Director of Engineering Programs

The Opportunity

Briar Cliff University invites applications for the inaugural position of Founding Director of Engineering Programs a full-time 12-month faculty-administrator reporting directly to the Provost.

This is a rare opportunity for an entrepreneurial academic or practitioner-educator to build something meaningful from the ground up. The Founding Director will establish the academic operational and relational infrastructure of BCUs engineering program at a moment of genuine institutional momentum. The right candidate is someone who is energized not intimidated by a blank canvas: someone who can manage the complexity of a dual-degree partnership earn the trust of regional employers recruit and mentor students and lay the groundwork for a program that grows in depth and regional relevance year over year.

BCU is not looking for a program manager. It is looking for a founder.

About the Engineering Program

Briar Cliff University has launched an innovative dual-degree engineering program in partnership with the University of North Dakota (UND) College of Engineering & Mines one of the nations leading engineering colleges and a top-five nationally ranked online university. Through this partnership facilitated by the Lower Cost Models for Independent Colleges Consortium (LCMC) BCU students earn two bachelors degrees simultaneously: a B.S. in Mathematics or a natural science from BCU and an ABET-accredited B.S. in Engineering from UND.

Students may pursue engineering degrees in mechanical civil electrical or chemical engineering. The program is completed in five years: the first two years focus on foundational mathematics science and general education coursework at BCU; UND engineering coursework (taken online) is integrated beginning in year two and increases in the final years. Engineering students remain fully enrolled at BCU throughout the program pay tuition to BCU and are eligible for BCU financial aid and NAIA athletics.

BCU is actively developing its own introductory engineering course offerings delivered at BCU and accepted by UND in transfer deepening students academic experience and reducing tuition exported to UND. The program has the strong backing of regional corporate partners and community stakeholders who see BCU as a critical source of locally educated engineering talent for the Siouxland region. As enrollment and industry partnerships grow the engineering faculty and curriculum will expand accordingly.

Primary Responsibilities

Program Administration & Partnership Management

• Serve as BCUs primary liaison to the University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines and to RIZE Education/LCMC the consortium manager for the dual-degree partnership.
• Oversee articulation agreements between BCU and UND ensuring transfer credit evaluations degree plans and course equivalencies remain current and aligned with both institutions requirements.
• Coordinate with the BCU Registrar Financial Aid and Business Office to ensure accurate enrollment reporting tuition billing and financial aid eligibility for program students.
• Develop and maintain program-specific policies handbooks and academic calendars that reflect the dual-institution nature of students coursework.
• Prepare regular reports for the Provost on program enrollment student academic progress retention graduation outcomes and partnership health.
• Collaborate with BCUs math and natural science faculty whose courses serve as prerequisites and co-requirements for the engineering degrees.

Instruction & Curriculum Development

• Teach one two courses per semester in foundational engineering at BCU which may include Engineering Statics Dynamics Thermodynamics Introduction to Circuits Engineering Graphics/CAD and Introduction to Engineering; course
• assignments will reflect the significant administrative and program-building demands of the role.
• Work with UND faculty to identify additional courses suitable for development at BCU building a multi-year curriculum roadmap that progressively grows BCUs instructional footprint.
• Design courses using current pedagogical best practices for undergraduate engineering education with attention to applied and experiential learning.
• Develop syllabi learning outcomes and assessments that satisfy both BCUs academic standards and UNDs transfer equivalency requirements.

Student Recruitment & Enrollment

• Serve as the primary academic spokesperson for the engineering program in all recruiting contexts campus visits high school outreach college fairs and regional events.
• Build and sustain relationships with high school counselors STEM educators and regional workforce development organizations to develop a strong student pipeline.
• Identify articulation opportunities with regional community colleges that could expand the programs reach and create accessible pathways into engineering for Siouxland students.
• Collaborate with BCUs Admissions Office on recruitment communications and develop compelling program marketing materials.

Academic Advising & Student Success

• Serve as the primary academic advisor for all engineering students maintaining individualized dual-degree plans aligned with requirements at both BCU and UND.
• Conduct regular advising appointments each semester; proactively identify and support students who are struggling academically.
• Provide or coordinate supplemental tutoring and academic support in engineering and mathematics.
• Prepare students for required on-campus summer laboratory experiences at UND including guidance on registration logistics and academic preparation.
• Foster a strong sense of community and professional identity among engineering students including co-curricular programming and career development activities.

