New

EARTH Education Director

University of Kansas
remote work
United States, Kansas, Lawrence
1450 Jayhawk Boulevard (Show on map)
Aug 29, 2025
Position Overview Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) are essential to the quality of life for all humans. HVACR systems are widespread throughout society, enabling transportation and preservation of fresh foods, storage of medicines, and cooling of buildings. However, most refrigerants used today are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have high global-warming potential (GWP), with 2000-4000 times the impact of CO2. Combined with high leak rates (direct effect - 50-90% of refrigerants leak into the atmosphere) and high energy consumption (indirect effect - 20-40% of U.S. residential and commercial building electricity usage comes from HVACR), HFCs account for 7.8% of total greenhouse-gas emissions. To address this challenge, a new NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC): Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) will create a "sustainable refrigerant lifecycle" to address technical, environmental, and societal challenges facing the HVACR industry. EARTH is a multi-institution, multi-disciplinary team from the University of Kansas, University of Notre Dame, University of Hawai'i, University of Maryland, University of South Dakota, and Lehigh University. EARTH efforts are based on these ERC pillars: convergent research, engineering workforce development, and innovation ecosystem, which will impact the engineering and scientific communities, the HVACR industry, and society. This is a full-time, twelve-month, benefits-eligible, regular appointment that reports directly to the EARTH Engineering Workforce Development Lead/Co-Leads and Impact and Belonging Lead/Co-leads. Currently, the position is designated as on-campus. Alternative and flexible work schedules will be evaluated as per ERC EARTH policy and center guidelines. This position will oversee, develop, and direct aspects of engineering work force development and outreach, including progress, strategic planning, and direction; support monitoring project budgets and expenses; expand and develop networks to identify collaborative opportunities with two - four year colleges and technical trade schools with HVACR programs; plan and coordinate educational outreach activities for K-14 levels; implement mentoring, training, and graduate student development programs; and plan for and manage day-to-day engineering work force development operations. In addition, the position will support the recruitment efforts on all levels of EARTH's function and lead the recruitment outreach within professional organization, other campus and industry partners. Building connections and relationships will be a critical component of recruitment efforts and may involve periodic travel to partner campuses, professional conferences or to other pertinent recruitment opportunities. A significant portion of this work will require someone who is familiar with program planning and organizing. Candidates should have a passion and interest in strengthening EARTH's culture of impact and belonging. Job Description 20% - Program Management & Coordination Collaborate with the applicable faculty and staff of the six EARTH core partner institutions to deliver the education workforce development activities at all educational levels, including middle and high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoc. Collaborate with the Chief Innovation Officer to promote the work of the EARTH project. Collaborate with EARTH administration, thrust leads, pillar leads, the student leadership team, and others to deliver the education workforce development activities. 20% - Curriculum Development & Dissemination Develop, in collaboration with others, updated undergraduate and graduate curricula required as a result of the new technologies discovered by the EARTH project. Utilize competency-based education principles to develop undergraduate and graduate courses and seminars related to the new technologies discovered by the EARTH project. 20% - Industry and Stakeholder Outreach Actively engage in relevant professional communities to present papers, give presentations, or attend conferences to socialize the work of the education workforce development activities related to the EARTH project. Network, build, and strengthen professional relationships with industry partners. Provide appropriate documents and information for inclusion in the Knowledge Warehouse. 20% - Mentoring and Recruitment Manage EARTH's mentoring program as the primary point of contact between mentees and mentors. Program participants will range from students, EARTH staff, and industry partners. Provide an orientation and onboarding for mentor and mentees to clarify expectations, ensure compliance, EARTH overview, policies and procedures. Plan and implement mentor training sessions for both mentors and mentees at EARTH's annual team meeting. Develop the session to address specific mentoring approaches that measure team impact and belonging. Lead recruitment efforts of students, post-doctoral fellows, faculty of all ranks, and industry partners. Build connections with professional identity-based organizations related to EARTH's work that create pathways for broad participation. 15% - Operations & Supervision Provide leadership in compliance-related activities such as audits, reviews by internal and external entities, and requests for information. Collaborate with the EARTH evaluation team to meet local, state, and federal reporting requirements. Supervise assigned personnel, including shared personnel among the six higher education institutions and other departments/units. Direct day-to-day operations of the curriculum development and other personnel. May have budgetary discretion and responsibility over the education workforce development funds. 5% Other As specified by the EARTH ERC Director, based on need Position Requirements This position works primarily on-site but limited remote work may be considered per mutual agreement between the EARTH director and selected candidate. Required Qualifications Master's degree in engineering, engineering education, education, administration, business, curriculum and instruction, or a related field. Minimum of two years in an educational administrative position and/or supervising personnel in an organization of 50+ employees, as evidenced by application materials. Minimum of five years working on complex projects involving multiple partners, as evidenced in application materials. Project management skills to successfully deliver on multiple projects simultaneously, as demonstrated in application materials. Preferred Qualifications Doctorate in engineering, engineering education, education, administration, business, curriculum and instruction, or a related field. Minimum of five years' experience in an educational administrative position with a strong emphasis on curriculum development, as evidenced by application materials. Minimum of five years' experience supervising personnel in an organization of 50+ employees, as evidenced by application materials. Experience as a secondary or postsecondary science educator, as evidenced by work history. Experience in managing NSF or other grant-funded workforce development programs, as evidenced by application materials. Additional Candidate Instructions A complete application consists of: cover letter resume/CV a list of three professional references Only complete applications will be considered. Application review begins Monday, September 8, 2025. To ensure consideration, please apply prior to that date. Contact Information to Applicants Emily Weiss eweiss@ku.edu Advertised Salary Range $64,333 - $99,715 Application Review Begins Monday September 8, 2025 Anticipated Start Date Wednesday October 1, 2025