PROGRAM DIRECTOR (with rank of  Department Head)

The Zhejiang University-University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJUI) is a joint engineering college on the Zhejiang University International Campus in Haining, China. The partnership of Zhejiang University (ZJU) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) combines the strengths of two of the top engineering schools in the respective nations.  ZJU and UIUC have a long-established collaborative history and culture.  ZJUI offers undergraduate programs in civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, and graduate programs in relevant engineering fields. These programs emphasize interdisciplinary challenges that are critical for the future.  The institute began operation in Fall 2016.  ZJUI offers a unique combination of instruction, emphasizing scientific knowledge, hands-on experience, and creative interdisciplinary team-based design. Classes are taught in English, and successful students receive undergraduate degrees from both institutions.  UIUC and ZJU faculty participate extensively in teaching and research at the Institute. UIUC and ZJU work together to recruit outstanding international faculty candidates for the Institute.

The challenges of today and tomorrow do not conform to conventional disciplinary boundaries.  Creative ideas that draw across many fields are essential to future quality of life and sustainable economies.  At ZJUI, faculty and students across all programs work together to explore major challenges and design ways to meet them.  The Institute seeks innovation and world-leading impact in broad themes that include:

• Advanced materials and devices engineering sciences;

• Information systems and data sciences.

We seek faculty leaders to serve as Program Directors for these major research themes.  These Program Directors will inspire our students and faculty to establish ZJUI as a world-leading center of innovation and excellence.  Each Director will lead the development of research laboratories and infrastructure as well as research groups and programs.  Each Director will work with the team to form a long-term vision and program for interdisciplinary work across these fields, with an expansive perspective.  An ideal candidate will work with industry and university leaders to establish ZJUI as a world leader, creating unique strengths for the Institute and adding high value to ZJU, UIUC, and the ZJU International Campus as we develop a unique and exciting program that will lead China into the future. 

Program Director positions are equivalent in rank to Department Head, are hired as senior Professors, and should meet the scholarly and technical excellence qualifications expected for this rank.  They should have an established track record in industry and/or academia of leadership, innovation, and impact.  The required qualifications include:

• An earned doctorate in an engineering or scientific field, or equivalent;

• At least ten years of progressively more impactful experience following the doctoral degree;

• Experience in leadership roles in respected industry or academic contexts;

• Evidence of entrepreneurial impact, and a track record of initiating and leading major research projects and programs;

• Scholarly publications, and/or equivalent evidence of impact, such as patents and products;

• A clear ability to develop and execute visionary plans; and

• Skills in attracting and recruiting top talent at all levels.

The positions report directly to the deans of ZJUI.  The Program Directors supervise staff within the associated research theme and serve in a matrix framework, in collaboration with Curriculum Directors, as supervisors of faculty engaged in the associated research themes.

Application materials should include a cover letter with current contact information including email address, a complete curriculum vitae, statements of research and teaching goals, and the names of three or more references.  Submit applications at https://my.zjui.illinois.edu/submit/login.asp or to zjuihr@zju.edu.cn.  For more information, please visit http://zjui.zju.edu.cn or contact the institute human resources office at zjuihr@zju.edu.cn or +86 (571) 8757 2511.