Managing Director, Sustainability Institute & Partnerships

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Urbana (IL); On-site; USD 145,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

This 100% full–time Academic Professional position at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign directs the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE). The role oversees day-to-day operations, financial management, and strategic planning, coordinating with faculty and central administration to advance campus sustainability initiatives.

The successful candidate will lead grants administration, HR, budgeting, and cross‑unit collaboration, with a starting salary range of

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, science, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of management experience involving financial management, accounting and budget development.
• At least 3 years supervisory experience, including hybrid and remote workers.
• Master’s degree in business, engineering, science, or a related field (preferred).
• One year of experience with research administration, including grants, contracts, and compliance in academic or government–funded settings (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Direct all administrative and financial operations in the institute, ensuring compliance with University policies, procedures, and relevant state and federal laws.
• Support the Director in development and implementation of strategic planning documents and chair weekly staff and management meetings to coordinate activities and monitor progress across the institute’s three mission areas. Oversee planning and execution of iSEE engagement events.
• Serve as the institute contact with facilities management, space utilization, and other administrative functions.
• Serve as the Director’s designee in a variety of administrative and HR matters.
• Oversee the grants process through the full life–cycle—opportunity identification, proposal development, award negotiation, post–award and close out.
• Support the unit response to any audit inquiries.
• Serve as the primary contact to Sponsored Program Administration and the Office of Research Security and keep up to date on grant compliance, research security, export controls, and other applicable regulations.
• Direct and supervise professional staff within iSEE to facilitate effective administration of finances, sponsored research, event planning, campus sustainability, and educational and engagement programs, which includes: managing responsibilities, prioritizing workloads, professional development, and performance evaluation.
• Serve as a liaison between unit and OVCRI HR on hiring practices, performance management, visa processing, and policy interpretation and implementation.
• Oversee the annual salary program for the unit and centers within the unit, including salary recommendations for institute staff and issuing salary planner letters.
• Responsible for fiscal management and control of state appropriations, grants, contracts, gifts, indirect cost recovery, and self–supporting funds.
• Implement unit policies and workflows for the maintenance and management of accounts, monitoring of expenditures, procurement, and equipment, and budget development.
• Collaborate closely with the OVCRI business leadership on the annual budget planning process.
• Develop and foster relationships with faculty, other institutes and departments, funding agencies, and industry collaborators.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Initiative & judgment

Conflict management

Stakeholder engagement

Attention to detail

Transparency & accountability

Knowledge of land‑grant university

Navigating large organizations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, science

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

This 100% full–time Academic Professional position at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign directs the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE). The role oversees day-to-day operations, financial management, and strategic planning, coordinating with faculty and central administration to advance campus sustainability initiatives.

The successful candidate will lead grants administration, HR, budgeting, and cross‑unit collaboration, with a starting salary range of