Executive Director, Keller Center

OVERVIEW

Situated in the School of Engineering at Princeton University, the Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education empowers its constituents to create meaningful real-world impact through entrepreneurship, innovation, and design. Founded in 2005, the Center offers curricular and co-curricular programs to undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty.

As a trusted thought partner to the Center's faculty director, the Executive Director holds a distinctive and overarching perspective across the breadth and activities of the center. Working alongside the Director, the Executive Director leads strategic priorities to develop, articulate, and implement center-wide strategies to achieve the center's goals.

The Executive Director is a senior professional with a broad and deep understanding of strategic planning, finance, people leadership, and operational acumen, with an entrepreneurial, energetic, and optimistic approach. Reporting directly to the center's faculty director, with a secondary reporting relationship to the Associate Dean for Administration in the School of Engineering, the Executive Director represents the Keller Center internally within the University and externally with strategic partners, advisors, donors, and other stakeholders.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership: In partnership with the faculty director, provides essential vision and leadership to develop, articulate, and implement center-wide strategy. Deeply engages in the development and evaluation of new strategic initiatives; leads important strategic priorities including investing in operational and programmatic excellence; designs organizational strategy and develops internal policies.

Administrative Leadership and Operational Management: Serves as the senior staff member and provides leadership to all members of the Keller Center community. Oversees center team members; manages hiring, performance review, and merit increase processes; ensures smooth, effective, and compliant operations including administrative, financial, technological, space, and facility components; improves processes for increased efficiency and productivity.

Outreach and External Engagement: Forges and cultivates enduring partnerships to further the center's goals and elevate its visibility. Engages in development, fundraising, and stewardship activities; develops avenues to engage faculty and students with industry representatives; cultivates community and fosters synergies; oversees multi-constituent collaborations, events, and projects; partners with the faculty director on the advisory council.

Financial Oversight: Sets and oversees the center's overall budget; ensures appropriate usage of funds and oversight of all financial activities; ensures timely stewardship of donor funds; reviews financial reports and provides analysis to support strong business and programmatic decisions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:
- Master's or professional degree and 7+ years of experience, ideally in entrepreneurship, design, or higher education
- Experience leading an organization toward a shared vision and building consensus among diverse stakeholders
- Ability to design and formulate strategic vision, leadership, and implementation
- Track record in operational management including budget creation and oversight, personnel management, and policy adherence
- Strong background in new program development, implementation, and analysis
- Entrepreneurial, energetic, and optimistic approach to leadership

Preferred:
- Prior experience in an academic/higher education setting
- Prior experience in a design and/or entrepreneurial setting
- Leadership in a large, complex organization

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary range: $155,000 to $175,000. Standard weekly hours: 36.25. Benefits eligible. Princeton University offers a comprehensive benefits program.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.