Job Description
Director of the Branam and Kremer Innovation Centers (BIC/KIC) For 27 consecutive years, Rose‑Hulman Institute of Technology has been ranked the No. 1 undergraduate engineering institution in the United States. Central to this distinction are the Branam Innovation Center (BIC) and Kremer Innovation Center (KIC)—30,000 square feet of dynamic makerspaces where students design, build, compete, and transform bold ideas into reality. Rose‑Hulman seeks a visionary and energetic leader to direct these centers, help coach nationally competitive student teams, and inspire the next generation of STEM innovators. This is a rare opportunity to lead at the intersection of hands‑on engineering, student mentorship, and institutional strategy while reporting directly to the Provost as a member of the Academic Affairs Leadership team. The Director of the Branam and Kremer Innovation Centers (BIC/KIC) provides strategic vision, executive leadership, and external advocacy for Rose‑Hulman Institute of Technology’s innovation ecosystem while serving as the Institute’s primary ambassador for the Centers. The Director establishes, models, and maintains the positive “can do” attitude of the Innovation Centers. This senior leadership role is responsible for shaping the long‑term direction of the BIC/KIC; securing external funding and strategic partnerships; and promoting the Centers to alumni, industry partners, donors, and prospective students. The Director ensures that facilities, staffing, and programming are aligned with institutional priorities and advance student learning, engagement, and success. The Director develops and advances a clear, forward‑looking vision for the BIC/KIC that aligns with Rose‑Hulman’s strategic goals. This includes leading comprehensive strategic planning for the Centers’ physical facilities, programming portfolio, staffing models, and future growth while incorporating emerging trends in innovation, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning. The Director balances long‑range strategy with effective stewardship of resources and infrastructure to ensure sustainable impact. The Director provides specialized, hands‑on coaching to select high‑impact student competition teams and recruits, supports, and sets shared expectations for faculty and staff advisors. Leveraging subject‑matter expertise, the Director guides competition strategies, performance goals, and multi‑year team development, tracking outcomes and driving continuous improvement. Serving as the primary liaison with external competition organizations and governing bodies, the Director monitors rule changes, emerging technologies, and industry trends, and analyzes performance metrics to inform strategic decision‑making and enhance competitive success. Day‑to‑day operational and technical activities are supported by professional staff and student employees under the Director’s leadership. The Director provides administrative supervision and technical mentorship, ensures effective communication and information flow across teams, and emphasizes safety oversight, risk management, and cross‑campus collaboration. Responsibilities include developing, planning, implementing, and administering organizational goals and objectives in accordance with Institute policies and applicable laws. The Director works closely with Advancement, Career Services, Enrollment Management, Communications and Marketing, and other campus stakeholders to secure funding, support student recruitment, promote the BIC/KIC, integrate competition‑based experiences into academic learning objectives, establish verified micro‑credentialing and skills badging, and strengthen student pathways and post‑graduate outcomes. As a member of the Academic Affairs Leadership team, the Director contributes to setting institutional and departmental strategic priorities, ensures alignment with Rose‑Hulman’s mission and goals, and participates in budgeting and resource planning by identifying project needs and priorities. The Director serves on committees and working groups and represents the Institute, Academic Affairs, and the Centers at meetings and functions as needed. Other duties are performed as assigned to support institutional needs. Qualified candidates will hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a closely related technical field is required, along with five or more years of relevant professional experience. Qualified candidates will demonstrate familiarity with experiential learning environments, engineering competition teams, entrepreneurship, design, or innovation center programming. The role requires a proven record of building successful external partnerships, securing grants, or leading resource development initiatives, as well as the ability to effectively lead professional staff and manage complex programs or facilities. Strong communication skills are essential, along with th