Executive Director, SOAR (0547U) - Richmond Field Station #89633

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Departmental Overview

The Executive Director, SOAR provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for SOAR (Student Organized Applied Research), a major applied engineering and experiential research program operating at the Richmond Field Station (RFS). The program supports Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) conducting complex technical and engineering projects that intersect with research, innovation, and experiential learning within the College of Engineering.

This role independently directs the development, administration, and long-term strategy of the SOAR program, establishing policies, operational systems, and governance frameworks that enable student-led engineering activities to operate safely, responsibly, and in alignment with campus research and infrastructure priorities.

The Executive Director develops and implements program strategies, oversees program administration and staffing, manages program resources, and coordinates across multiple campus units including faculty research groups, campus safety organizations, facilities teams, and external partners. The role represents the program to campus leadership and external stakeholders and contributes to the broader development of applied research and innovation activity at RFS.

Through strategic program leadership and operational development, the Executive Director advances SOAR as a nationally recognized model for undergraduate experiential engineering and applied research engagement.

Position Summary

The Executive Director provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for SOAR (Student Organized Applied Research), a major applied engineering and experiential research program operating at the Richmond Field Station (RFS). This position independently directs the development, administration, and long-term strategy of the SOAR program, establishing policies, operational systems, and governance frameworks that enable student-led engineering activities to operate safely, responsibly, and in alignment with campus research and infrastructure priorities.

The Executive Director develops and implements program strategies, oversees program administration and staffing, manages program resources, and coordinates across multiple campus units including faculty research groups, campus safety organizations, facilities teams, and external partners. By representing the program to campus leadership and external stakeholders, this position contributes to the broader development of applied research and innovation activity at RFS. Through strategic program leadership and operational development, the Executive Director advances SOAR as a nationally recognized model for undergraduate experiential engineering and applied research engagement.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: November 4, 2026 - Open Until Filled

For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Strategic Program Leadership & Governance - 25%

• Provides long- and short-range strategic planning for SOAR and applied innovation infrastructure at RFS.
• Establishes governance frameworks for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) conducting applied engineering activities.
• Develops and implements operational policies aligned with RFS modernization, consolidation, and research priorities.
• Determines program objectives and performance metrics with campus-wide operational impact.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management - 25%

• Establishes and enforces safety standards and compliance protocols for student led engineering activities.
• Develops and oversees training, certification, and authorization systems governing equipment use and technical operations.
• Coordinates with EH&S, Risk & Compliance, UCPD, and Facilities to ensure regulatory alignment and risk mitigation.
• Proactively assesses operational risks and implements systems to protect personnel, facilities, and institutional assets.

Management of Human, Financial & Physical Resources - 15%

• Directly manages SOAR professional and student staff, including HR-related decisions consistent with campus policies and/or the ability to learn.
• Makes recommendations and implements decisions affecting staffing levels, operational budgets, equipment resources, and space allocation.
• Oversees resource planning for applied engineering facilities and ensures responsible stewardship of physical infrastructure.
• Reviews and approves operational expenditures and resource deployment to achieve program objectives.

Applied Engineering Infrastructure & Systems Oversight - 15%

• Develops and maintains scalable operational systems governing access control, training verification, equipment eligibility, and supervised technical activities.
• Ensures engineering activities meet institutional and regulatory requirements for safe operation of facilities and equipment.
• Produces structured reports for RFS and College leadership regarding utilization, safety metrics, compliance status, and operational impact.

Richmond Field Station (RFS) Executive Management - 15%

• Designs, implements, and maintains shared operational systems for RFS, including access management tools, reservation platforms, workflow automation, and usersupport systems serving research, student, startup, and partner activities.
• Coordinates use of shared RFS facilities and resources by identifying and resolving operational conflicts involving space allocation, safety requirements, scheduling constraints, and overlapping activity between student organizations, research groups, startups, and external users.
• Facilitates partnerships and engagement opportunities between RFS stakeholders by coordinating interactions among students, faculty, industry partners, development teams, researchers, and site leadership to support educational, research, and fundraising initiatives.
• Identifies operational gaps and emerging community needs at RFS, and leads development of new programs, policies, and processes that improve user experience, increase operational efficiency, and support long-term growth of the RFS community.

Cross-Unit & Institutional Representation - 5%

• Serves as point of contact for faculty, industry, RSOs, and campus partners regarding applied engineering infrastructure at RFS.
• Represents the program and RFS interests at meetings concerning operational strategy, research initiatives, and applied innovation.
• Contributes to strategic planning for site-wide active occupancy, modernization efforts, and applied research integration.

Required Qualifications

• Academic background and recognized expertise in selected area of research.
• Demonstrated expertise with program building within a leading academic institution for handling administrative, budgetary, human resources and financial principles and practices and/or the ability to learn.
• Expert oral and written communication skills.
• Expert ability to think creatively and independently on concepts requiring advanced analytical skills.
• Expert interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups to achieve results.
• Expert ability to work collaboratively with dynamic and diverse group of faculty, staff and students.
• Expert fundraising experience.
• Expert negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated expertise building collaborations between academia, industrial and / or governmental agencies.
• Leadership experience in academic and / or government agencies.
• Thorough knowledge of engineering operations within academic instructional lab and research environments.
• Advanced knowledge of safety compliance, risk management systems, and operational governance in technical facilities.
• Demonstrated management skills associated with oversight of multi-unit technical operations.
• Advanced decision-making and problem-solving skills with high-impact consequences.
• Thorough knowledge of HR practices, fiscal planning, and resource allocation in a university setting and/or the ability to learn.
• Excellent collaboration, facilitation, and communication skills to convey complex technical and policy matters to diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to manage engineering-related initiatives and resources to ensure goals and institutional objectives are achieved.
• Ability to advise senior management on operational strategy affecting multiple functional areas.

Education / Training

• Doctorate in related area and / or equivalent experience training
• Advanced degree in engineering, applied sciences, technology management, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience (Preferred)

Licenses / Certifications

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (General Industry) or equivalent workplace safety certification
• First Aid/CPR certification

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $115,800 - $196,000 yearly ($9,650 to $16,333,33 monthly).

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.