The Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools (CYFS), in partnership with the College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), seeks an accomplished research leader to serve as Director. This opportunity is ideally suited for a senior principal investigator or current research center director with a strong record of externally funded, interdisciplinary research and experience leading a large, complex research enterprise.
CYFS is a nationally recognized, revenue-generating research center advancing high-impact scholarship in the social, behavioral, and educational sciences. For more than two decades, CYFS has played a central role in driving research excellence, external funding, and interdisciplinary collaboration across the University of Nebraska system. As the sole collegewide research center in CEHS, CYFS provides critical research infrastructure and expert pre- and post-award grantsmanship support—driving faculty productivity, securing competitive external funding, promoting research partnerships, and ensuring high-impact research implementation and outcomes. Learn more at cyfs.unl.edu.
Why this role, why now.
CYFS is entering a pivotal leadership transition following more than two decades of sustained growth and success under its founding director. The Center is financially stable, highly productive, and supported by an experienced research and administrative team. At a time when federal funding increasingly favors interdisciplinary, multi-institutional research, this role offers a rare opportunity for an established leader to build on a strong foundation, scale major research initiatives, and shape the next phase of CYFS’s national impact. The Director will provide strategic leadership for a mature, high-performing research organization operating in an increasingly competitive federal funding environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Sustaining and expanding external funding.
- Guiding long-term strategic planning.
- Strengthening interdisciplinary research collaborations.
- Overseeing fiscal and administrative operations.
- Positioning CYFS for continued growth, visibility, and scholarly impact.
- Play a central role in shaping research priorities and mentoring research faculty and staff.
- Cultivating internal and external partnerships at the university, community, state, and national levels.
The position is expected to be a fiscal year (FY) appointment with a split FTE of up to 0.75 FTE as Director, apportioned as 100% administration and supported with an administrative stipend. The position is expected to have an apportionment that is aligned with teaching a minimum of one course a year. The Director will report to the CEHS Dean and will hold a faculty appointment within CEHS, commensurate with disciplinary background and scholarly accomplishments. The successful candidate should have academic and scholarly achievements that support the rank of Full Professor with tenure, according to CEHS and UNL standards. In addition to providing administrative and strategic leadership for the Center, the Director is expected to maintain an active program of externally funded research and to lead CYFS faculty, staff, and university-wide affiliates in advancing a vibrant, interdisciplinary research enterprise with sustained national prominence.
Minimum Required Qualifications
- Earned doctorate in a discipline aligned with the social, behavioral, or educational sciences.
- Academic and scholarly achievements that support the rank of full professor with tenure, according to CEHS and UNL qualifications and standards, including peer-reviewed publications and sustained contributions to the candidate’s field(s).
- Evidence of success and established record in obtaining and managing externally funded research.
- Established record serving as principal investigator or co–principal investigator on competitively awarded grants from external sources, including but not limited to federal agencies.
- Demonstrated research leadership experience, such as directing a research center, institute, or large program of research; or leading multi-investigator and/or interdisciplinary research initiatives.
- Proven ability to mentor and support staff and colleagues across the career span.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with an emphasis on communication with a variety of stakeholder groups (faculty, staff, administrators, funding agencies, and external partners).
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading and managing a complex research enterprise, including managing financial, physical, and human resources.
- Demonstrated skill in working across disciplinary and programmatic boundaries.
- Experience with proposal development, submission, and post-award oversight for complex research projects.
Application Process
Review of applications begins May 21, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. To view full details and to apply, visit https://employment.unl.edu, F_260041. Applicants will be required to upload the following documents:
- Letter of application with brief narrative addressing qualifications for the position.
- Contact information for three professional references that can speak to your abilities to carry out the responsibilities of the position. Please include mailing address, phone number, and email.
- Three samples of professional scholarly materials. Combine into a single document for upload.
For more information, contact Dr. Lorey Wheeler, Search Committee Chair via email at [email protected].
The College of Education and Human Sciences strives to be a vibrant, welcoming, and caring community driven by our mission to enhance the lives of individuals, families, schools, and communities, and strengthening the relationships among them.
The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/.
