Executive Director of the Andrew Sabin Family Center for Environment and Sustainability (R0008297)

Executive Director of the Andrew Sabin Family Center for Environment and Sustainability (R0008297)

Location:
Winston-Salem, NC
Open Date:
Oct 23, 2025
Description:

Wake Forest University seeks a transformational leader to serve as the next Executive Director of the Andrew Sabin Family Center for Environment and Sustainability, with a start date of July 1, 2026. The Executive Director will join a vibrant community of over 100 teacher-scholars across our campuses and will bring a strong commitment to advancing innovative research, experiential learning, and technology and policy solutions to address global challenges in environment and sustainability.

The Sabin Center leverages the power of the university to innovate, educate, convene and support teams of scholars with a vision for a world that is sustainable, just, and abundantly wild. Tackling some of the most pressing global challenges –biodiversity loss, deforestation, climate-driven crises, and sustainable land use –the Center applies cutting-edge research, strategic partnerships, and academic innovation, all with an eye towards on-the-ground solutions.

In 2023, the Andrew Sabin family endowed the Center with a $5 million gift that was matched by a $5 million university commitment, establishing a unique opportunity for impact in this field. As the hub of the Environment and Sustainability area of academic distinction identified in the University’s Strategic Framework, the Sabin Center engages more than 100 faculty and staff members across the University in interdisciplinary research, scholarship, and collaboration, and who operate in an exceptionally open and flat manner, taking the University motto Pro Humanitate into the world. Founded as the Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability in 2010, the Center operates at the intersection of enterprise, justice, and conservation, bringing together diverse stakeholders and perspectives to address the seemingly intractable environmental problems facing our world.

Reporting to the Vice Provost for Research, Scholarly Inquiry and Creative Activity, the successful candidate will be an enthusiastic, collaborative, and strategic leader. The ideal candidate will be a demonstrated bridge-builder and will have evidence of high-impact research and a sustained record of scholarly activities at the intersection of environment and sustainability, which may arise in any number of areas, including, but not limited to, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, social sciences such as political science and economics, and law. The candidate should demonstrate experience in undergraduate teaching and mentoring; experience with teaching and mentoring graduate students is highly desirable.

We seek candidates who will lead across disciplines and professions, building teams to generate new ideas and research, policies, and practices. Preference will be given to candidates with strong track records of foundation and government funding, fundraising experience, and experience in fostering collaboration across a university and with external partners. The Executive Director will represent the University in building collaborations with public, private, and nongovernmental organizations, and relationships with communities at the local, state, national, and international levels that support and make use of activities, research, and programs conducted by the Center.

The Executive Director will hold an appointment within Wake Forest University commensurate with their qualifications and experience. For candidates with traditional academic backgrounds, this will typically be a tenured appointment in an appropriate department within the Wake Forest College at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. For candidates with exceptional leadership experience and scholarship from non-traditional academic settings (including government, NGOs, think tanks, or industry), alternative appointment structures will be considered, such as a Professor of the Practice. The Executive Director will teach undergraduates and mentor students, staff, and junior faculty to cultivate the next generation of leaders. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications.

For specific information about the position, contact the following co-chairs of the Search Committee: Miles Silman, Professor, Biology Department and Founding Director of the Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (silmanmr@wfu.edu) or Kimberley McAllister, Vice Provost, Research, Scholarly Inquiry and Creative Activity (mcallik@wfu.edu). Apply at: hr.wfu.edu/careers and select Faculty Openings under Careers at Wake Forest University.

Application review begins on December 1, 2025; all completed applications submitted at that time will be given full consideration. Applications should include (i) a cover letter detailing interest in the position and experience in leadership, fund-raising, and obtaining extramural funding (limit 2 pages), (ii) a curriculum vitae including names of three references (no page limit), (iii) a statement detailing both the candidate’s vision for the role of a university in the fields of conservation and sustainability and their relevant past accomplishments in scholarship/ work in the field (limit 4 pages), and (iv) a statement describing their approach to team-building within and across disciplines and training the leaders of tomorrow (mentoring, and teaching philosophy and experience) (limit 2 pages). All documents must be compiled as a single PDF file and submitted via hr.wfu.edu/careers. Reference checks may be conducted for applicants who advance in the search process; such applicants will be informed before references are contacted. Inquiries specific to the application process and document submission should be directed to wakejobs@wfu.edu.

PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director will work to generate opportunities and support for Center faculty and raise the profile of the Center and maintain a national or international presence in research, education, practice, scholarship, and/or policy related to environment and sustainability. Key responsibilities will include team-building, connecting outside partners to the University to generate opportunity and impact, and training the leaders of today and tomorrow. The position is expected to lead and foster cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary research at Wake Forest University.

Wake Forest University

Founded in 1834, Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational institution dedicated to academic excellence in liberal arts, graduate, and professional education. With over 5,400 undergraduates and 3,500 graduate and professional students, the student-faculty ratio is 11:1. Wake Forest is a collegiate university offering a vibrant, intellectual community with a rich cultural life, an impressive array of facilities, and a strong athletics program competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Since its founding, the University has adopted the motto Pro Humanitate, which is exemplified by a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world. For more information, visit: https://about.wfu.edu/.

Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, a beautiful, mid-sized city centrally located in the Piedmont-Triad region of North Carolina. A family-friendly city with high-quality schools, a wide selection of restaurants and shops, outdoor recreational activities, and numerous special events, it is known for its vibrant and thriving arts and innovation scenes. Residents enjoy proximity to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains (1.5 hours) and Atlantic beaches (4 hours), a moderate climate with four distinct seasons, and a very reasonable cost of living. Winston-Salem offers many of the amenities of a large city but with the sense of community and quality of life of a small town. For more information, visit: www.visitwinstonsalem.com.

Job Description

Essential Functions:

• Shape and implement the vision, priorities, and strategic plan for the Center and inspire internal and external constituencies;

• Raise funds, steward resources, strengthen and diversify revenues, control costs, and develop a sustainable economic model for the Center;

• Coordinate with University leadership to establish Wake Forest as a national center of excellence in environment and sustainability matters;

• Promote and facilitate pedagogical, intellectual, and creative excellence;

• Partner with faculty across the College and University to deliver distinctive educational experiences;

• Organize efforts to collaborate with research and policy initiatives in support of the Center's mission;

• Enhance the Center's visibility by participating in public conversations about local, national, and global issues;

• Attract, recruit, develop, and retain staff and program directors on behalf of the Center;

• Work collaboratively and closely with University partners (Alumni Engagement, Provost Office, Development) to enhance current programs and identify broad and granular ways to engage all constituents with the University in meaningful ways; and

• Oversee and ensure accreditation, program review, and other processes that are important for the continuous improvement of the program.

• Meet departmental expectations for teaching, service, and scholarship at a reduced load considering the added responsibilities of a Center Director.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• PhD or appropriate terminal degree in environmental science, political science, engineering, economics, management, or a related field

• Exceptional scholarship in environmental science, sustainability and/or a related field

• Experience in leadership roles in a related field

• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills, demonstrating the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies within and outside the university

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Proven ability to fundraise and garner resources

• 10+ years of experience in leadership roles in activities related to the environment, resource conservation, sustainability, renewable energy, corporate social responsibility, or social and environmental justice.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all
qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and
expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran
status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation
to participate in the application or interview process, please contact
AskHR@wfu.edu or (336) 758-4700.