Executive Director

ACAD PRG MGR 2 (000389)

UCPath Position ID: 40040220

Position Description History/Status

For Reference ONLY - PeopleAdmin JA Number:

1113093

Approved Date:

11/3/2026 4:58:32 PM

Date Last Edited:

11/3/2026 4:58:30 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

4/1/2019

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

3000O

Organization:

CALIFORNIA NANOSYSTEMS INSTITUTE       

Division Code:

3010D

Division:

CNSI                                   

Department:

051800 - CALIF NANOSYSTEMS INSTITUTE

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

40040220

Position Description ID

171263

UC Payroll Title:

ACAD PRG MGR 2 (000389)

Personnel Program

Management and Senior Professional (MSP)

Salary Grade:

Grade 28

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

99: Non-Represented (PPSM)

Employee Relations Code:

A: Manager - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

41188739

Reports to Payroll Title:

DIRECTOR

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

41188739

Department Head Payroll Title:

DIRECTOR

GENERAL DIRECTION - Indicates that the incumbent receives guidance in terms of broad goals and overall objectives and is responsible for establishing the methods to attain them. Generally the incumbent is in charge of an area of work, and typically formulates policy for this area but does not necessarily have final authority for approving policy.

006083

ACAD PRG MGR 1

1

000390

FAC MGR 1

1

006631

ACAD PRG MGT OFCR 3 GF

1

000499

INFO SYS ANL 4

1

007378

ADMIN OFCR 4

1

007710

FINANCIAL ANL 4

1

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director of the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), the Executive Director (ED) will function at a strategic level, partnering with the CNSI Director in leading, visioning and ensuring successful execution of the CNSI mission and strategic plan. The incumbent will be the key interface for UCLA faculty and staff and will serve as the CNSI representative at high level internal and external meetings. The ED will have several administrative and operational units supporting their activities and will configure these units to meet the needs of UCLA faculty and achieve CNSI goals. The ED will engage in business development activities and work to make the CNSI a hub for novel nanotechnology locally, nationally, and internationally.

Established in 2000 as one of the Governor Gray Davis California Institutes for Science and Innovation, the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) is a hub of interdisciplinary research, translation, and education where scientists from diverse fields find common purpose in addressing grand challenges of the 21st century. With locations at the University of California’s Los Angeles and Santa Barbara campuses, the CNSI leverages public and private investment to drive collaborative nanoscience research across disciplines, translates discoveries into knowledge-driven commercial enterprises, and educates the next generation of scientists and engineers.

General Management

1. Oversee administration and operations to support the scientific mission in the following functional areas:  business and financial operations, purchasing, building maintenance and operations, event management, communications, technology development, entrepreneurship and incubator management, development and fundraising activities, human resources and staffing, information technology, and administrative support for research, educational and outreach programs.

2. Advise the Director on all administrative and managerial issues.

3. Manage diversified, all-funds financial resource portfolio for the Institute.:

a) Work to ensure the financial sustainability of CNSI.

b) Prepare annual operating and capital budget.

c) Coordinate requests for the use of Garamendi Funds set aside for use by the CNSI with APB.

d) Act as a liaison with campus financial leadership and APB regarding the financial results and performance of CNSI.

e) Manage the business matters related to sales and service and business contract activities. Supervise and review service and space rental rates associated with Shared Resources, incubators and other CNSI customers.

f) Coordinate, prepare and present requests for funding from Chancellor resources, the Shared Resource Consortium, other campus funding sources and potential external donors and partners.

4. Recruit and supervise directly and through subordinates or faculty advisers all administrative, professional and technical staff employed by CNSI. Supervise a complement of employees with a wide range of skills and needs encompassing administrative and technical positions. Assist the Director in formalizing and documenting academic and programmatic decisions within the CNSI and in collaboration with campus Deans and Chairs.

5. Work closely with Associate Directors to address the operational needs of shared resource labs and other scientific endeavors undertaken by CNSI.

6. Ensure compliance with all requirements of the Cal-lSI charter, UC and UCLA policies and procedures.

7. Contract and grant administration.:

a) Develop administrative and institutional components of Institute and transdisciplinary proposals to extramural funding agencies to establish and support Institute research projects, programs and operations.

b) Coordinate grant proposals that may involve multiple private investigators with Schools and Divisions on the campus.

c) Support the Director in negotiations with Deans to share in indirect cost recovery.

8. Coordinate with Campus Communications for responses to public inquiries related to the Institute. Oversee the maintenance of the Institute's web site.

9. Coordinate administrative needs related to the joint-recruitment of faculty between the CNSI and School/Divisions on the campus including the request of Chancellor funds from the centrally-controlled campus funding pool for faculty start-up costs.

10. Assist in the academic personnel review process for CNSI members and research staff in compliance with the Academic Personnel Manual, The UCLA CALL and other UC and UCLA academic personnel policies and procedures.

11. Negotiate and work with industry partners for direct and in-kind contributions to the Institute.

12. Prepare and coordinate the preparation of all programmatic and financial reporting required by the Institute including annual and ad hoc reports requested by the Chancellor's Office, the State of California, UC Office of the President, industrial partners and extramural funding agencies.

