In addition to general administration of the center, the Director and the AD may share responsibility for education programs, industrial collaboration, and outreach. This is not the most effective structure in the long run. A brief outline of essential ERC functions follows below. Chapter 2 of the Best Practices Manual describes the responsibilities of the ERC Director. It is essential that there be a good working relationship among these key individuals.
All centers appoint faculty managers for clusters of research projects or thrusts.
Some also name an Associate Director for Research, although most Center Directors have retained this leadership role personally. These managers may hire additional technical and secretarial personnel. The majority of faculty and students are appointed through their participating academic departments. It is wise to evaluate optional strategies and to consider your environment carefully. For example, there are different advantages to hiring someone with an industrial, faculty, or business background.