Executive Director, Batten Institute

The University of Virginia and the Darden School of Business seek a bold and visionary leader to serve as the next Executive Director of the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology. The Executive Director, in consultation with Darden’s Dean and the Academic (Faculty) Directors of the Institute, will set strategic goals aligned with the Institute’s vision to be the pre-eminent source of research, thought leadership and student experiences and career outcomes related to entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology. The Institute is well-positioned for future growth to broaden the Darden School’s ongoing impact globally in these critical domains, and to ensure Darden itself is a leading-edge business school in these same domains by being a platform of enablement. The ED will be charged with developing a vision, engaging with a broad array of stakeholders, accelerating impact, and increasing visibility of the Darden School.

The ED is responsible for advancing the mission of the Institute and the Darden School through the development and oversight of high-impact academic and student experiential programs in entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology.

The incumbent has overall responsibility for the Institute including strategy, staff, research, programs, financial budget, resources, visibility, and engagement with key internal and external stakeholders. The incumbent will report to the Senior Associate Dean and Chief Strategy Officer and work in close concert with a dotted line and accountability with the Associate Dean and Chief Innovation and Student Engagement Officer from the dean’s office.

The Batten Institute

The Batten Institute was established in 1999, following a $60M gift from entrepreneur and philanthropist Frank Batten Sr. At the time that it was announced, this was the largest gift in the history of Darden, the history of UVA, and the largest gift ever contributed to a business school across the world. This generous support was to enable Darden to become a global leader in the new venture capital-enabled entrepreneurial economy through a focus on education and thought leadership in innovation and technology. Mr. Batten saw the ongoing economic and technological revolution at the time driving ongoing change for business and established the Batten Institute to position Darden as a leader in preparing global leaders for what others would describe as the third industrial revolution. It would allow Darden to remain competitive as a world-class educator and to have significant impact on business leadership and performance. The gift was intended to position the Darden School as a leader among top business schools in preparing students as entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, technologists and innovators. With this gift, Darden, via the Batten Institute, was positioned to connect with innovative firms in Virginia, DC Metro and globally.

Today the Batten Institute focuses on transformative learning experiences; enablement of Darden itself as an innovative, entrepreneurial, and technologically advanced institution; student/alumni engagement and career support; and groundbreaking research that informs business practice and engagement with leaders in entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, and venture capital. The Institute has a 20+ year history of nurturing the most promising business ideas and concepts, as well as attracting impressive faculty, including executives whose practitioner experiences extend learning beyond conventional thought and practice. Through current programs and initiatives including the iLab at Darden, Venture Capital Initiative, Collaboratory for Data Science in Business with the UVA School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Initiative, the Batten Institute fuels cutting-edge education and study. Furthermore, Batten Fellowships for entrepreneurship, innovation and technology provide scholarship support and other resources for students to study at Darden.

The endowment of the Batten Institute exceeds $150M as of 2021. The high-level strategic deployment of financial resources is managed by and with the dean’s office in collaboration with the executive director, given the integration of the Institute across many dimensions of Darden. The Institute works collaboratively with schools, centers, and foundations across UVA, as well as beyond the University. Charlottesville boasts a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem , and Darden’s presence in the Washington, DC area provides additional opportunity.

Key ResponsibilitiesStrategy & Innovation

• As a senior leader at the Darden School, develop the strategic vision and plan for the Batten Institute in consultation with the Darden Dean and Institute’s Academic Advisors.
• Help seek and secure resources necessary for the fulfillment of the Batten Institute’s mission beyond those funds annually provided from the endowment through sponsorships, gifts, and other revenue-generating programs.
• Support education and experiential learning for current Darden students and others in our community who aspire to grow as leaders in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology. Promote and award scholarships, classes, workshops, competitions, internships, fellowships, and a variety of hands-on learning opportunities in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology.
• Help enable innovation and entrepreneurship at Darden itself, as well as the use of technology enablement (including the use of data analytics) to advance the school’s mission
• Support the enablement of student and alumni career processes, outcomes, and success in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, and venture capital consistent with being a top business school.
• Support the development of outstanding physical spaces in Darden’s master plan related to the Institute’s mission
• Advance entrepreneurial leadership at Darden through rigorous and relevant research in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology that aims to have impact for business practice and policy.
• Partner with leaders of other Darden Centers of Excellence including the Mayo Center for Asset Management and Institute for Business in Society to foster cross-disciplinary programming and leadership in areas such as venture capital, private equity, artificial intelligence, etc.
• Develop and support programs and initiatives that further academic scholarship and practitioner interaction, including faculty fellowships (for both tenure track and general faculty), summer support, research grants, conferences, publications, and events.

