Director, Energy Innovation Center, Associate or Full Professor

Hiring Department

College of Engineering

Job Description

The University of Missouri seeks an accomplished and visionary leader to serve as the Founding Executive Director of the Payne Energy Innovation Center (EIC), a major interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation initiative dedicated to advancing the future of energy technologies, systems, materials, policy, and workforce development.

The Energy Innovation Center is a new state-of-the-art research facility currently under construction and scheduled for occupancy in 2028. The Center will bring together faculty, students, industry partners, national laboratories, government agencies, utilities, and community stakeholders to address critical challenges in energy generation, advanced nuclear technologies, energy storage, grid modernization, advanced materials, artificial intelligence and computing for energy systems, energy policy, sustainability, resilience, and energy security.

Drawing upon expertise from engineering, physics, chemistry, and related disciplines, the Center will foster convergent research, accelerate technology translation, inform energy policy, support workforce development, and strengthen economic growth across Missouri and beyond. The Center will work closely with strategic university initiatives, including the Center for Rural Energy Security, to advance solutions that enhance energy resilience, affordability, and security for rural communities and critical infrastructure.

The Founding Executive Director will provide strategic leadership for the development, launch, and long-term growth of the Energy Innovation Center. Working closely with university leadership, participating colleges and schools, faculty researchers, industry partners, and external stakeholders, the Executive Director will establish the Center’s strategic vision, develop research priorities, cultivate interdisciplinary collaborations, support faculty recruitment and development, and position the Center as a nationally recognized destination for energy research, innovation, and policy leadership.

The position includes a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Professor in an appropriate department within the College of Engineering.

The successful candidate will bring a combination of research credibility, administrative experience, strategic vision, and collaborative leadership. They will understand the demands of a rapidly evolving energy research environment and have the judgment to balance immediate opportunities with the long-term development of a sustainable, interdisciplinary center.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced organizational leader who can move comfortably between high-level strategy and the practical work of bringing people, resources, and research priorities together. They will be skilled at building relationships across institutional boundaries, developing competitive research initiatives, securing external funding, and creating an environment in which talented faculty and research teams can achieve more together than they could independently.

The Founding Executive Director will be excited by the opportunity to build on the University of Missouri’s existing strengths, connect exceptional researchers across disciplines, and establish a center that is both nationally competitive and responsive to emerging energy challenges. They will combine the credibility to engage leading researchers with the breadth of vision to represent the full range of the EIC’s activities and the leadership ability to turn a robust collection of capabilities into a cohesive and enduring institutional asset.

Key Opportunities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a bold vision and strategic plan for the Energy Innovation Center.
• Establish research priorities that align with national, state, and industry needs in energy, infrastructure, resilience, and security.
• Position the Center as a leading destination for interdisciplinary research, innovation, workforce development, and technology commercialization.
• Establish governance structures, operating models, performance metrics, and strategic partnerships that support long-term success.
• Build a culture of collaboration that engages faculty and stakeholders across disciplines and sectors.

Research Development and Faculty Engagement

• Foster interdisciplinary research collaborations among faculty across engineering, physics, chemistry, and other relevant disciplines.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and development of faculty whose scholarship aligns with the Center’s strategic priorities.
• Help identify future faculty hiring opportunities that strengthen the Center’s research portfolio and national competitiveness.
• Facilitate the development of large-scale proposals to federal agencies, foundations, industry sponsors, and national laboratories.
• Build research clusters capable of competing successfully for center-scale funding and other transformative research opportunities.
• Support the growth of graduate education, postdoctoral training, and student engagement in energy-related fields.

Partnership Development and External Engagement

• Develop and sustain strategic partnerships with industry, utilities, national laboratories, government agencies, economic development organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Expand opportunities for sponsored research, workforce development, technology translation, and public-private partnerships.
• Serve as the primary external ambassador for the Energy Innovation Center.
• Represent the Center at regional, national, and international forums.
• Strengthen connections between university research and the needs of Missouri communities, industry, and policymakers.

Energy Policy, Workforce Development, and Economic Impact

• Promote research and engagement activities that inform energy policy, regulatory decision-making, and long-term energy planning.
• Advance workforce development initiatives that prepare students and professionals for careers in emerging energy sectors.
• Foster collaborations that support economic development, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization.
• Work with public and private stakeholders to enhance energy resilience, affordability, reliability, and security.

Facility Activation and Program Development

• Lead planning activities associated with occupancy and activation of the Energy Innovation Center facility.
• Guide the development of research programs, educational initiatives, workshops, conferences, and collaborative activities that maximize the impact of the Center.
• Oversee strategic deployment of shared research infrastructure, instrumentation, and collaborative spaces.
• Foster a vibrant and inclusive research community that promotes innovation and interdisciplinary engagement.

Resource Development and Stewardship

• Partner with university advancement and academic leadership to secure philanthropic support for the Center.
• Identify opportunities for major gifts, endowments, infrastructure investments, and strategic partnerships.
• Support development of sustainable operating models that enable continued growth and impact.
• Oversee Center resources and operations in accordance with university policies and strategic priorities.

Priority Research Areas

The Energy Innovation Center will advance research and innovation in areas including:

• Energy generation, including nuclear, renewable, and emerging energy technologies
• Grid modernization, resilience, and energy security
• Energy storage and advanced energy systems
• Advanced materials for energy applications
• Artificial intelligence, modeling, simulation, and digital technologies for energy systems
• Energy policy, economics, and regulatory frameworks
• Rural energy resilience and community energy systems
• Workforce development and technology translation

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in engineering, science, or a closely related field.
• Qualifications for appointment as a tenured Professor at the University of Missouri.
• Distinguished record of scholarship, innovation, leadership, and externally funded research.
• Demonstrated success leading interdisciplinary research initiatives, centers, institutes, laboratories, or comparable organizations.
• Experience building partnerships with industry, government agencies, national laboratories, foundations, or other external stakeholders.
• Strong record of strategic planning, organizational leadership, and program development.
• Outstanding communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience directing a major research center, institute, national laboratory program, or equivalent organization.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams and complex collaborative initiatives.
• Demonstrated success securing major federal, industry, or philanthropic investments.
• Experience with faculty recruitment, infrastructure development, and organizational growth.
• Knowledge of energy systems, advanced materials, nuclear technologies, grid modernization, energy policy, sustainability, artificial intelligence, or related fields.
• Experience working across academic, governmental, industrial, and community sectors.

Application Materials

Candidates should include a cover letter outlining qualifications and a detailed curriculum vitae.

After initial review by the committee, all uploaded materials may be shared with all faculty in the prospective department. For affiliations and joint appointments materials may be shared with all faculty in all departments involved.

Application Deadline

The priority deadline for applications is January 25, 2027, but the position will remain open until filled. Specific academic home(s) of candidates will be determined throughout the hiring process. This is not a remote opportunity.

Sponsorship Information

Employment visa sponsorship may be available for candidates currently in the United States in H-1B status or other work-authorized status.

Community Information

Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours’ drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County’s largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.