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The University of Michigan seeks a courageous, innovative, collaborative, and catalytic leader to serve as the Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Strategic Initiatives in the newly-formed Office of the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action. The Office of the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action is a new office within the Office of the Provost. The Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Strategic Initiatives will serve as the right-hand to the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action and work closely with university stakeholders and external partners to develop and implement strategic initiatives to position the University of Michigan as a global thought leader on tackling the intersectional issues of climate change, justice, and sustainability.

The Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Strategic Initiatives will also co-create, lead, and manage ground-breaking university-wide initiatives spanning curriculum, research, and community impact.

You will spearhead and manage internal university initiatives to catalyze external impact and work closely with the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action and the direct reports to the office to advance the strategic initiatives. The role will require close collaboration with university leadership, community-based organizations, and governmental leaders and ongoing project management.

The working location will be a hybrid of remote and on-site in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and will report to the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action.  If you have questions, or need accommodations, please contact talent.acquisition@umich.edu. 

Strategic Implementation (40%)

• Provide strategic leadership and overall administration for the development, coordination, and implementation of activities offered by the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action.
• Co-develop and implement the Office of Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action strategic plan, and develop metrics to assess university impact across portfolio areas.
• Develop and implement a structure to advance unit-level sustainability initiatives to advance broader strategic university-wide goals.
• Support cross-cutting sustainability research activities at the university and in collaboration with external partners, such as governmental, industry, and community-based organizations.

Project and Personnel Management (40%)

• Manage high-impact curricular, research, and community-facing initiatives for the Office of the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action.
• Provide managerial support for Office of the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action reporting units and Vice Provost staff, including students, program managers, and temporary staff.
• Establish and provide day-to-day support to the Vice Provost's Sustainability Advisory Council to advance the Office of the Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action strategic objectives.
• Provide day-to-day management and support for university-wide initiatives in the areas of curriculum, research, and community impact.

Ecosystem Cultivation (20%)

• Establish and manage internal programs, partnerships, and initiatives with U-M schools and colleges, Student Life Sustainability, Center for Academic Innovation, university sustainability centers and institutes, and other identified partners to catalyze and accelerate campus-wide sustainability, environmental justice, and climate action efforts.
• Launch and coordinate pilot initiatives to accelerate climate and sustainability teaching and learning; interdisciplinary collaboration; experiential learning; and translational research efforts
• Establish ongoing relationships with peer institutions to develop best practices and shared theories of change to accelerate academia's impact in the field of sustainability and climate action.

• Advanced degree or equivalent professional experience in the area of sustainability or a related field
• Demonstrated experience managing complex initiatives and teams
• 5+ years in a strategic or project management capacity in government, academia, business, or the non-governmental arena
• 3 + years experience in a start-up environment and growth field
• Experience supporting interdisciplinary teams to achieve shared goals
• 3 + years experience supporting senior executive to achieve strategic organizational priorities
• Demonstrated success partnering across multiple sectors
• Experience working in academia, business, government, or the non-governmental arena on environmental initiatives
• Demonstrated understanding issues of environmental justice, equity, and structural inequality, as evidenced by prior project work, policy initiatives, or publications
• Knowledge of and experience working with community-based organizations engaged in climate and sustainability

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

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 the work modes.

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.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.