Associate Professor or Professor and Director, National Center for Integrated Coastal Research

Unleash Your Potential With Us

As a next-generation public research institution, we are an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to shape the future and solve the world's most challenging problems. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you become an integral part of our mission to become a university for the future. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with uniquely talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses and regional locations. That means greater challenges to tackle, more meaningful opportunities to grow, and rewarding experiences that go beyond a paycheck.

The Opportunity

The National Center for Integrated Coastal Research (UCF Coastal) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) seeks a dynamic and innovative leader to serve as its director. This is a full-time, 12-month, tenured associate professor or professor position, anticipated to begin Fall 2024.

UCF Coastal integrates science with societal needs to find solutions. Our team of interdisciplinary scientists is committed to an evidence-based, whole-community approach to increase the resiliency and sustainability of coastal communities by bringing together biologists, chemists, engineers, emergency managers, geographers, sociologists, political scientists, medical researchers, economists, and urban planners. Responsible management of Florida's exceptional coastal resources and ocean-based economy depends on innovative scientific research to address complex environmental, economic, and social challenges. UCF Coastal's goal is to link the ecological security of coastal ecosystems with the economic security of coastal communities, ensuring the sustainability of our coastlines and economy for generations to come. )

UCF Coastal is committed to excellence and innovation on a large scale that leads to positive societal impacts. With this commitment in mind, we are seeking an experienced candidate to provide administrative leadership; establish and expand external and community partnerships; fundraise and facilitate large-scale grant funding proposals; develop programs of individual and collaborative research; support and mentor faculty to seek and obtain external funding; and promote a collegial and collaborative environment.

The selected candidate will report directly to the vice president of Research and select one of the following colleges as a home unit:

• College of Sciences
• College of Engineering and Computer Science
• College of Community Innovation and Education
• College of Business Administration
• Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• College of Medicine

The selected candidate will sustain and refine UCF Coastal's mission by:

• Leading a world-class effort to assess natural and human-related impacts to the health, restoration and sustainability of coastal systems and infrastructure.
• Conducting long-term, integrated, multi-disciplinary research with strategic external partners.
• Communicating findings in an effective and efficient way to advance scientific inquiry, support resource conservation and management and assist policy makers.
• Communicating information to the public.
• Training the next generation of scientists to enter the workforce as effective researchers and science emissaries, with interdisciplinary skills that can bridge the gap between science and society, serving as translators and communicators.

Located in Orlando, Florida, UCF is classified as a Very High Research Activity (R1) university by the Carnegie Foundation. With a diverse student body of more than 68,000 students, UCF is one of the largest universities in the United States and offers more than 240 degree programs. UCF is committed to diversity and was designated a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2019. For more information, visit

Minimum Qualifications:

A Ph.D., terminal degree, or foreign degree equivalent from an accredited institution in an area appropriate to UCF Coastal. The selected candidate must also have a demonstrated record of high impact research related to coastal systems demonstrated by a strong scholarly and funding record that is commensurate with rank in a department/school related to the candidate's area of expertise.

In order to obtain tenure, the selected candidate must have a demonstrated record of teaching, research and service commensurate with rank in a department/school related to the candidate's area of expertise.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior work experiences in academia, or with state or federal agencies focused on coastal management or policy issues (e.g., NOAA, USGS, and FEMA).
• Proven success in building partnerships with local, state, and federal partners.
• A history of working with research teams, especially teams that span multiple disciplines.
• Demonstrated leadership experience.
• Record of success managing an academic program or research center.
• Experience establishing and fostering strong private sector and community/nonprofit partnerships.
• Fundraising and/or successful grant writing experience.
• Proven research success in coastal areas focused on the intersection of climate and hazard impacts to the natural-built environment and human-use system.

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, In addition to the online application, candidates should upload a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae, a statement of research and leadership experience, a vision statement for the Center, three (3) research publications from the last five (5) years most aligned with this position, and a list with contact information for three (3) professional references.

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to: Professor Claire Connolly Knox at

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

N/A

Job Close Date:

Open until filled.

Note to applicants: Please keep in mind that a job posted as 'Open until filled' may close at any time without notice. As such, we encourage you to submit your application and all required documentation as quickly as possible to ensure consideration for the posted position.

Are Benefits Important to You?

Working at UCF has its perks In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, UCF offers:

• Benefit packages including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, healthcare flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Paid time off, including annual and sick leave and paid holidays.
• Retirement savings options.
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando area attractions.
• Education assistance.
• Flexible work environment.

And more...For more benefits information, go to 'Prospective Employees' on the UCF Human Resources website ).

Who Are We?

Founded in 1963 to fuel the region's talent pipeline and support the growing U.S. space program, UCF is built to make a better future for our students and society. It's one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF among the nation's top 20 most innovative colleges, while Forbes, Kiplinger, and The Princeton Review rank us a best-value university. UCF is one of 14 universities nationwide designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Research 1 university. With 13 colleges, including a fully accredited College of Medicine, UCF offers more than 240 degree programs between its main campus, downtown campus, hospitality campus, academic health sciences campus, and 11 UCF Connect centers located throughout the region. In addition, UCF extends its reach to communities in and beyond Central Florida by offering complete, online programs leading to bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, Ph.D.'s., certificates, and more.

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions

Pursuant to Florida State Statute , prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of higher education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to employment in research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty positions (including employed visiting positions), graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral scholar positions, and undergraduate positions.

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, UCF encourages all qualified applicants to apply, including women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations. UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement can be viewed at

As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.