13. Work in partnership with UCLA development personnel to coordinate requests to donors that match the programmatic and financial needs of the Institute.

60%

Strategic Planning and Implementation

1. Continuously integrate the strategic vision of the CNSI Director regarding the scientific and programmatic missions of the Institute with the staff and financial and space resources available.

2. At the request of the Director, periodically develop and update a comprehensive strategic plan in partnership with the Associate Directors, CNSI faculty members, and staff.

3. Update long-range plans as programmatic needs and resources evolve.

20%

Business Development

1. Develop administrative and institutional components of proposals to extramural funding agencies to establish and support Institute research, operations, and programs.

2. Oversee the strategy and management of the CNSI incubator program and related allocated space.

a)  Support early-commercialization development of start-up companies linked to UCLA intellectual property.

b) Develop targeted opportunities for CNSI equity participation in start-up companies in exchange for reduced rent or CNSI Technology Center usage fees.

c) Develop outreach and marketing efforts to expand the user base of the CNSI incubator.

3. In partnership with the Director, make presentations to campus and prospective entrepreneurial partners to provide operational and financial overviews of business development plans and results.

4. Develop, negotiate, and manage new revenue streams generated by the entrepreneurial efforts of CNSI. This includes, but is not limited to: incubators resident in the CNSI, intellectual property generated by CNSI research staff and incubators or in partnership with campus Schools/Divisions, equity participation in future incubator stock offerings, financial investments or partnerships established with UCLA Schools or Divisions or the UC Office of the President.

5. Construct, negotiate, and implement partnerships with corporations. Includes coordinating legal counsel with the UCLA Office of General Counsel and the UC Office of the President.

6. Monitor the development, licensing, and financial performance of patents and copyrights generated from the efforts of the Institute in partnership with the UCLA Office of Intellectual Property Administration.

7. Coordinate, prepare, and present requests for seed funding to the Westwood Technology Transfer Board of Directors.

8. Support the fundraising and donor activities of the CNSI.

20%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree

in Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, Research Administration or in a related field and/or equivalent combination of education and experience/training.

Required

Or

Master's Degree

in a related field and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred

15+ years

progressive experience in executive leadership, organizational management, finance, operations, research administration, innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship programs, economic development, higher education administration, and/or related fields.

Required

Demonstrated problem solving experiences, identifying objectives and using innovation and creativity in planning department policies and activities in resolving problems to satisfy the majority of needs to the greatest extent possible with the resources available.

Required

Perform duties with discretion and respect for faculty and staff and the mission of the University and CNSI in tandem with managing operations and business matters in compliance with University policy.

Required

Proven success in managing a diverse project portfolio that encompasses multiple functional areas, faculty and staff. Ability to manage projects in a timely fashion with constrained financial resources.

Required

Skill to successfully supervise the full spectrum of administrative and technical employees including the creation of job descriptions, employee selection, training, work assignments and review, motivation, all performance appraisals, and career counseling. Demonstrated, in-depth knowledge of state-of-the-art management theories and practices, including personnel guidelines and practices, in academic institutions or public agencies.

Required

Demonstrated experience and working knowledge in the areas of: academic personnel, research, health sciences, student support, gift and endowment management, contract and grants, extramural funding process and pre- and post-award administration, budget and accounting, UC funding and University policies, scenario-based financial modeling, intellectual property, patents and copyrights, building maintenance and safety.

Required

Demonstrated ability in forming and leading groups, providing leadership in formal committees and in ad hoc work groups where problems have to be solved both effectively and efficiently within an environment of policy and financial constraints.

Required

Demonstrated conflict resolutions skills to resolve conflicts among individuals and group in a wide variety of working relationships. Ability to negotiate programmatic and financial matters with outside constituencies, including industry partners.

Required

Demonstrated ability to develop, write and implement comprehensive near-term and long-term strategic plans in collaboration with faculty, research staff and administrative staff. Ability to formulate unified strategy to promote scientific achievements.

Required

Demonstrated ability in translating strategic and tactical operating plans into multi-year operating budgets, and prioritizing budget requests within the context of an organizational mission.

Required

Demonstrated political and negotiating skills to work effectively with employees at all levels, including UCLA campus administration, the Office of the President and sister campus staffs in order to resolve issues effectively to the best advantage/least harm to CNSI and UCLA.

Required

Demonstrated ability to negotiate fair and equitable programmatic and financial arrangements with a diverse set of participants including campus organizations, UC Office of the President, external donors and business partners.

Required

Demonstrated ability to evaluate and/or construct financial partnership agreements including the creation of pro-forma financial models and valuation scenarios.

Required

Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills in English to obtain and convey correct and complete information and concepts to group as well as in one-on-one interactions.

Required

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

CNSI Building

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

X

Bending/Stooping

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

Loud noise levels

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Classification 3:  Position in which exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues is not part of the position description. The normal routine task involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and the employee can decline to perform tasks which involve a perceived risk without retribution.