PRG DIR & PROF

• Ph.D. in Engineering
• Rank of Full Professor
• At least 5 years of leadership experience of faculty and staff, ideally at the college or department level.
• Record of completion of training in leadership and management with continued desire to grow in these areas.
• Experience in working directly with undergraduate and graduate students and record of advocacy in supporting practices that promote student well-being.
• Experience in direct partnering with an external advisory board.
• Experience in fund-raising and nurturing donor relationships in partnership with UF Advancement.

The Engineering Leadership Institute (ELI) in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (HWCOE) at the University of Florida (UF) is conducting an internal search for a Full Professor in the HWCOE faculty to serve as the ELI Program Director. This is a full-time, twelve-month appointment.

The mission of UF ELI as an integral part of the HWCOE is to focus on creating principle-based, character-focused, creative leaders that bring critical, value-added perspectives and sound judgment to all leadership roles in society.  ELI supports UF in being at the national forefront of transforming the way that engineers impact society through their leadership roles and service in other key roles in society.  As the central source of education and training in leadership for the HWCOE, ELI serves a critical role in the College's goals of achieving excellence through interdisciplinary research and education and fostering a culture of leadership throughout the faculty, students, and staff.   

 ELI, located in the UF Wertheim Laboratory for Engineering Excellence, offers both undergraduate and graduate coursework and certificate programs in engineering leadership, engineering project management, and engineering and AI ethics and safety.  Since its inception in 2011, over 12,000 students have completed coursework in ELI and over 700 students have graduated with earned certificates in engineering leadership or engineering project management.  With three permanent staff, dedicated adjunct instructors, many of whom are practicing engineers, a committed Advisory Board, and shared support of the core values and expectations of ELI faculty and students, ELI is now poised to further enrich the education of engineering students through new academic programs, enhanced engagement programming for current and former students, and educational outreach to external corporate and government partners.

The responsibilities of the ELI Director include the following:

• Visioning of the Institute work to ensure fulfillment of its mission and regular communication of the vision to internal and external stakeholders.
• Close partnering with the ELI Advisory Board, meeting on a semesterly basis and engaging members in events and other activities.
• Leading, mentoring, supporting, and building camaraderie among ELI staff, including 3 permanent staff members and additional course instructors.
• Ensuring the relevance of all ELI curriculum by evaluation and application of career-readiness competencies, assessment at the course and program levels, and surveying of current and former students and employers. 
• Overseeing the creation of new academic programs through strong collaboration with the ELI Advisory Board, HWCOE leadership, and campus and college units and individuals.
• Performing administrative duties that include reporting to the Florida Board of Governors, UF Office of Institutional Planning and Research, and UF Advancement. 
• Serving as a primary contributor in planning ELI events, which include the Linda Parker Hudson Leader-in-Residence Program.
• Managing the ELI budget and leading fiscal planning activities for ELI.
• Partnering with HWCOE Development officers in active fund-raising for existing and visioned activities and leading grant proposal writing and submissions for funding as opportunities arise.
• Actively engaging in teaching ELI courses, ideally in the areas of project management, leadership, or professional development for doctoral students.
• Administering the ELI Faculty Fellows, ELI Partner, and Kirkland Engineering Leadership Professor Programs by selecting participants, regular meetings, and intentionally building a coalition of internal and external collaborators who will further the mission of ELI.
• Collaborating closely with HWCOE partners, including the Department of Engineering Education, faculty throughout HWCOE, and academic advisors, through regular meetings and their participation in ELI events and activities.
• Participating in the HWCOE Dean’s Administrative Council meetings and meeting regularly with the HWCOE Dean.
• Supporting expansion of extracurricular student programming and alumni outreach activities.

Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

• Ph.D. in Engineering
• Rank of Full Professor
• At least 5 years of leadership experience of faculty and staff, ideally at the college or department level.
• Record of completion of training in leadership and management with continued desire to grow in these areas.
• Experience in working directly with undergraduate and graduate students and record of advocacy in supporting practices that promote student well-being.
• Experience in direct partnering with an external advisory board.
• Experience in fund-raising and nurturing donor relationships in partnership with UF Advancement.

• At least 10 years of leadership experience of faculty and staff, ideally at the college or department level.
• Certification in leadership training through UF Human Resources or other professional development organizations.
• Record of ongoing training in pedagogy and teaching best practices.
• Experience in faculty development in teaching and student engagement and in mentoring faculty for leadership roles.
• Experience in advising student organizations and developing extra-curricular high impacts practices. 

The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately with the first full committee screening occurring on January 12, 2026, and will continue to review applications until the position is filled. You must apply by submitting an application through UFCareers via https://jobs.ufl.edu/ (Job 538220). The application consists of attached PDF files of the following required documents: 1. Cover letter (summary, introduction related to hiring emphasis areas)  2. Curriculum vitae (including a 1-page CV highlights) 3. Names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of no less than three and up to five references. Additional documents should be uploaded as one PDF to the “other documents” selection in the application. 4. A personal leadership experience summary, detailing the different leadership roles pursued.  5.  A vision statement for leading ELI including short- and long-term goals and identifying synergies of these goals with previous leadership-related curriculum and programming activities.  6. A personal leadership philosophy statement.  

The anticipated start date for this position is March 13, 2026. For further questions, please contact interim ELI Director, Dr. Angela Lindner at alind@ufl.edu, or Search Committee Chair, Mr. Erik Sander at esander@eng.ufl.edu. 

The University of Florida (UF) is the flagship campus of the State of Florida university system and is consistently ranked among the nation’s top public universities. UF is home to HiPerGator, the fastest AI supercomputer in higher education, and the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering is undergoing a major expansion in faculty, research, and facilities with a strong focus on artificial intelligence. In Fall 2023, UF opened Malachowsky Hall for Data Science & Information Technology, a 260,000-square-foot facility that serves as the hub for AI.

For more information about college initiatives, visit eng.ufl.edu

Additional Requirements

• The selected candidate must provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. Transcripts marked “Issued to Student” will not be considered official.
• Degrees earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

Additional Information

The University and College count among its greatest strengths a community of faculty, students and staff  who support a culture of respect and dignity where learning and research thrive.

• If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD).
• Employment is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.
• All searches are conducted in accordance with Florida’s Sunshine Law.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity employer.

 Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

This position is open to current UF employees only.