Job Details
Executive Director
Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The Jeffrey S. Raikes School enters its next chapter from a position of remarkable strength. Student demand continues to grow, graduates are highly sought after, and the University is committed to thoughtfully expanding the School’s impact while preserving the highly personalized, cohort-based experience that distinguishes it nationally. The next Executive Director will build on this momentum by strengthening partnerships, advancing philanthropy, elevating national visibility, and guiding…
strategic growth. The position start date is flexible and will most likely be January 2027 or summer 2027.
Position Summary
The Executive Director reports directly to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer and serves as the chief administrative officer of the Raikes School. Working with faculty, staff, students, alumni, the Raikes School advisory board, industry leaders, donors, and university leadership, the Executive Director will shape and execute the School’s strategic direction, expand its national reputation, cultivate philanthropic and corporate investment, and ensure that its innovative educational model continues to thrive as it grows. The Executive Director is tasked with cultivating and reinforcing relationships both within the University and externally, seeking collaborative opportunities, securing financial support, and advancing the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the school. Additionally, the Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the provision and cultivation of an exceptional cutting-edge curriculum, faculty, and staff to educate and support students. The Executive Director is also responsible for attracting, recruiting and retaining, and ensuring the success of outstanding students from around the globe. The Executive Director will elevate the Raikes School’s national and international reputation and collaborate closely with the Raikes School Advisory Board. The next Raikes School Executive Director will embrace the unique opportunity to help lead UNL as a key public partner in delivering the highest quality education and driving tech innovation and economic development in Nebraska.
The Executive Director has overall responsibility for the School’s success, supported by a highly engaged team of 10 faculty (shared across academic units) and 12 staff spanning the academic mission, operations, student success, industry and alumni engagement, and school finances. Direct reports include all faculty and the Directors of Design Studio, Recruitment and Student Success, and Operations and Special Projects. The Executive Director also works closely with a Nebraska University Foundation development officer dedicated to the Raikes School and is in close partnership with the Deans of the College of Engineering and College of Business.
Providing leadership for the Raikes School requires an Executive Director with entrepreneurial skills, an openminded approach, and the ability to strategically engage with various constituents to foster collaborative partnerships that drive innovation and impact.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
- Lead a nationally distinctive program. The Raikes School is widely recognized as one of the country’s most innovative undergraduate programs, integrating computer science, business, entrepreneurship, leadership, and experiential learning in a way few universities have achieved.
- Shape the next chapter. The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to guide strategic growth, expand corporate and philanthropic partnerships, strengthen national visibility, and preserve the culture that has made the Raikes School exceptional.
- Work across sectors. This role brings together higher education, technology, entrepreneurship, industry, and philanthropy. The Executive Director will engage corporate executives, entrepreneurs, faculty, students, alumni, donors, and university leadership in advancing a shared vision.
- A highly visible institutional leadership role. Reporting directly to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer, the Executive Director has broad influence across the university and works closely with senior leadership to advance the Raikes School’s strategic priorities.
The successful candidate will combine the vision of an entrepreneur, the credibility of an academic or industry leader, and the collaborative instincts required to lead across disciplines, sectors, and constituencies.
Specifically, candidates should demonstrate:
- A passion for and deep understanding of innovation, technology, and business. Evidence of a commitment to excellence in undergraduate education, research, and mentorship. Proven effective collaboration with a broad range of constituents at both the university and external levels. Curricular/co-curricular strategy and implementation. Evidence of visionary and creative thinking. Strong leadership and organizational skills with evidence of inclusive strategic planning, resource development and financial planning. Track record of scaling an organization, teams, or operations. Evidence of effective development and successful philanthropic fundraising activities. An advanced or terminal degree and/or outstanding record of experience in industry, with professional, scholarly, or research accomplishments commensurate with the rank of full professor or full professor of practice.
