Executive Director, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology

The Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), a joint research institute within the University System of Maryland (USM), seeks a dynamic and accomplished Executive Director (ED) to strengthen and position the Institute for the future—capitalizing on the strengths of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), and the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB). Uniquely governed by these three member institutions of the USM, IMET stands at the forefront of marine and environmental science research, training, and technology innovation and application. The Executive Director has a singular opportunity to organize, inspire, and lead some of the world’s most talented marine and environmental science scholars to new heights of research excellence, technology innovation, and societal impact.

IMET’s domain expertise in both fundamental inquiry and application, combined with its commitment to intellectual and organizational diversity, defines its unique strength. As a collaborative effort between UMCES, UMBC, and UMB, IMET’s annual operating budget exceeds $1.5 million, with external research expenditures of $9.5 million. With the help of 22 faculty, 30 graduate students, and three Assistant / Associate Directors, IMET is home to one of the world’s most potent groups of scholars working on marine and environmental research using cutting-edge technologies that span molecules to ecosystems.

At this transformative juncture, with the nation’s most ambitious climate goals per capita, the state of Maryland and the USM—leaders and Regents alike—stand as a deeply synergistic collective unified behind the long-term success of IMET. Strategically co-located with the Chancellor’s Headquarters and the USM Board of Regents' main office in the Rita Rossi Colwell Center in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, IMET transcends the confines of a traditional academic research institute. It has the strategic positioning and collective expertise to influence and innovate for the betterment of Maryland and beyond and embodies the commitment of the USM to sustainability, community engagement, and transformative impact.

Building on the exciting momentum fostered by outgoing Executive Director Dr. Russell Hill, IMET seeks a visionary scholar-leader and ambassador who will collaborate toward bold, strategic directions for IMET’s future. The next Executive Director of IMET will play a multifaceted leadership role in a highly matrixed environment, leading IMET’s scholarly endeavors at a high level—including recruitment and mentorship of faculty; managing IMET’s facilities in concert with partner institutions in the USM and externally; and advocating for support for IMET with the leadership of its partner institutions, from whose schools and colleges derive tenured lines, material support for physical space, and key staff, among other critical resources. 

To be successful, the ED will: 

• Provide bold strategic leadership to sustain IMET now and into the future;
• Leverage IMET’s highly matrixed structure to strengthen its scholarly position and enhance its collaborative impact;
• Expand IMET’s philanthropic support and structural stability through community engagement, outreach, and education; and
• Champion IMET’s efforts to address environmental health inequities and environmental justice throughout the region and ensure that IMET faculty and staff reflect the communities they serve.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications (including CVs and two- to three-page letters of interest responding to the opportunities, challenges, and qualifications outlined above) should be submitted below. 

Vijay Saraswat is leading this search with Ibaad Nazeer and Elizabeth Arvanitis.