Engagement

• Raise the awareness, stature, and network of the Institute, Darden, and the University of Virginia by developing programs and thought leadership activities that contribute to the global conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology.
• Engage closely with business practice through fellows programs that bring senior leaders into engagement with the school and roundtables, conferences and other engagements.
• Work with the CDC and the Chief Innovation and Student Engagement Officer to ensure world-class corporate contacts for recruiting
• Seek, support, and promote engagement with faculty, staff, students and others across the enterprise, other schools, institutes, and centers at the University of Virginia, as well as the leadership of the University.
• Contribute to the intellectual agenda of the Institute, representing the University, Darden and Batten to scholars, students, alumni, thought leaders, and the general public through original research, graduate courses, seminars, presentations, interviews, articles, op-eds, and features written for the Institute’s own media outlets.

Management

• Oversee all day-to-day operations of the Institute.
• Oversee the annual budgeting process for the Institute based on the allocation of financial resources from the endowment to support Institute activities; may also include occasional cases for investment, determined in consultation with the Senior Associate Dean and Chief Strategy Officer and the Dean of the Darden School.
• Foster an inclusive and collaborative community through professional initiatives that allow us to attract, retain, and develop outstanding talent.
• Uphold mission integrity, operational excellence, and exceptional talent.
• Be a strong steward of the endowed resources that support the mission of the Batten Institute, holding to the highest standard of integrity (i.e., adherence to donor intent), operational excellence, and professionalism.

Candidate Profile

Professional Experience

We seek a dynamic candidate with a demonstrated record of creative, inspiring, and accomplished leadership; someone with exceptional integrity who possesses the highest level of commitment to advancing organizational priorities and whose previous experience is consistent with the University’s commitment to be both great and good. Although the University will consider a range of profiles, expressions of interest are sought from candidates with the following experience:

• Demonstrated results for achieving metrics-driven goals through systemic development with educational or similar organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate the activities of multiple parties to achieve desired objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to shape strategic initiatives and ensure successful execution against agreed-on plans and objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to translate thoughts and directives from several areas into a cohesive plan of action.
• Ability to translate research created by faculty that demonstrates relevance for practitioners.
• Ability to drive results, without direct hierarchical control.
• Ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and outside stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to get results through creating and sustaining a high-performing team in a matrix environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a matrix organization and to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders and build relationships.
• Ability to develop and leverage an entrepreneurial network and build new networks across and outside of their own organization.
• Experience managing budget processes and procedures.
• Demonstrated success in building an entrepreneurial ecosystem preferred.

Required Qualifications

• At least 15 years of relevant experience required.
• Master’s degree required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a venture, executive, and/or academic setting at a top organization.
• Experience managing a significant organization, large team and/or major initiative/department.
• MBA or another relevant terminal degree (JD, EdD, PhD).

Interpersonal Characteristics

• Visionary leader with ability to think strategically, combined with understanding of day-day operations and capacity to execute.
• Bold and innovative, while also being exceptionally collaborative.
• Ability to tolerate ambiguity, work in a matrix with multiple stakeholders, and to be a servant leader.
• Highest level of integrity.
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities; self-directed and motivated.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a high level of emotional intelligence.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; ability to deliver a clear and compelling message.
• Committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment.
• Belief in the mission of the Darden School, and passion for the University of Virginia.

To Apply or Nominate

UVA Executive Search Group, an internal search firm in the Office of the President, is assisting in the recruitment of the next Executive Director of the Batten Institute. Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to AJ Davidson at [email protected] .

To apply, submit a letter of interest and resume via Workday. The search will be carried out with full confidentiality. Additional information can be found at: http://executivesearch.virginia.edu/searches .

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The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person’s perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.