The highly qualified candidate will also have these preferred qualifications:
- Proven willingness to maintain high visibility and connection with program alumni. Success in creating unique experiences for students, such as student venture programs, student business incubators, entrepreneurial science programs, and internships. Demonstrable experience recruiting and developing distinct and outstanding faculty, staff, and students.
The University seeks a leader inspired by exceptional students, energized by innovation, and motivated by building partnerships that create lasting impact. This is an opportunity to shape one of the nation’s most distinctive interdisciplinary programs and influence the future of technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership education.
Application Process
A confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled. For full consideration, individuals are encouraged to apply by September 30, 2026. Submit a CV/resume and a cover letter that addresses your reasons for interest and related qualifications/experience. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. Apply online at https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su518.
For questions, nominations, or recommendations, contact:
- Carrie Coward, President, Summit Search Solutions (ccoward@summitsearchsolutions.com)
- Karen Pedersen, Senior Consultant, Summit Search Solutions (kpedersen@summitsearchsolutions.com)
- Robyn Hannigan, Senior Consultant, Summit Search Solutions (rhannigan@summitsearchsolutions.com)
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln seeks to attract and retain a high performing and collaborative workforce. UNL is committed to providing a work environment and culture that fosters personal and professional success where every person and every interaction matters. The University is proud to be one of Nebraska’s preferred and largest employers where individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.
The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/.
Organization
Working at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
For 150 Years, A Leader in Higher Education
Always a place of high ambition, University of Nebraska was one of the first institutions west of the Mississippi River to award doctoral degrees - the first was granted in 1896. The University of Nebraska established the world's first undergraduate psychology laboratory. The discipline of ecology was born here, and the campuses reflect that tradition, being recognized as botanical gardens and arboreta. An early institutional interest in literature and the arts provided the foundations for today's Prairie Schooner literary magazine, for the University of Nebraska Press, and for the Sheldon Museum of Art, which houses one of the world's most significant collections of 20th century American art.
Today, Nebraska is one of the nation's leading teaching institutions, and a research leader with a wide array of grant-funded projects aimed at broadening knowledge in the sciences and humanities. Nebraska is also a land-grant university and a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Benefits
The University of Nebraska offers an extensive benefits package that includes health, life, disability and long term care insurance; retirement accounts; tuition reimbursement for employees and their spouses and dependent children; and reimbursement accounts for health care and dependent day care. Leave policies are designed to help employees deal with personal or family events or crises.
Diversity and Inclusion
In the spirit of the phrase "Every Interaction Matters", UNL has an enacted commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence for our faculty, staff, and students. On our campus, diversity and inclusion are important priorities. Examples include: Husker Dialogues, which is an event that helps first-year students focus on diversity and inclusion and practice handling difficult conversations around difference; three Chancellor's Diversity Commissions that are charged with informing and advising the Chancellor and addressing issues of constituent campus communities; and the establishment of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion whose leader operates at the Vice Chancellor level. At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, we strive for excellence in all that we do. True excellence requires that each individual be able to work and learn in an atmosphere of respect, dignity, and belonging. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion requires each of us to continuously ensure our interactions are respectful, protect free speech, and inspire academic freedom.
About Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is located in an up-and-coming and safe city of 300,000 people that has many of the cultural and entertainment benefits of a much larger city, with the feel of a friendly Midwestern community. The Pinnacle Bank Arena, opened in 2013, routinely hosts major touring acts. A buzzing entertainment district, the Railyard, connects the arena area to the Historic Haymarket. Cuisines from all continents provide the entree to dynamic urban nightlife and a wide variety of ways to enjoy time with friends. Nebraska's City Campus is one with Lincoln's city center, as it has been since the university was founded. Lincoln has more parkland per capita than Austin, Texas; Portland, Oregon; and all but a handful of U.S. cities. The well-manicured Pioneers Park, the native woods of Wilderness Park and the open grassland of Nine-Mile Prairie are each within a 10-minute trip from campus. Connecting many of these parks is an extensive trails network.
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