Director, Innovation Centers — Lead Makers & Partnerships

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, 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.

Responsibilities

The Director provides strategic vision, executive leadership, and external advocacy for the BIC/KIC, serving as the Institute’s primary ambassador for the Centers. The Director establishes and maintains a positive “can do” culture, shapes the long‑term direction of the Centers, secures external funding and strategic partnerships, and promotes the Centers to alumni, industry partners, donors, and prospective students. The Director ensures that facilities, staffing, and programming align with institutional priorities and advance student learning, engagement, and success.

The Director develops and advances a forward‑looking vision for the BIC/KIC that aligns with Rose-Hulman’s strategic goals, leading comprehensive strategic planning for physical facilities, programming portfolio, staffing models, and future growth, 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, recruits, supports, and sets shared expectations for faculty and staff advisors; guides competition strategies, performance goals, and multi‑year team development; 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, providing administrative supervision and technical mentorship; ensuring effective communication and information flow across teams; emphasizing safety oversight, risk management, and cross‑campus collaboration; and 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, participates in budgeting and resource planning by identifying project needs and priorities, serves on committees and working groups, and represents the Institute, Academic Affairs, and the Centers at meetings and functions as needed.

Qualifications

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a closely related technical field and have five or more years of relevant professional experience. Candidates should demonstrate familiarity with experiential learning environments, engineering competition teams, entrepreneurship, design, or innovation center programming. They must have a proven record of building successful external partnerships, securing grants, or leading resource development initiatives, and be able to lead professional staff and manage complex programs or facilities. Strong communication skills and the ability to represent the Institute confidently and effectively to both internal and external stakeholders are essential.

Preferred qualifications include an advanced graduate degree in a relevant field, eight or more years of related professional experience, experience with fundraising, donor engagement, corporate partnerships, other advancement‑related activities, and experience working with collegiate or advanced high‑school competition teams as a participant, coach, or advisor. Familiarity with technical innovation centers, hands‑on environments, and the safe use of industrial tools such as woodworking equipment, 3D printing, metal fabrication, circuitry, and combustible materials (e.g., rocketry) is valued. Experience overseeing or supporting training in these settings, with a demonstrated focus on safety, risk management, and effective supervision, is a strong asset.

Benefits and Compensation

Salary range is $85,000 – $105,000; a higher salary may be negotiated based on experience and qualifications. Employees enjoy a variety of health benefit options, voluntary benefits such as Group Accident and/or Group Critical Illness Insurance, Pet Insurance, and Caregiver Resources; participation in Tuition Exchange; a generous and flexible paid leave program; dedicated time for professional development; full‑service fitness facilities and programming; a performing arts center featuring national touring acts and campus productions; access to state‑of‑the‑art labs, facilities, and equipment; and opportunities to impact student lives and participate in philanthropic and volunteer opportunities.

Background Check

Rose-Hulman conducts background checks for all prospective employees, including criminal history, education, social media, employment, driving records, and reference checks where relevant to job duties. Information from background checks will be used solely to assess a candidate’s suitability for employment and will be handled in compliance with federal and state laws.

EEO Statement

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is an equal opportunity employer. It is the Institute’s policy to treat all employees and applicants equally according to their individual qualifications, abilities, experiences, and other employment standards. Rose‑Hulman will not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student or applicant for admission, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any complaint process on campus or within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies. Rose‑Hulman Institute of Technology is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact the Office of Human Resources.