The Opportunity
Briar Cliff University invites applications for the inaugural position of Founding Director of Engineering Programs - a full-time, 12-month faculty-administrator reporting directly to the Provost.
This is a rare opportunity for an entrepreneurial academic or practitioner-educator to build something meaningful from the ground up. The Founding Director will establish the academic, operational, and relational infrastructure of BCU's engineering program at a moment of genuine institutional momentum. The right candidate is someone who is energized - not intimidated - by a blank canvas: someone who can manage the complexity of a dual-degree partnership, earn the trust of regional employers, recruit and mentor students, and lay the groundwork for a program that grows in depth and regional relevance year over year.
BCU is not looking for a program manager. It is looking for a founder.
About the Engineering Program
Briar Cliff University has launched an innovative dual-degree engineering program in partnership with the University of North Dakota (UND) College of Engineering & Mines, one of the nation's leading engineering colleges and a top-five nationally ranked online university. Through this partnership - facilitated by the Lower Cost Models for Independent Colleges Consortium (LCMC) - BCU students earn two bachelor's degrees simultaneously: a B.S. in Mathematics or a natural science from BCU, and an ABET-accredited B.S. in Engineering from UND.
Students may pursue engineering degrees in mechanical, civil, electrical, or chemical engineering. The program is completed in five years: the first two years focus on foundational mathematics, science, and general education coursework at BCU; UND engineering coursework (taken online) is integrated beginning in year two and increases in the final years. Engineering students remain fully enrolled at BCU throughout the program, pay tuition to BCU, and are eligible for BCU financial aid and NAIA athletics.
BCU is actively developing its own introductory engineering course offerings, delivered at BCU and accepted by UND in transfer, deepening students' academic experience and reducing tuition exported to UND. The program has the strong backing of regional corporate partners and community stakeholders who see BCU as a critical source of locally educated engineering talent for the Siouxland region. As enrollment and industry partnerships grow, the engineering faculty and curriculum will expand accordingly.
Primary Responsibilities
Program Administration & Partnership Management
- Serve as BCU's primary liaison to the University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines and to RIZE Education/LCMC, the consortium manager for the dual-degree partnership.
- Oversee articulation agreements between BCU and UND, ensuring transfer credit evaluations, degree plans, and course equivalencies remain current and aligned with both institutions' requirements.
- Coordinate with the BCU Registrar, Financial Aid, and Business Office to ensure accurate enrollment reporting, tuition billing, and financial aid eligibility for program students.
- Develop and maintain program-specific policies, handbooks, and academic calendars that reflect the dual-institution nature of students' coursework.
- Prepare regular reports for the Provost on program enrollment, student academic progress, retention, graduation outcomes, and partnership health.
- Collaborate with BCU's math and natural science faculty, whose courses serve as prerequisites and co-requirements for the engineering degrees.
Instruction & Curriculum Development
- Teach one - two courses per semester in foundational engineering at BCU, which may include Engineering Statics, Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Introduction to Circuits, Engineering Graphics/CAD, and Introduction to Engineering; course assignments will reflect the significant administrative and program-building demands of the role.
- Work with UND faculty to identify additional courses suitable for development at BCU, building a multi-year curriculum roadmap that progressively grows BCU's instructional footprint.
- Design courses using current pedagogical best practices for undergraduate engineering education, with attention to applied and experiential learning.
- Develop syllabi, learning outcomes, and assessments that satisfy both BCU's academic standards and UND's transfer equivalency requirements.
Student Recruitment & Enrollment
- Serve as the primary academic spokesperson for the engineering program in all recruiting contexts - campus visits, high school outreach, college fairs, and regional events.
- Build and sustain relationships with high school counselors, STEM educators, and regional workforce development organizations to develop a strong student pipeline.
- Identify articulation opportunities with regional community colleges that could expand the program's reach and create accessible pathways into engineering for Siouxland students.
- Collaborate with BCU's Admissions Office on recruitment communications and develop compelling program marketing materials.
Academic Advising & Student Success
- Serve as the primary academic advisor for all engineering students, maintaining individualized dual-degree plans aligned with requirements at both BCU and UND.
- Conduct regular advising appointments each semester; proactively identify and support students who are struggling academically.
- Provide or coordinate supplemental tutoring and academic support in engineering and mathematics.
- Prepare students for required on-campus summer laboratory experiences at UND, including guidance on registration, logistics, and academic preparation.
- Foster a strong sense of community and professional identity among engineering students, including co-curricular programming and career development activities.
Industry & Community Engagement
- Identify, cultivate, and sustain relationships with regional manufacturers, engineering firms, and workforce partners who can provide internship placements, applied learning opportunities, and career pathways for BCU graduates.
- Work with BCU's Career Services office to develop structured internship experiences integrated into students' degree plans.
- Engage with regional economic development organizations and chambers of commerce to raise BCU's profile as a source of engineering talent and to align program growth with documented workforce needs.
- Advocate for the retention of BCU graduates within the Siouxland region, connecting students early with local career opportunities and positioning BCU as a regional workforce asset.
Institutional Participation
- Participate actively in BCU faculty governance, committee work, and shared governance processes.
- Represent the Engineering Department in institutional planning processes, including enrollment management, academic program review, and strategic planning.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Provost.
Qualifications
Required
- A master's degree or higher in an engineering discipline or closely related field. Equivalent professional preparation - a combination of relevant academic credentials, licensure, and demonstrated applied experience - will be considered in lieu of advanced degrees for candidates with an exceptional track record.
- Demonstrated ability to teach at the undergraduate level in engineering or related STEM coursework.
- Ability to teach across multiple foundational engineering subject areas.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with students, faculty, administrators, and external partners.
- Demonstrated commitment to student success, mentoring, and the development of supportive academic communities.
- A self-starting, entrepreneurial orientation: the ability to build programs, forge relationships, and take initiative in an environment without established infrastructure.
- Alignment with BCU's Catholic, Franciscan mission and values.
Preferred
- Background in or professional exposure to advanced manufacturing, industrial automation, mechatronics, or related applied engineering fields.
- Experience in or familiarity with Industry 4.0 concepts, including automation systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), systems integration, or digital manufacturing environments.
- An established professional network among regional manufacturers, engineering firms, or workforce development organizations - particularly in agri-industrial, food processing, or advanced manufacturing sectors.
- Experience with academic program development, department administration, or launch of new academic initiatives.
- Familiarity with ABET accreditation standards and processes.
- Experience advising undergraduate students in engineering or STEM fields.
- Knowledge of dual-degree, articulation, or inter-institutional partnership structures; experience working with community colleges on transfer pathways is a plus.
- Familiarity with industry certification ecosystems relevant to applied engineering (e.g., PLC programming credentials, OSHA safety standards, CAD/design software certifications).
- Professional Engineering (P.E.) licensure or meaningful industry experience that would lend credibility in employer engagement contexts.
- Experience with online or hybrid course delivery.