and sustained scholarly record.