Director (Co-Director)

Note: This is an executive leadership position at WATonomous. Project Directors lead either an administrative vertical or a technical project, reporting directly to the Co-Captains. Previous leadership experience is beneficial but not required per our constitution.

Application Note: You can apply to this role if you demonstrate leadership ability and passion for the project area. You are also welcome to directly contact the current leadership team to express your interest and learn more about available director positions.

Description

WATonomous is seeking passionate leaders to serve as Project Directors or Co-Directors for our various technical projects and administrative divisions. As a Director, you will lead one of our major initiatives—whether that's an autonomous vehicle project, a business operations division, or another key organizational vertical. You'll define goals, manage timelines, oversee team members, and be accountable to the Co-Captains for both project progress and team member well-being.

This role offers an exceptional opportunity to gain hands-on leadership experience while driving innovation in autonomous robotics. Co-Director positions are available to enable collaborative leadership models where two directors share equal authority.

Responsibilities

As a Project Director at WATonomous, you will:

• Strategic Planning: Define goals, timelines, and success metrics for your domain
• Team Leadership: Recruit, manage, and mentor team members within your project
• Process Development: Establish and refine workflows and processes for your team
• Resource Management: Allocate resources effectively and advocate for project needs
• Stakeholder Communication: Report progress to Co-Captains and present to sponsors
• Cross-Project Collaboration: Work with other directors to share resources and knowledge
• Member Well-being: Ensure team members are engaged, learning, and not overwhelmed
• Technical/Administrative Excellence: Drive innovation and quality in your project area
• Succession Planning: Develop future leaders within your team
• Budget Management: Oversee project budgets and funding allocation

Key Qualifications

Constitutional Requirements:

• Must demonstrate leadership ability
• Previous lead experience is optional but beneficial
• Prior expressed interest in leadership is optional but beneficial

Desired Qualifications:

• Passion for your chosen project area (technical or administrative)
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to motivate and inspire team members
• Project management and organizational skills
• Problem-solving and decision-making capabilities
• Resilience and adaptability in fast-paced environments
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive team culture
• Technical knowledge relevant to your project (for technical roles)
• Business acumen (for administrative roles)

Leadership Development

We provide comprehensive support for directors including:

• Mentorship from Co-Captains and experienced directors
• Leadership training workshops
• Regular director meetings for peer support
• Access to university leadership resources
• Opportunity to attend leadership conferences
• Hands-on experience with real budgets and deliverables

What We Offer

• Direct leadership experience managing teams of 5-15 members
• Ownership of significant technical or business initiatives
• Regular interaction with industry sponsors and partners
• Development of both technical and soft skills
• Opportunity to shape the future of your project area
• Strong addition to your professional portfolio
• Networking with other student leaders across disciplines
• Potential to progress to Co-Captain role

Time Commitment

This is a full-time leadership position requiring approximately 10-15 hours per week, including:

• Weekly team meetings with your project members
• Bi-weekly director meetings with leadership team
• Regular one-on-ones with team members
• Project work and oversight
• Strategic planning and documentation
• Sponsor presentations and demos (as applicable)
• Team social events and recruitment

Collaborative Leadership Model

For Co-Director positions:

• Equal authority and shared responsibility
• Complementary skill sets encouraged
• Clear communication protocols established
• Mutual accountability for project success
• Flexible arrangement based on strengths

Term Information

• Director positions typically last 1-2 academic terms
• Renewable based on performance and interest
• Smooth transition process with previous directors
• Mid-term reviews with Co-Captains

What We're Looking For

WATonomous values directors who:

• Are passionate about their project area and eager to drive it forward
• Can balance big-picture thinking with attention to detail
• Lead by example and inspire their teams
• Are comfortable with ambiguity and can create structure
• Prioritize team member growth alongside project success
• Can make decisions while remaining open to feedback
• See failures as learning opportunities
• Want to build something bigger than themselves

Whether you're a technical expert ready to lead innovation or a business-minded individual eager to professionalize our operations, we want to hear from you if you're ready to take ownership and drive meaningful impact at WATonomous.