"Associate Provost for STEM Strategy"

Position Summary

Fordham University, the Jesuit University of New York, invites applications for the Associate Provost for STEM Strategy, who will be a key strategist for refining and implementing Fordham's comprehensive STEM vision, including overseeing the launch of new innovative degree programs and a STEM Honors program, sequencing the hiring of appropriate faculty/staff, and coordinating the design of a state-of-the-art Integrated Science Complex on the Rose Hill campus.

Reporting directly to the Provost, the Associate Provost for STEM Strategy will be responsible for:

• Partnering with senior leaders, deans, department chairs, and representative faculty/staff in refining Fordham's comprehensive STEM strategy, advancing along promising STEM frontiers, and coordinating the launch of new STEM initiatives flowing out of the strategic plan.
• Collaborating with faculty, administrators, the Director of University Facilities Planning and Programming, as well as with external architects, engineers, and consultants, to help design the Integrated Science Complex to achieve the following goals:
  • Provide a premier facility in which the University's science faculty, students, and programs can thrive;
  • Promote interdisciplinarity across the sciences and in collaboration with the humanities, social sciences, and professions;
  • Accommodate realistic growth over the next decade; and
  • Maintain flexibility in infrastructure to be readily adapted for a rapidly evolving STEM future.

Working closely with Finance to develop and test robust financial models for the operating and capital budgets associated with the comprehensive STEM plan.

The successful candidate will be a highly organized, collaborative, and strategic leader who can ensure that Fordham's STEM endeavors and the new facility meet the academic and research needs of the science departments while adhering to the University's long-term strategic goals, financial parameters, and aesthetic standards for campus development.

Essential Functions

Engages in continuous environmental scans (informed by student market research, competitor analysis, and employer hiring trends) to improve Fordham's STEM strategy and identify future opportunities to improve and distinguish Fordham's STEM programs.

Refines the details and implementation of Fordham's comprehensive STEM project plan:

• Develops project timeline with key milestones, decision points, staffing goals, infrastructure requirements, resource allocations, and revenue targets.
  • Monitors performance in realizing project timeline and post weekly updates to the Monday.com dashboard.
  • Identifies and mitigates potential risks related to budget, schedule, or scope.
• Schedules regular meetings with all stakeholders, including faculty, department chairs, deans, and external partners, to ensure clear communication, alignment, and coordination.

Supports the relevant academic units as they prepare to launch new STEM degree programs or revise existing programs.

• Collaborates with Fordham faculty, deans, and Provost's Office team to develop pro forma program budgets and gain NYSED approval for cutting-edge STEM academic programs.
• Ensures that necessary resources (instructional personnel, marketing, recruiting, instructional spaces, and operational support) are in place for a successful program launch.

Serves as the central academic coordinator throughout the design phase of the Integrated Science Complex.

• Works closely with science faculty, department chairs, and deans to understand and articulate their specific needs for research labs, teaching labs, shared instrumentation, faculty offices, collaborative spaces, and classroom environments.
• Translates academic and research aspirations into clear programmatic briefs for the design team that can inform the building's design and functionality.
• Ensures that the building design incorporates best practices in STEM education and research facility design, including flexibility for future growth, safety protocols, sustainability, and accessibility.

Prepares and delivers presentations to various University committees, Board of Trustees, and prospective donors as needed.

• Works with DAUR to draft specific funding proposals as part of the University's next fundraising campaign.

Required Qualifications

Master's degree.

Minimum of 7 years of experience working in Higher Ed on STEM strategy, programmatic planning, and/or the design of complex scientific facilities.

Demonstrated experience in managing large-scale projects with diverse stakeholders.

Familiarity with the design of learning spaces and lab planning for scientific teaching and research facilities

Preferred Qualifications

A degree in a STEM field or a related discipline is strongly preferred.

About Fordham

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its nine colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plans; life insurance; short and long-term disability; employee assistance program (EAP); tuition remission; and generous time off.

Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.

Department

Office of the Provost