Professor of Practice / Executive Director for Lithium and Critical Minerals Research Initiative

About the role

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Closing Date

• Type of Position: Faculty - Non-Tenure
• Workstudy Position: No
• Job Type: Annual Appointment (Fixed Term)

Institution Name: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation's top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation's strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process, please submit a request via the Disability Accommodations | OEOC | University of Arkansas (uark.edu): Request an Accommodation. Appli­cants are required to submit a request for each position of which they have applied.

Department: Associate Vice Chancellor for Research

Summary of Job Duties

The University of Arkansas seeks an accomplished practitioner-leader to serve as Professor of Practice / Executive Director for Lithium and Critical Minerals Research Initiative, with a full-time, 12-month, non-tenure-track appointment as an open-rank Professor of Practice. The Executive Director reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Strategy in the Division of Research and Innovation and is based in Fayetteville, Arkansas with substantial statewide travel and regular presence in South Arkansas.

The initiative advances Lithium and Critical Minerals, one of five priority research growth areas in the 150 Forward Reaching Higher strategic plan. Candidates whose qualifications derive primarily from leadership in industry, government, a national laboratory, economic development, or a research consortium are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate will be committed to the University's land-grant mission and to partnerships that create durable benefits for Arkansas communities.

The Executive Director will integrate research, education, workforce development, industry and government engagement, commercialization, and regional economic opportunity. The leader will build faculty teams, partnerships, and fundable concepts across lithium extraction and processing, battery and advanced materials, water and environmental systems, supply chains, policy, and workforce development.

Specific duties include

• Strategy and initiative leadership (20%): Develop and implement a university-wide strategy, governance, and operating plan.
• Research development and funding (30%): Build interdisciplinary faculty teams and a pipeline of major proposals and agency engagement.
• External, statewide, and workforce partnerships (30%): Serve as the front door for industry, government, and national laboratories, and build partnerships in South Arkansas.
• Administration, budget, and coordination (20%): Manage budget and operations, and coordinate with University offices.

Candidates whose qualifications derive primarily from leadership in industry, government, a national laboratory, economic development, or a research consortium are encouraged to apply. Consistent with APS 1405.11, the Professor of Practice title is intended for practitioners with long-term, extensive professional experience rather than solely scholarly credentials. The ideal candidate will be committed to the University's land-grant mission and to partnerships that create durable benefits for Arkansas communities.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in engineering, geosciences, chemistry, materials science, environmental science, economics, supply chain, or a related discipline AND at least six (6) years of relevant professional practice or applied research experience in industry, government, national laboratories, or applied research programs

OR

• A Master's degree in a relevant field AND at least twelve (12) years of relevant professional experience, of which at least six (6) years must be applied research experience in critical minerals and/or lithium (e.g., resource characterization, extraction, processing, refining, battery materials, recycling, or technology development and scale-up)

• Relevant combination of education and experience may be considered for the above qualifications
• Rank will be determined by qualifications and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in critical minerals, lithium, batteries, mineral processing, energy systems, advanced manufacturing, water and environmental systems, extractive industries, supply chains, or logistics
• Experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives, including interdisciplinary research teams, large-scale proposals, university-industry collaborations, consortia, or public-private partnerships
• Experience working with federal agencies (e.g., U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of the Interior/U.S. Geological Survey, National Science Foundation, or Department of Commerce), national laboratories, technology commercialization, intellectual property, sponsored research, or industry contracting
• Experience with workforce partnerships, community colleges, employer-aligned education, economic development, or regional innovation initiatives, including work in Arkansas, South Arkansas, or lithium development associated with the Smackover Formation
• Experience managing budgets, teams, and advisory structures, and launching or growing a center, institute, consortium, or comparable initiative

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the critical minerals and lithium value chain, including technology, markets, policy, and supply-chain considerations
• Strong communication, facilitation, project-management, and relationship-management skills, including translating technical information for varied audiences
• Ability to translate strategy into priorities, workplans, and timely, sound decisions, and to coordinate complex work
• Ability to build trust and work effectively across boundaries with faculty, administrators, technical professionals, industry and government leaders, workforce partners, and communities
• Ability and willingness to travel substantially within Arkansas, with regular in-person presence in South Arkansas, and nationally as needed

Qualification Equivalencies

Applicable equivalencies may be considered on the qualification listed above.

Additional Information

• N ot eligible for tenure.
• Initial appointment is annual and renewable; a merit-based, multi-year appointment may be considered at hire.
• Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV or r ésumé, a two-page leadership vision statement, and three professional references for consideration.

Commensurate with education and experience

Required Documents to Apply

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application, Curriculum Vitae, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), Writing Sample
• Optional Documents: Proof of Veteran Status

Recruitment Contact Information

• All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site
• Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please attach your two-page leadership vision statement where indicated.

Pre-employment Screening Requirements

Criminal Background Check, Sex Offender Registry

• The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community.
• We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment.
• Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check.
• For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening.

Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

• Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.
• All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

• Constant Physical Activity: Talking
• Frequent Physical Activity: Talking
• Occasional Physical Activity: Talking

Benefits Eligible

Yes