Executive Director, Institute For Digital Innovation

Executive Director, Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA) The George Mason University Research and Innovation Initiatives invites applications for an Executive Director, Institute for Digital InnovAtion.

George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA) The Institute for Digital InnovAtion at George Mason University, the Mason IDIA, is a multidisciplinary research initiative designed to position Mason as a global thought leader in our increasingly digital world.

More than 200 IDIA faculty and their students, staff, and colleagues are engaged in cutting-edge research and scholarship that will shape the future of digital civil society, by Engaging in critical reflection that examines the implications of digital innovations to ensure that key stakeholders (including innovators, policy-makers and the public at large) are informed about related social, ethical, political and economic consequences; Developing, deploying and evaluating computing systems in applications as diverse as finance, education, civil infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, entertainment, security, and government; Inventing new algorithms, techniques, and echnologies that well implemented promise equality, well being, security and prosperity for all.

The Mason IDIA is headquartered on Mason’s Arlington campus on the bustling Rosslyn-Ballston (R-B) corridor, which is already home to 5 universities including Mason, Marymount University, George Washington University, the University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech, and 50 corporate leaders in the digital economy.

The Mason IDIA HQ is just 20 minutes from Capitol Hill and 10 minutes from the site of the new Amazon HQ2.

In 2025, the Mason IDIA will move into a new mixed use facility currently being constructed on the university’s Arlington campus.

The new facility will be home to IDIA research and related education programs, as well as corporate innovation labs, incubator, accelerator and other programs for high growth ventures, and VCs and other investors.

The new building will support the co-location of faculty and students from Mason’s computing, business, education, public policy, law, engineering, social sciences, arts and other programs to create the multidisciplinary ecosystem essential to IDIA’s success.

The IDIA university community includes faculty, staff, and students from all ten of Mason’s colleges and schools, and currently includes two of the university’s transdisciplinary research centers for advanced study, the Quantum Materials Center and the Center for Advancing Human-Machine Partnerships, as well as many additional unit-level centers such as, but by no means limited to, the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, the Innovation Law Clinic, the Mason DataLab, and the C4I and Cyber Center.

Purpose of the Position Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation, the Executive Director provides all strategic and operational leadership for IDIA.

Working collaboratively with university leadership and the IDIA community, the Executive Director will shape IDIA to realize its full and multi-faceted potential.

The Executive Director will have a track record of building teams and partnerships both within an academic setting and in university-industry-community settings.

They should have a demonstrated track record of successfully identifying and operationalizing partnerships and will be an outstanding collaborator, inspire colleagues, and have a high organizational EQ.

The successful candidate must possess excellent interpersonal skills and high integrity, combined with a personal style that is characterized by strong communication skills, transparency, trust, active listening, authenticity, persuasiveness, self-awareness, and drive.

They will possess a passion for research, education and innovation and the university’s mission.

Prior experience working with university communities in some capacity is important.

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we highlight the following proven, hands-on leader; ability to recognize the needs of corporate, public sector and community partners, translate needs and opportunities for academic partners, and customize relationships; ability to make connections and frame relationships while being a “convener”; able to operate in an academic setting where enfranchisement of different constituencies is a must; creative thinker who is comfortable managing ambiguity and has a track record of success in complex and challenging situations; entrepreneurial and creative can develop new, innovative ideas that stretch the organization and push beyond boundaries; inclination to seek and analyze data from a variety of sources to support decisions; comfortable operating autonomously and “running with things” without requiring micro-management; low ego; humble; encourages others to share the spotlight and visibly celebrates and supports the success of the IDIA community; willingness to work hard and learn quickly in a fast-paced environment; and strong, positive presence that conveys confidence and credibility both externally and within the broader university community.

Primary Duties of the Position Operational Direction and Oversight Provide strategic direction for the activities of the institute; anticipate needs; support team formation and development; hire, onboard, and lead employees as needed in alignment with IDIA’s mission and goals; Responsible for all financial activities associated with IDIA; set budget, provide financial oversight of all activities, and support fundraising and sponsored research activities for IDIA teams; Work with faculty and administrators in all relevant units to understand, nurture and advance their research and innovation interests; Promote and support partnerships to enhance transdisciplinary research conducted by IDIA; network with and form relationships with external partners; enter into MOUs with partner organizations to promote the goals of IDIA; Ensure that all reporting is completed for funding provided to faculty teams and analyze oCompanyomes from these investments; Develop a conference/convening schedule to highlight the work of IDIA and further build reputation and partnerships; direct planning for and operations of these events.

Strategic Direction and Communication Work collaboratively with University leadership and engaged faculty to refine the strategic plan, mission, and goals of IDIA and provide strategic and operational direction to meet these goals; Host events and foster opportunities for strategic presence at conferences and other external events to highlight the work of IDIA and further build reputation and partnerships; Communicate regularly with the IDIA community to ensure opportunities for full participation by interested faculty, staff, and students and external partners; Strategically engage faculty when opportunities for external funding or partnerships arise; Implement high impact communication mechanisms to better engage and inform potential partners, funders, and Mason leadership; Work collaboratively with economic development, academic, industry, community, and government partners to advance the IDIA mission and goals; Collaborate closely with Research Services, Research Development, Graduate AffInstitutes, Undergraduate AffInstitutes, Technology Transfer, Environmental Health and Safety, colleges, and other relevant university units to ensure integration with other university activities and support for furthering the IDIA mission and goals.

Required Qualifications A Master’s degree in a discipline relevant to the work of IDIA, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; Knowledge of and experience with proposal development and supporting team-based research and scholarship; Experience building partnerships with industry, government, community, and academic institutions; 5-7 years of experience directly managing research development or equivalent support activities.

Preferred Qualifications A terminal degree in a discipline relevant to the work of IDIA (Ph.D.

or similar); 8-10 years of experience leading research development and/or support activities; Experience developing major proposals for external support; Experience working closely with a variety of external stakeholders (local, state and federal government, NGOs, private sector, etc.); Experience in a large complex and geographically-distributed university environment