Notre Dame’s Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative will train a new generation of sustainability champions dedicated to caring for our common home in ways that will not leave behind the most vulnerable among us. Drawing inspiration from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’, the initiative aims to transform how students and faculty at Notre Dame engage with sustainability research and practice. It also seeks to transform the field of sustainability itself through high-impact research and knowledge creation, curricular innovations, and global engagement.

The managing director of the Notre Dame Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative is part of a select group of faculty and staff charged by the provost to launch the academic initiatives of the University’s strategic framework. The managing director will work with the faculty director to build on Notre Dame’s collective scholarly and education activities in energy, the natural environment, and the built environment to develop and grow a distinctive university-wide sustainability effort with the goal of making Notre Dame a preeminent locus of sustainability research, education, and translation. The initiative will spearhead collaborative research projects across colleges and schools and with external partner institutions and networks, coordinate the pursuit of large federal, foundational, and corporate research grants, promote and facilitate strategic curricular innovation, and establish premier convenings and policy-making events to advance knowledge and translation leading to a sustainable future where people and nature flourish. The managing director plays a critical leadership role in driving the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative by partnering with the faculty director to build a strategic vision for the initiative, liaising between key stakeholders (the Provost’s Office, Department of Development, University Communications, department/college/school leadership, etc.), organizing and coordinating key initiative activities, leading initiative staff, helping identify possible areas of federal, foundational, and corporate research support, and serving as a thought partner for the initiative director.

The managing director will report to the initiative director, providing strategic and operational support.

Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning, Operations, and Budget
Act as a thought partner to the initiative director to create and execute a strategic plan for the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative. Design and execute an operations and organizational plan for the initiative. Oversee the development and execution of the initiative’s operating budget, financial forecasting, and financial reporting. Supervise and manage initiative staff. Support the initiative director in organizing and spearheading new sustainability research efforts.

Development, Stewardship, and Reporting
Collaborate with the Department of Development and other University partners to raise and steward funds to support the initiative priorities. The Department of Development will be responsible for direct solicitation and management of cultivation strategies, working closely with the initiative director and managing director. Oversee the stewardship of financial resources, as well as internal and external reporting on the work and progress of the initiative.

Programming and Events
Design an event strategy to advance initiative goals, with convenings playing an important role of establishing Notre Dame’s leadership. Work closely with University Events and Enterprises on the design and execution of those events. In partnership with the director, develop student formation and education opportunities, including new curricular offerings, experiential learning, and internships.

Liaising and Communications
Oversee internal and external initiative communications, working closely with the Office of the Provost and University Communications. Work with the initiative director to design and execute an effective communication strategy. Oversee project development efforts. Build and maintain relationships with key internal partners including deans, department chairs, center and institute directors, and members of the Office of the Provost. Build crucial external partners networks with national and international universities, 20 global sustainability organizations, and government and other policy-making bodies.

Please note: This is currently a three-year limited-term position, although it is likely that there will be continued funding beyond the three years.

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