Director of Research & Innovation

Director of Research & Innovation

The Cape Eleuthera Institute

(2026)

Overview of The Island School

The Island School operates as a close-knit, mission-driven, island-based educational community. Collaboration, flexibility, and shared responsibility are central to our work and life on campus.

Team members work closely across programs, age groups, and departments, supporting colleagues to deliver excellent educational experiences through interdisciplinary learning, shared supervision, and community events. 

This community-based approach is a defining feature of employment at The Island School

The Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) is the hub for primary research and innovation at The Island School, located in South Eleuthera, The Bahamas. We are internationally recognized for our environmental research and education programs, facilitated by outstanding access to a range of tropical habitats.

Working in conjunction with The Island School, Deep Creek Middle School, and our Elementary Learning Center, CEI creates a connection between people and the environment as a path toward a more sustainable future. Our collaborative approach with the local community, along with a diverse network of national and international partners, allows us to address contemporary issues related to marine conservation, food security, sustainable infrastructure, and nature-based tourism.

Job Summary

The Director of the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) is a senior scientific and management role for a research-driven leader ready to expand the Institute’s global impact and funding portfolio. This position offers the opportunity to shape CEI’s long-term research and innovation strategy, strengthen domestic and international collaborations, and position the Institute as a leading center for applied conservation science and sustainable development in The Bahamas.

Working in partnership with senior leadership and supported by a Board-level Scientific Advisory Committee, the Director will provide strategic and operational leadership across CEI’s research programs, innovation initiatives, facilities, and staff. The Director will define and advance priority research areas, ensuring scientific excellence, relevance, and alignment with emerging global challenges such as climate resilience, marine conservation, and sustainable resource management.

A central focus of this role is building CEI’s external research network and funding capacity. The Director will actively cultivate partnerships with local and international universities, research institutions, NGOs, and multilateral organizations, while leading efforts to secure competitive scientific grants and philanthropic research funding. This includes developing collaborative proposals, strengthening CEI’s grant infrastructure, and expanding multi-institution research initiatives.

The Director will maintain an active portfolio of research and innovation projects, setting a strong example through scholarly leadership, applied outcomes, and externally funded programs. They will also oversee effective business and operational management of the Institute to ensure research programs are well supported.

As CEI’s senior scientific ambassador, the Director will represent the Institute at international conferences, research convenings, and strategic forums, elevating visibility, credibility, and influence across the global research community. This role is well suited to a leader who combines scientific credibility with institutional leadership experience and a strong track record of building partnerships and attracting research funding.

In addition to full-time applicants, the School is open to considering a one-year or temporary appointment for candidates with particularly exceptional experience, such as those on sabbatical or in a visiting capacity. Such appointments would be considered especially favorable when they strengthen long-term research partnerships and institutional collaborations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Provide overall leadership for CEI operations, programs, facilities, and staff, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and long-term research strategy.
• Oversee budgets, project portfolios, and resources across CEI’s core focus areas, including marine conservation, food security, sustainable infrastructure (energy, waste, water), and nature-based tourism.
• Oversee administrative functions, compliance, reporting, and institutional coordination with senior leadership and the Board.

Research Leadership & Program Development

• Define and advance CEI’s applied research and innovation agenda, ensuring scientific rigor, relevance, and impact.
• Maintain an active, externally funded research program within a specialized discipline, including project design, implementation, and dissemination.
• Lead publication efforts across peer-reviewed journals, technical reports, and public-facing science communication.
• Ensure all regulatory, permitting, and ethical research requirements are met.

External Partnerships & Funding Growth

• Build and sustain strategic partnerships with international universities, research institutions, NGOs, and funding organizations.
• Lead efforts to secure competitive scientific grants, philanthropic research funding, and collaborative project support.
• Strengthen CEI’s grant development pipeline, including proposal development, donor reporting, and multi-institution collaborations.

Scientific Representation & Institutional Visibility

• Serve as CEI’s senior scientific representative at national and international conferences, convenings, and stakeholder engagements.
• Elevate CEI’s profile and credibility within the global research and conservation community.
• Support visiting scientists, graduate students, and institutional collaborators through coordinated logistics and program integration.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Recruit, mentor, and manage research and program staff, fostering a high-performance, collaborative research culture.
• Support professional development in grant writing, project management, and scholarly publishing.
• Provide leadership and guidance to fundraising and research teams to strengthen institutional capacity.

Education & Research Integration

• Oversee the integration of CEI research into student-facing programs at the Island School, including leadership of the Semester Student Research curriculum.
• Guide curriculum-aligned research project development in collaboration with education teams and instructional leadership.
• Lead planning and delivery of CEI’s biannual Research Symposium.

Please note that this job description does not contain a comprehensive listing of activities,

duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee for this job. Duties and

responsibilities may change at any time, with the needs of the organization.

Skills and Qualifications

• Education – PhD preferred in a relevant scientific discipline, or equivalent in another field
• Teaching – Prior teaching experience, preferably across different age groups
• Grantsmanship - Proficient in grant writing and a demonstrated track record of successfully obtaining funding.
• Scientific Process - experience in study design, execution, data analyses, and manuscript preparation, with a strong publication history
• Scientific leadership - Management of research teams, laboratories, and overlapping projects. Proven ability to mentor researchers and cultivate collaborative, inclusive research environments.
• Communication Skills – Confident in public speaking and verbal presentation of work. Can adapt communication style to different educational audiences.
• Adaptability – Able to thrive in a small and tight-knit community located in a remote part of The Bahamas.
• Commitment to Organizational Mission – this position requires commitment to the wider mission and values of The Island School.

Schedule

This is a full-time position with annual review. The Cape Eleuthera Institute operates year-round and working hours vary depending on needs but are typically Monday-Friday (40 hours/week).  The integration of CEI with The Island School often requires evening and weekend work which will be required on occasion. Special events will require periods of time outside of normal working hours when staff must be on site for extended periods. The successful candidate should expect, and desire, to work a variable and mission driven schedule.

Compensation

• Annual base salary commensurate with experience
• 100% Employer sponsored, comprehensive health insurance for employee, spouse and minor dependents 
• School provided housing - fully furnished on-campus or school managed accommodation 
• Paid leave 
• Access to subsidized schooling for employee children PreK - Grade 9
• Access to company retirement plan with company matching after 2 years of continuous service 
• Access to an extensive network of thought leaders, researchers, innovators, and institutional partners in The Bahamas and internationally
• Beyond financial compensation, this role offers:
  • The opportunity to live and lead within a purpose-driven island community
  • Daily engagement with environmental stewardship and marine conservation
  • Meaningful work that integrates education, research, and global sustainability
  • The ability to shape the future of experiential learning and research in The Bahamas and beyond