Industry & Community Engagement

• Identify cultivate and sustain relationships with regional manufacturers engineering firms and workforce partners who can provide internship placements applied learning opportunities and career pathways for BCU graduates.
• Work with BCUs Career Services office to develop structured internship experiences integrated into students degree plans.
• Engage with regional economic development organizations and chambers of commerce to raise BCUs profile as a source of engineering talent and to align program growth with documented workforce needs.
• Advocate for the retention of BCU graduates within the Siouxland region connecting students early with local career opportunities and positioning BCU as a regional workforce asset.

Institutional Participation

• Participate actively in BCU faculty governance committee work and shared governance processes.
• Represent the Engineering Department in institutional planning processes including enrollment management academic program review and strategic planning.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Provost.

Qualifications

Required

• A masters degree or higher in an engineering discipline or closely related field. Equivalent professional preparation a combination of relevant academic credentials licensure and demonstrated applied experience will be considered in lieu of advanced degrees for candidates with an exceptional track record.
• Demonstrated ability to teach at the undergraduate level in engineering or related STEM coursework.
• Ability to teach across multiple foundational engineering subject areas.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with students faculty administrators and external partners
• Demonstrated commitment to student success mentoring and the development of supportive academic communities.
• A self-starting entrepreneurial orientation: the ability to build programs forge relationships and take initiative in an environment without established infrastructure.
• Alignment with BCUs Catholic Franciscan mission and values.

Preferred

• Background in or professional exposure to advanced manufacturing industrial automation mechatronics or related applied engineering fields.
• Experience in or familiarity with Industry 4.0 concepts including automation systems programmable logic controllers (PLCs) systems integration or digital manufacturing environments.
• An established professional network among regional manufacturers engineering firms or workforce development organizations particularly in agri-industrial food processing or advanced manufacturing sectors.
• Experience with academic program development department administration or launch of new academic initiatives.
• Familiarity with ABET accreditation standards and processes.
• Experience advising undergraduate students in engineering or STEM fields.
• Knowledge of dual-degree articulation or inter-institutional partnership structures; experience working with community colleges on transfer pathways is a plus.
• Familiarity with industry certification ecosystems relevant to applied engineering (e.g. PLC programming credentials OSHA safety standards CAD/design software certifications).
• Professional Engineering (P.E.) licensure or meaningful industry experience that would lend credibility in employer engagement contexts.
• Experience with online or hybrid course delivery.

About Briar Cliff University and Sioux City

Founded in 1930 by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family and rooted in the Catholic Franciscan tradition Briar Cliff University is a vibrant values-based community dedicated to academic excellence and personal growth. Located on the scenic Loess Hills overlooking the Missouri River The Cliff maintains a tight-knit learning environment with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Academically the university offers over 30 undergraduate programs and several respected graduate degrees including regionally recognized programs in Nursing Physical Therapy and Sports Management. Our commitment to the student-athlete experience is equally robust; as members of the NAIA and GPAC the Chargers have earned 19 conference championships and were recently honored as an NAIA Champions of Character Gold Level institution.

A city of 85000 stretching across the corners of Iowa South Dakota and Nebraska (referred to as Siouxland) Sioux City is nestled along the Sioux River approximately 90 miles from both Omaha NE and Sioux Falls SD. The city offers a vibrant friendly community with a cost of living that is attractive for families and individuals alike. Sioux City possesses a bustling riverfront a lively downtown arts and entertainment scene numerous parks and rich cultural opportunities combining small-town charm with the amenities of a larger metropolitan area. As a regional hub for business and culture the city features over 50 parks the historic Orpheum Theatre Tyson Events Center and a mix of national retailers and award-winning local favorites. Sioux City has twice been named an All-America City highlighting its strong community and significant quality of life.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time 12-month position. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. BCU offers a competitive benefits package including health insurance retirement contributions and tuition benefits.

Application Process

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications received by May 31 2026 will receive full consideration. BCU is committed to a timely search and hopes to have the Founding Director in place by July 1 2026.

Applicants should submit the following materials as a single PDF to BCUs application portal:

• A letter of interest describing the alignment of the candidates qualifications with the position requirements
• Current curriculum vitae or professional resume
• A statement of teaching philosophy that also addresses ways in which the candidate supports and sustains BCUs Franciscan values in the classroom
• Graduate and undergraduate transcripts (copies acceptable at this stage)
• Contact information for three professional references

Questions about the position should be directed to . A background check is required as a prerequisite for the position. This position is subject to final budget approval.

Briar Cliff University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race color national origin sex disability age religion or other protected characteristics in its programs or activities.