University of Alaska Anchorage

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) seeks an accomplished and visionary Director to lead a nationally recognized research institute dedicated to informing policy and improving the well-being of Alaskans. Reporting to the UAA Vice Chancellor for Research, the Director will provide strategic, intellectual, and administrative leadership for a multidisciplinary team of approximately 30 faculty, research staff, and student researchers.

For over 65 years, ISER has produced high-quality, policy-relevant research on economic development, natural resource management, health, education, fiscal policy, and Arctic and rural sustainability. The Director will guide the institute’s future research agenda, ensuring it responds nimbly to Alaska’s complex and evolving policy landscape while maintaining ISER’s reputation for rigorous, applied research.

The Director serves as ISER’s principal representative and public voice, promoting the institute’s work, strengthening relationships with policymakers, funders, and partners, and expanding opportunities for external research support. Key responsibilities include developing and executing a strategic plan aligned with UAA priorities; recruiting, mentoring, and supporting faculty and staff; fostering a collaborative and high-performing research environment; and integrating ISER’s work into UAA’s academic, public, and outreach missions.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills; experience securing and managing externally funded research; and a record of policy-oriented, applied scholarship aligned with ISER’s mission. A deep understanding of Alaska’s economy, culturally diverse society, and policy environment—or the ability to quickly develop such understanding—is essential.

UAA is Alaska’s dual-mission university, serving more than 11,000 students across Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska. Anchorage is a vibrant, diverse city offering exceptional cultural amenities and outdoor recreation. This is a unique opportunity to lead a respected research institute at the intersection of scholarship, policy, and public service in the North.