Director, Energy Innovation Center, Associate or Full Professor

Hiring Department

College of Engineering

Job Description

The University of Missouri
seeks an accomplished and visionary leader to serve as the Founding
Executive Director of the Payne Energy Innovation Center (EIC) ,
a major interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation
initiative dedicated to advancing the future of energy
technologies, systems, materials, policy, and workforce
development.

The Energy Innovation Center is a new state-of-the-art research
facility currently under construction and scheduled for occupancy
in 2028. The Center will bring together faculty, students, industry
partners, national laboratories, government agencies, utilities,
and community stakeholders to address critical challenges in energy
generation, advanced nuclear technologies, energy storage, grid
modernization, advanced materials, artificial intelligence and
computing for energy systems, energy policy, sustainability,
resilience, and energy security.

Drawing upon expertise from engineering, physics, chemistry, and
related disciplines, the Center will foster convergent research,
accelerate technology translation, inform energy policy, support
workforce development, and strengthen economic growth across
Missouri and beyond. The Center will work closely with strategic
university initiatives, including the Center for Rural Energy
Security, to advance solutions that enhance energy resilience,
affordability, and security for rural communities and critical
infrastructure.

The Founding Executive Director will provide strategic leadership
for the development, launch, and long-term growth of the Energy
Innovation Center. Working closely with university leadership,
participating colleges and schools, faculty researchers, industry
partners, and external stakeholders, the Executive Director will
establish the Center’s strategic vision, develop research
priorities, cultivate interdisciplinary collaborations, support
faculty recruitment and development, and position the Center as a
nationally recognized destination for energy research, innovation,
and policy leadership.

The position includes a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of
Professor in an appropriate department within the College of
Engineering.

The successful candidate will bring a combination of research
credibility, administrative experience, strategic vision, and
collaborative leadership. They will understand the demands of a
rapidly evolving energy research environment and have the judgment
to balance immediate opportunities with the long-term development
of a sustainable, interdisciplinary center.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced organizational leader
who can move comfortably between high-level strategy and the
practical work of bringing people, resources, and research
priorities together. They will be skilled at building relationships
across institutional boundaries, developing competitive research
initiatives, securing external funding, and creating an environment
in which talented faculty and research teams can achieve more
together than they could independently.

The Founding Executive Director will be excited by the opportunity
to build on the University of Missouri’s existing strengths,
connect exceptional researchers across disciplines, and establish a
center that is both nationally competitive and responsive to
emerging energy challenges. They will combine the credibility to
engage leading researchers with the breadth of vision to represent
the full range of the EIC’s activities and the leadership ability
to turn a robust collection of capabilities into a cohesive and
enduring institutional asset.

Key Opportunities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a bold vision and strategic plan for the

Energy Innovation Center.

• Establish research priorities that align with national, state,

and industry needs in energy, infrastructure, resilience, and
security.

• Position the Center as a leading destination for

interdisciplinary research, innovation, workforce development, and
technology commercialization.

• Establish governance structures, operating models, performance

metrics, and strategic partnerships that support long-term
success.

• Build a culture of collaboration that engages faculty and

stakeholders across disciplines and sectors.

Research Development and Faculty Engagement

• Foster interdisciplinary research collaborations among faculty

across engineering, physics, chemistry, and other relevant
disciplines.

• Support recruitment, onboarding, and development of faculty

whose scholarship aligns with the Center’s strategic
priorities.

• Help identify future faculty hiring opportunities that

strengthen the Center’s research portfolio and national
competitiveness.

• Facilitate the development of large-scale proposals to federal

agencies, foundations, industry sponsors, and national
laboratories.

• Build research clusters capable of competing successfully for

center-scale funding and other transformative research
opportunities.

• Support the growth of graduate education, postdoctoral

training, and student engagement in energy-related fields.

Partnership Development and External Engagement

• Develop and sustain strategic partnerships with industry,

utilities, national laboratories, government agencies, economic
development organizations, and community stakeholders.

