Director, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography

Target Audience(s): Faculty


Institution: University of Georgia, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography

Institutional Web Link: http://www.skio.uga.edu

Position Description: The University of Georgia (UGA), a land-grant and sea-grant university with statewide commitments and responsibilities, is Georgia's oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education. UGA invites nominations and applications for the position of Director of the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO) located on Skidaway Island near beautiful Savannah, Georgia. The Director will also be appointed as a tenured professor in the UGA Department of Marine Sciences, which includes faculty based at SkIO and on the main UGA campus in Athens.

About SkIO
SkIO is a multidisciplinary research institution located on a 700-acre campus, 16 miles southeast of downtown Savannah, Georgia. The main campus of the Institute sits on the banks of the Skidaway River estuary, with access to a diverse range of estuarine and coastal habitats. Its location is convenient to coastal and ocean waters, and there is a constant influx of visiting scientists and students seeking access to state-of-the-art research facilities, accessible research locations, and opportunities for collaboration with SkIO’s interdisciplinary and internationally-recognized faculty.

SkIO was created in 1968 by a commission of the Georgia General Assembly and was given the mandate to conduct research in all fields of oceanography. In 1971, SkIO was transferred to the University System of Georgia to serve as a base of operations and central facility for marine interests within the University System. In 2013, SkIO merged with UGA to synergize assets in marine and coastal programs and to build instruction, research and outreach capacity. The Institute and its Director report to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, and SkIO faculty members are appointed in the Department of Marine Sciences in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. SkIO is a self-sufficient research facility with 11 permanent faculty, 25 scientific staff, and 17 operations staff. There are two building clusters on the SkIO campus. The Priest Landing Facility is located on the Wilmington River on the southeast corner of the SkIO campus. The main campus cluster is located on the Skidaway River. The main campus cluster houses the primary buildings that comprise SkIO, as well as key partners including NOAA’s Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Georgia Southern University’s Applied Coastal Research Laboratory, the Savannah office of the Nature Conservancy, and the UGA Marine Extension Service and Aquarium. The Dorothy Roebling Research Building houses administrative offices and many of SkIO’s faculty and analytical laboratories including the SkIO Scientific Stable Isotope Laboratory and the Trace Element Biogeochemistry Laboratory, among several other state-of-the-art laboratories. The Geochemistry Building contains offices and laboratories for advanced research in geochemistry and geology. The Marine & Coastal Science Research & Instruction Center contains additional faculty laboratories and supports research in the areas of molecular ecology, plankton ecology, biological oceanography, organic biogeochemistry, and bio-optical oceanography. In addition, the main campus has a machine shop and plant operations complex, student and postdoc/visiting faculty housing, and a historic building in the process of renovation to provide new classroom, laboratory and exhibit spaces.

SkIO also owns and operates the R/V Savannah, a 92-foot coastal class vessel obtained in 2001 with funding from the state of Georgia. The vessel is part of the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) fleet. The R/V Savannah was designed to support both research and education and accommodates a crew of six plus a science party of 18. Approximately 10% of the R/V Savannah’s 140-180 sea days per year are used for instruction. In addition, the Institute maintains a number of smaller vessels (16-28 ft) for riverine, estuarine and near-shore work.

SkIO continues to open its campus and facilities to students for field trips, experiments, and classes, with 2,700 student days per year spent on the campus. Annually, SkIO hosts more than 200 visiting scientists and students from all over world. For housing visitors, the SkIO campus has 32 bedrooms in 10 housing units. SkIO offers a summer course in oceanographic field methods through the Department of Marine Sciences and offered the first online course in marine environments with hundreds of enrolled students. SkIO attracts almost $4 million in total research expenditures per year, with nearly 90% from federal funding agencies.

Responsibilities of the Director
The Director:
• is the most senior administrator at SkIO and has overall responsibility for personnel, budgets, and facilities at SkIO
• conducts or oversees annual evaluations of all SkIO staff and supports their professional development
• promotes a climate of vigorous, collaborative research at SkIO
• increases the level and diversity of externally-funded research at SkIO
• represents SkIO and the Department of Marine Sciences in regional, national, and international venues
• works closely with the Department Head to enhance integration of SkIO with the Department of Marine Sciences around strategic research, education, service, and outreach initiatives
• works collaboratively with the Department Head to recruit, mentor, and evaluate SkIO faculty
• identifies and expands collaborative opportunities with other University System of Georgia institutions (e.g. Georgia Southern and Savannah State Universities), campus partners (e.g. UGA Marine Extension), and UGA colleges and schools (e.g. College of Engineering, Odum School of Ecology)
• creates opportunities for experiential learning for UGA students at SkIO
• partners with UGA’s other coastal units, including the UGA Marine Institute on Sapelo Island, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, to develop impactful initiatives consistent with their respective missions
• keeps the Office of the Provost and the Department of Marine Sciences informed of SkIO initiatives and opportunities

The Director will be expected to remain active in research as a leader of interdisciplinary and collaborative projects that jointly advance the missions of SkIO and the Department of Marine Sciences.

The Director reports to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost in their administrative
role and to the Head of the Department of Marine Sciences in their faculty role.

Minimum Qualifications
To meet the minimum qualifications, a candidate must have academic qualifications appropriate for the appointment as professor with tenure at UGA, including:
• a PhD in marine or oceanographic sciences, or closely related discipline
• established international reputation in marine and/or oceanographic sciences, especially related to coastal marine sciences
• prior accomplishments as a principal investigator on federal, state, or foundation grants or contracts
• a clear understanding of the issues related to managing research vessels
• prior demonstrated effectiveness in running complex research departments or programs including managing research and administrative staff
• prior demonstrated success in leading innovative research and educational programs
• demonstrated knowledge related to strategic planning and executing strategic plans to successful outcomes
• the proven ability to work in a collaborative manner with faculty, staff and administrators

Preferred Qualifications
While meeting all of the minimum qualifications, the preferred candidate will have one or more the
following qualifications:
• at least 2 years of prior experience at a public or private research-intensive university
• prior accomplishments as a principal investigator on interdisciplinary and multi-investigator federally funded research grants or contracts
• prior demonstrated success in recruiting and mentoring faculty
• clear understanding of the responsibilities of a department head and/or dean-level administrator

The preferred start date is October 1, 2017.



Position Type: Permanent Position

Funding Source(s): Other


How to Apply: To receive optimal consideration, applications should be
submitted prior to March 31, 2017; however, this is a rolling search and applications will be considered until the position is filled.

Applications can be submitted using the following link:

http://facultyjobs.uga.edu/postings/1904

Application materials should include a cover letter explaining the candidate's interest in the position and how the minimum (and preferred) qualifications are met, and current curriculum vitae. A list of four references and their full contact information is required at the time of application. However, references will not be contacted without the knowledge and consent of the
candidate.

Questions about this rolling search should be directed to Dr. Olin E. Rhodes, Jr., Chair of the Search Committee, at rhodeso@uga.edu.

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status.

Application Closing Date: Until position is filled.