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THE POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2020 Much of this material contained herein is gained in confidence and as such should be regarded as confidential. Accordingly, it is understood that dissemination of this material should be limited to those individuals in your organization who are directly connected with this specific search or whom a reasonable person would agree have a need to know. DIVERSIFIEDSEARCH.COM POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION Executive Director INSTITUTION Columbia University – The Earth Institute REPORTS TO Director LOCATION New York, New York WEBSITE https://www.earth.columbia.edu/ SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY The Earth Institute at Columbia University invites applications and nominations for the role of Executive Director. The mission of the Earth Institute is to blend research in the physical and social sciences, education, and practical solutions to help guide the world onto a path toward sustainability. Since its founding in 1995, the Earth Institute (EI) has emerged as a powerful platform for leading scientists, policymakers, and private sector leaders to engage in meaningful research, dialogue, and action on today’s most pressing challenges of the planet. Nested within Columbia, the Earth Institute is made up of scholars spread out across dozens of research centers and programs across the institution’s 20 schools and colleges. These researchers are refining understandings of how the planet works and how humans are affecting natural systems. The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, which has been seeking fundamental knowledge about the natural world since 1949, is the scientific heart of the Earth Institute. A world leader in the basic and applied knowledge required to achieve sustainability, the Earth Institute comprises approximately 850 scientists, students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff from across the University. The operating budget for the Earth Institute is approximately $120 million. In Fall 2019, President Lee Bollinger asked Alex N. Halliday, the Earth Institute’s new Director and former Dean of Science and Engineering at the University of Oxford, to chair the University Task Force on Climate to identify ways Columbia can make a greater impact in the area of sustainability and to tackle the climate crisis. The Task Force produced a significant report that can be found at https://president.columbia.edu/content/report-climate- change-task-force. A key recommendation included exploring the creation of the School of Climate. The President along with the Board of Trustees are very supportive to develop this new school at Columbia. It is evident Columbia is well poised to advance its existing leadership and make a bold commitment to address the challenges and opportunities climate presents. Joining the Earth Institute and Columbia at a moment of tremendous ambition and organizational and institutional change should be attractive for an accomplished executive who is an institutional builder, creative, and entrepreneurial. The new Executive Director will implement administrative, operational, and financial best practices and will develop short-term and long-term sustainable financial and business models. The person will partner with the Director, Earth Institute faculty, administrative staff, and University leadership to provide the necessary human capital, physical, and financial resources for excellence. For more information on the Earth Institute and Columbia University, please see Appendix A. POSITION DESCRIPTION COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY – THE EARTH INSTITUTE| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PREPARED BY ANDREW C. WHEELER/ JIM SIRIANNI, PH.D. 2 POSITION SUMMARY Reporting to the Director of the Earth Institute, the Executive Director (ED) is responsible for planning and management of the Institute as assigned by the Director. The ED will serve as the senior professional executive as well as the implementation partner for the Director. The ED will be a key member of the Earth Institute leadership and will be responsible for the central operational management of priorities, goals, and activities (e.g., operations, planning, and performance). This individual will have oversight of the day-to-day operational management for the Earth Institute. This position will provide operational leadership support to the Director with strategic planning and change management initiatives, project management, and program development. The ED will represent executive management in key external interactions as well as internally within the Institute and within other parts of the University, while monitoring linkages with Institute senior administrative officers to ensure responsiveness. This individual will collaborate with senior Earth Institute leadership including the Earth Institute Faculty Chair and Executive Committee and serve as an anchor facilitating research, education, impact, and outreach across the Institute and its networked activity around the University. The ED will be an institutional innovator charged with executing strategy as well as expanding and strengthening the Earth Institute during a time of organizational change, especially as Columbia University actively explores the creation of a School of Climate. The Earth Institute’s future is closely tied to the outcomes of these ongoing discussions. As a result of these conversations, the Institute may wholly re-organize its academic vision and scope, structure, relationship to the rest of the University, and its financial model. The Executive Director will have experience with leading an organization successfully through a period of institutional change, while maintaining day-to-day operations and working towards long-term goals and priorities. This individual will work closely with the Director and senior University leadership in envisioning and implementing changes to the Institute in line with the University vision on Climate and the needs of the Institute. The ED will develop relationships with key experts and stakeholders across the Institute and University as well as targeted external partners, to expand the influence, impact, and brand of the Institute and its work. The Executive Director will represent the Director and the Earth Institute within the University and to external constituents. RESPONSIBILITIES Operations Management: Lead and Manage daily operations, staff development, budget, technology, and space; and ensure that operations are defined by and aligned with the Institute’s academic priorities as well as University policy. Oversee operational responsibility for the design and implementation of financial and operational policies and procedures, including finance, pre- and post-award grant management, information technology, facilities, human resources, communications, events, academic governance, and education. Oversee the management of the budget across all Institute units. Enhance the use of data to drive decision-making, by enhancing analytic capacity and reporting to senior leadership across all areas of operation. Establish benchmarks and metrics to assess and report performance of operational activity and initiatives; monitor progress toward assigned goals and activities. Identify important internal and external issues confronting the Institute, develop appropriate analysis to produce actionable recommendations, monitor ongoing issues. Represent the Director’s goals and vision and serve as a liaison to faculty, center directors, schools, and administrative units of Columbia University, including senior University leadership. Leadership: POSITION DESCRIPTION COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY – THE EARTH INSTITUTE| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PREPARED BY ANDREW C. WHEELER/ JIM SIRIANNI, PH.D. 3 Provide advice and support to the Director on priorities, policy, organizational, and performance issues related to the success of the Institute. Identify and pursue new opportunities, programs and ventures to bring to the Earth Institute, in line with the Director’s strategy and goals. Promote a culture of academic innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity across the Institute’s four pillars of activity – research, education, practice/impact and outreach. Guide the Institute through a transition period, which may include wholly re-organizing its strategic goals, structure, relationship to the rest of the University, and its financial model. Work closely with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Earth Institute leadership to develop a new operating model for academic excellence and financial sustainability. Internal/External Relations and Partnership Development: Manage Institute internal and external communications initiatives to align with the Institute and Director’s strategic priorities. Oversee communications/events/outreach at the Institute. Partner with the Communications Director to develop an expanded portfolio of convenings and other events to bring together academics and decision-makers from all sectors. Establish strong and productive relationships with key business, academic, and government leaders both locally and globally to facilitate joint initiatives and expand impact. Represent the Earth Institute at meetings, conferences, symposia, and other events. Academic Programming: Oversee education programming, in partnership with the University’s schools, and identify areas to expand, grow offerings, and enhance interaction among programs and students. Develop new initiatives to foster collaborative inter- and transdisciplinary programming (e.g. seed funding, networking, seminars), including broadening the Earth Institute’s activity with