• Expand opportunities for sponsored research, workforce

development, technology translation, and public-private
partnerships.

• Serve as the primary external ambassador for the Energy

Innovation Center.

• Represent the Center at regional, national, and international

forums.

• Strengthen connections between university research and the

needs of Missouri communities, industry, and policymakers.

Energy Policy, Workforce Development, and Economic
Impact

• Promote research and engagement activities that inform energy

policy, regulatory decision-making, and long-term energy
planning.

• Advance workforce development initiatives that prepare students

and professionals for careers in emerging energy sectors.

• Foster collaborations that support economic development,

entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization.

• Work with public and private stakeholders to enhance energy

resilience, affordability, reliability, and security.

Facility Activation and Program Development

• Lead planning activities associated with occupancy and

activation of the Energy Innovation Center facility.

• Guide the development of research programs, educational

initiatives, workshops, conferences, and collaborative activities
that maximize the impact of the Center.

• Oversee strategic deployment of shared research infrastructure,

instrumentation, and collaborative spaces.

• Foster a vibrant and inclusive research community that promotes

innovation and interdisciplinary engagement.

Resource Development and Stewardship

• Partner with university advancement and academic leadership to

secure philanthropic support for the Center.

• Identify opportunities for major gifts, endowments,

infrastructure investments, and strategic partnerships.

• Support development of sustainable operating models that enable

continued growth and impact.

• Oversee Center resources and operations in accordance with

university policies and strategic priorities.

Priority Research Areas

The Energy Innovation Center will advance research and innovation
in areas including:

• Energy generation, including nuclear, renewable, and emerging

energy technologies

• Grid modernization, resilience, and energy security
• Energy storage and advanced energy systems
• Advanced materials for energy applications
• Artificial intelligence, modeling, simulation, and digital

technologies for energy systems

• Energy policy, economics, and regulatory frameworks
• Rural energy resilience and community energy systems
• Workforce development and technology translation

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in engineering, science, or a closely related

field.

• Qualifications for appointment as a tenured Professor at the

University of Missouri.

• Distinguished record of scholarship, innovation, leadership,

and externally funded research.

• Demonstrated success leading interdisciplinary research

initiatives, centers, institutes, laboratories, or comparable
organizations.

• Experience building partnerships with industry, government

agencies, national laboratories, foundations, or other external
stakeholders.

• Strong record of strategic planning, organizational leadership,

and program development.

• Outstanding communication, organizational, and leadership

skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience directing a major research center, institute,

national laboratory program, or equivalent organization.

• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams and complex

collaborative initiatives.

• Demonstrated success securing major federal, industry, or

philanthropic investments.

• Experience with faculty recruitment, infrastructure

development, and organizational growth.

• Knowledge of energy systems, advanced materials, nuclear

technologies, grid modernization, energy policy, sustainability,
artificial intelligence, or related fields.

• Experience working across academic, governmental, industrial,

and community sectors.

Application Materials

Candidates should include a cover letter outlining qualifications
and a detailed curriculum vitae.

After initial review by the committee, all uploaded materials may
be shared with all faculty in the prospective department. For
affiliations and joint appointments materials may be shared with
all faculty in all departments involved.

Application Deadline

The priority deadline for applications is January 25, 2027,
but the position will remain open until filled. Specific academic
home(s) of candidates will be determined throughout the hiring
process. This is not a remote opportunity.

Sponsorship Information

Employment visa sponsorship may be available for candidates
currently in the United States in H-1B status or other
work-authorized status.

Community Information

Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and
a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests.
Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its
location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and
travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia
is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple
hours’ drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone
County’s largest population center offering big-city culture,
activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is
home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts
more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your
career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire,
Columbia is a good place to be!

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your
total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits
package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement,
and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For
additional information on University benefits, please visit the
Faculty & Staff Benefits website at
https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an
Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of
Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

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