Director, Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI)
Job no: 529952
Position type: Staff Full Time
Benefit Status: Benefited-Non-Union
Campus: UMass Lowell
Department: Toxic Use Reduction Institute
Salary: See posting section for salary range details.
Applications Open: Jun 12 2026
Applications Close: Open until filled
General Summary of Position:
The Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI), a renowned research, practice, and education institute located at UMass Lowell in the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, is seeking a collaborative leader to serve as its next Director, and to provide strategic, organizational, and fiscal leadership to the Institute.
Established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1989 as part of the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA), the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) has a mandate to help protect workers, communities and the environment from toxic chemicals and pollution. Working at the intersection of and in close collaboration with businesses of all sizes, as well as government agencies, local communities and international organizations, TURI’s work supports actions to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in manufacturing. With these partners, TURI helps identify actions companies and communities can take to protect workers and public health. It does this by promoting adoption of toxics use reduction, pollution prevention, and safer chemistry through education and training, policy advocacy, research, laboratory services, provision of information and technical support for companies and communities, and grants to industry, academic researchers, and community and governmental organizations.
TURI is entering a new, exciting phase in its history as it establishes an affiliation with UMass Lowell’s Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy, which is the university’s epicenter for sustainability, safer materials, climate change and renewable energy. For close to a decade, the Rist Institute has led efforts to establish UMass Lowell as a go-to location for energy and sustainability partnerships. Recently reflected in the university’s Platinum AASHE STARS rating, UMass Lowell is the only campus to have achieved this recognition in Massachusetts and one of only fourteen globally.
Building on UMass Lowell and TURI’s track record of excellence in environmental protection, alternatives assessment, and advanced materials and manufacturing, the Rist Institute is actively building a new research and engagement center focused on sustainable materials. Leveraging opportunities from growing research capacity, outstanding industry engagement, and national and international relevance it is envisioned that the new TURI Director will have an important role to play in advancing TURI’s work and prominence through close internal and external collaboration with the Rist Institute. More information on the Rist Institute is available here.
The TURI Director reports to the Dean of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences and oversees a staff of fifteen and a budget of approximately $1.6M. The Director will provide high-level strategic, organizational, and fiscal leadership for the Institute in collaboration with TURI’s dedicated and passionate professional staff and affiliated UMass Lowell faculty. The ideal candidate will have an inclusive, participatory, and transparent leadership style and the ability to protect and steward TURI’s mission and stellar accomplishments, elevate and expand its impact, support and invest in staff, and position the Institute for balanced growth through new, strategic collaborations.
