Executive Director, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Position Title: Executive Director, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Position Type: Regular   Hiring Range:

$280,000 - $300,000 per year; Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

 Pay Frequency:

Annual

I. POSITION PURPOSE

Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic University in Silicon Valley, seeks an innovative, charismatic, and entrepreneurial leader for the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Founded in 1986, the Markkula Center is a leader in the broad-based study and practice of ethics in the domains of biotechnology and health, business, government and politics, leadership, religion, media, and technology.   The Center plays a central role in the university with connections to faculty and students in all of its schools.  The center’s emphasis on applied ethics extends its influence beyond the campus to Silicon Valley and the larger world, as it aims to educate and empower individuals and organizations to make ethical choices and create ethical organizations.

The Executive Director is the chief executive of the Center with full responsibility for the vision, strategy, fundraising, reputation, and leadership of the Center. In addition, the Executive Director, who reports to the Provost, is a University leader, ensuring that the Center advances the overall mission and reputation of Santa Clara University. While the successful candidate will serve full-time as Executive Director, she or he also will hold a faculty appointment at Santa Clara University and have a successful research program in some area of ethics

II. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advances the mission of the Center and sustains progress in service of that mission; promotes the vision of the Center’s role on campus, in Silicon Valley, and in the world
• Continually reviews and enhances long- and short-term strategies for the Center to achieve its vision
• Leads a team of entrepreneurial program directors, supporting innovation in the Center’s focus areas
• Defines the research and scholarship agendas for the center, while maintaining an active research agenda themselves 
• Develops and grows relationships and networks with key intellectual, business, government and philanthropic leaders in Silicon Valley and beyond
• Engages donors to fund the work of the Center
• Represents the Center publicly and serves as a significant voice in public discourse on key ethics issues

III. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Creates relationships and joint programs with all schools and colleges, and other units throughout the University
• Engages closely with the Center’s Advisory Board of community leaders and Steering Committee of faculty advisors
• Acts as a leader in the University, taking on tasks and assignments from the Provost and President at their request
• Hires, directs, inspires, and motivates staff and affiliated faculty to achieve the Center’s mission and vision
• Creates an annual budget for the Center and manages to that budget

IV. KEY SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES

• EXPERTISE IN APPLIED ETHICS. The Executive Director must be an expert in some field of applied ethics.  
• VISION AND STRATEGY. The Executive Director must appreciate the vital role an ethics center can play in the university and in society, with creativity and an innovative spirit. The ED must be able to express that vision in ways that inspire and motivate others, and articulate long- and short-term strategies for achieving the Center’s vision.
• LEADERSHIP. The Executive Director must be able to recruit, guide, and motivate highly talented staff; sustain an organizational culture at the Center that is innovative, professional, compassionate, and committed to diversity; inspire colleagues and the Advisory Board, and communicate a compelling vision for the future of the Center that engages a diversity of stakeholders. 
• FUNDRAISING. All candidates should be prepared to engage in development activities to provide short- and long-term resources to advance the operations and goals of the Center.
• COMMUNICATION SKILLS.  The Executive Director should not only be a knowledge creator, but also have potential as a thought leader.  They should be prepared to contribute to public dialogues on important contemporary issues, engage with the media frequently, and make audio, video and in-person presentations to a wide range of audiences. With that in mind, the Executive Director should be able to express his or her ideas effectively in written and spoken word.

V. GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Recommends initiatives and implements changes to improve quality and services.
• Identifies and determines cause of problems; develops and presents recommendations for improvement of established processes and practices.
• Maintains contact with customers and solicits feedback for improved services.
• Maximizes productivity through use of appropriate tools; planned training and performance initiatives.
• Researches and develops resources that create timely and efficient workflow.
• Prepares progress reports; informs supervisor of project status; and deviation from goals. Ensures completeness, accuracy and timeliness of all operational functions.
• Prepares and submits reports as requested and required.
• Develops and implements guidelines to support the functions of the unit.

VI. QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred.

This position requires the ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment and to promote and contribute to an inclusive and respectful workplace. 

1. Knowledge

• Genuine appreciation for the goals and values of an academic institution
• Understanding and support of the values and ideals of Jesuit education, especially Santa Clara University's commitment to creating a more humane, just, and sustainable world through teaching, scholarship, and service

2. Skills

• Demonstrated entrepreneurial, leadership, management, organizational development, and consensus building skills
• Demonstrated oral, presentation, and written communication skills, with a premium on clarity and persuasiveness

3. Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to be a successful fundraiser
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful strategic and operational plans
• Demonstrated ability to shape and build a strong organization with multiple programs and common purpose
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and interact effectively with a broad range of internal constituencies and external partners
• Strong sense of purpose combined with flexible thinking, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to learn from others

4. Education

• Master's/Advanced Degree required

5. Years of Experience

• Minimum of 15 years of experience
• Significant experience in a senior leadership position in academia, industry, government, or the non-profit sector

VII. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities.  A qualified individual is a person who meets skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
• May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.
• May be required to attend fundraisers, conference and training sessions within Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.
• May be required to occasionally travel to outside donors. 

VIII. WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Typical office environment.
• Mostly indoor office environment with windows.
• Offices with equipment noise.
• Offices with frequent interruptions.

EEO Statement

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer.  For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at www.scu.edu/title-ix. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).     

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services  website . To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at [email protected].

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.