Executive Director, Office of Impact Learning

The Executive Director provides vision, leadership, and administrative direction for the Office of Impact Learning, establishing that office as a hub for campus-wide activities and initiatives related to high impact learning practices (HIPs) at UHD, including serving as a central location for the promotion, assessment, and engagement of such practices across the academic units of the campus. Emphasis will be given in this work to four signature UHD experiences—service learning, undergraduate research, internships, and study abroad programs—but the work of the office extends to the full range of high impact learning practices as they are developed, assessed, and implemented at UHD. The Executive Director ensures that the office is visible and active, which entails developing and executing the vision for the Office of Impact Learning focused on facilitating pathways for students to participate in curricular and co-curricular HIPs as well as working with university constituencies to expand and enhance these programmatic initiatives.

• Reports to the Associate Vice President for Programming and Curriculum and works closely with faculty, external stakeholders, other administrators, and staff to develop a strategic and operational plans for the Office of Impact Learning.
• Collaborates with faculty, program coordinators and department chairs to facilitate and support integration of high-impact learning practices—with special attention to the four signature experiential learning activities—within the curriculum.
• Collaborates with faculty and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence to offer faculty development in support of experiential learning best practices.
• Seeks ways to streamline current funding processes across campus and identify additional resources to support the four identified experiential learning activities (and other HIPs as appropriate).
• Plans events to showcase these experiences and inform the UHD community about initiatives of the Office of Impact Learning.
• Establishes and chairs an Office of Impact Learning Advisory Council, which should feature faculty, staff, and students as well as external partners.
• Spearheads conversation among UHD centers and Student Affairs to foster partnerships across centers/units to promote the experiential learning activities and assessment outside of classroom settings; coordinates opportunities with curricular leaders.
• Explores opportunities for external funding either individually or in collaborations with other centers/units.
• Collects, analyzes, and produces reports related to experiential learning activities, showing impact on student success and as needed for external reporting.
• Identifies strategies for generating student engagement in impact learning, with particular attention to best practices.
• Manages office staff and work study students as well as office budget.
• Oversees the work of the Study Abroad Office and the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning.

• Performs other duties as assigned

Direct Reports:

• Supervises full-time and part-time employees

Delegation of Work:

• Regularly assigns work to subordinate(s).

Supervision Given:

• Makes final decision on evaluating employee performance; hiring new employees; employee dismissals; disciplinary actions; scheduling employee work hours; coaching and counseling; training; handling employee grievances and complaints; granting time off. Provides recommendations on promotions; provides recommendations on salary increases.

Required Education:

• Master's degree

Required Experience:

• University-level teaching experience; minimum of 5 years job-related experience

License/Certification:

• None Required

• Ph.D.
• Experience as full-time faculty member at the university level
• Grant-writing experience
• Leadership or teaching experience in one or more of the four key impact experiences
• Experience working with diverse student populations

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of trends, issues, and accepted practices relevant to the position

Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and written/oral communication skills
• Strong management skills

Abilities:

• Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse community

Primary Work Location:

• Works in an office environment

Physical Demands:

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment, which does not subject the employee to any unpleasant elements. Position is physically comfortable; individual has discretion about sitting walking, standing, etc. Work environment involves minimal exposure to physical risks.

Commitment to Excellence - UHD

• Demonstrates a commitment to competently perform his/her job duties and responsibilities within established time frames.
• Continuously strives to improve work performance.
• Accepts responsibility for his/her commitments to the university.
• Contributes to the success of the university by consistently providing quality results in the performance of his/her job duties and responsibilities.

Respect and Cooperation

• Treats others with courtesy, respect, and dignity in the workplace.
• Promotes cooperation through open and honest communications and consideration of others ideas, thoughts, and opinions.

Integrity

• Demonstrates high ethical standards of conduct in the performance of his/her job duties and responsibilities.
• Accepts responsibility for his/her actions.
• Respects and complies with department and university policies, procedures, and work rules.

Accountability

• Accountable for oversight of organizational unit's projects and initiatives; monitors utilization of allocated resources and status of projected time frames.
• Ensures organizational unit's operation are in compliance with university and department policies and procedures; responsible for development and revision of policies and procedures for assigned area(s).
• Resolves complex issues after careful consideration of all relevant information.
• Collaborates with other university administrators to keep the university apprised of significant developments and issues.

Change Management

• Manages the development and implementation of change initiatives to advance the university's goals and objectives.
• Assesses the availability of resources and ascertains additional resources required to effect change within projected timelines.
• Promotes the benefits of new methods, technology, and/or work environments resulting from changes.
• Addresses concerns to minimize impact of potential consequences of changes.
• Provides encouragement and support to employees through the change process.
• Supports changes in the university's organizational structure.

Leadership

• Leads the organizational unit's endeavors to achieve its goals and objectives in support of the university's vision and mission.
• Oversees the organizational unit's operations in accordance with the university's shared values of excellence, student success, inclusiveness, respect, and integrity.
• Fosters a dynamic work environment that encourages teamwork and cooperation.

Financial Administration

• Assesses and modifies organizational unit's budget annually to provide sufficient resources for organizational unit's operations aligned with goals and objectives, in consideration of the university's budget constraints.
• Directs administration of the organizational unit's budget to ensure effective utilization of financial resources and compliance with federal, State, and university policies and procedures.
• Approves disbursement of funds consistent with the organizational unit's budget.
• Monitors status of organizational unit's budget, and directs the resolution of deficiencies and/or discrepancies.

Organizational Engagement

• Positively represents organizational unit to internal and external constituents in support of the organizational unit's efforts and in recognition of its accomplishments.
• Coordinates with other university administrators to collaborate endeavors across organizational units.
• Builds rapport with external constituents to advance the organizational unit's goals and objectives and engage the community with the university's efforts to address the needs and advance the development of the region.
• Competently responds to audits and requests from governmental entities and UH-System on behalf of the organizational unit.

Strategic Planning

• Develops organizational unit's short- and long-term goals and objectives that align with the university's strategic plan.
• Establishes assessment measures to evaluate the organizational unit's progress toward accomplishing its goals and objectives.
• Determines priorities and allocates resources to achieve the organizational unit's goals and objectives.
• Anticipates potential difficulties and concerns, and develops feasible contingency plans.
• Collaborates with other university administrators to coordinate efforts across organizational units.

Talent Management

• Communicates the organizational unit's priorities and initiatives to employees and the importance of their contributions to the organizational unit's goals and objectives.
• Motivates employees by encouraging a commitment to excellence and recognizing employee accomplishments.
• Clearly defines employee responsibilities and expectations; provides guidance and constructive feedback.
• Encourages employee participation in professional development and training, and supports mentoring and on-the-job training to provide the tools for employees to be successful.
• Promotes teamwork and a work environment that fosters cooperation.
• Manages the resolution of performance issues expeditiously and with discretion.

Student Success Indirect Support

• Contributes to student success by assisting students with anything that supports their student experience, whether directly or indirectly.
• Helps students navigate their way through the different offices, programs, and services at the university and/or connects students with the appropriate party(ies).
• Connects students with services or resources that can help them with career exploration, goal selection, and ongoing academic assistance.
• Helps students build peer support networks.
• Encourages student participation in out-of-class activities.
• Provides encouragement and guidance to foster student success.
• Treats students with respect
• Maintains the learning environment to ensure quality and/or sound pedagogy.