N.C. Biofuels Center seeks president, two other executives

OXFORD, N.C. — The Biofuels Center of North Carolina is looking for a new president as well as two other executives for its management team.

The N.C. General Assembly-backed initiative distributed job descriptions for the positions, including director of business development and a director for forestry and farming.

John Ganzi, the first president of the center, stepped down in August. W. Steven Burke, the center’s chair, took over on an interim basis. Burke also is an executive at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.

According to the job description, the president would be required to provide “vision and leadership as well as daily administration for a sustained, evolving and enormously significant statewide endeavor.”

Applicants must have “at least” 10 years in “senior development, administration and project work in technology, public policy, governmental, business, or academic settings.”

The director of business development will, among other duties, “aid the development and operations of companies involved with biofuels and related biomass and feedstock applications. Works actively to catalyze and support new and entrepreneurial biofuels and related companies and assists the growth and expansion of existing North Carolina companies.”

The director for farming and forestry will be the “key conduit to agricultural, farming, commodity, forestry, and forest products constituencies, partners, and activities. Performs senior level work and leadership to promote understanding, adoption and growing or utilization of energy crops and biomass across North Carolina.”