Position Description for

Director, Public & Nonprofit Leadership Center

http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/pnlc/
ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND The Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center (PNLC) is a community that creates and nurtures excellence in public affairs management and leadership. We cultivate adaptive, transformative leaders, connecting technical knowledge with real leadership insight, informed by the latest research. Through a number of initiatives, the Center supports a learning environment that enriches leadership and management through practices that engages others and cross boundaries. We believe the study and practice of leadership and management have value in and of themselves. Our work is applied across organizational, geographic, and societal boundaries, and focuses on three major pillars: Research-based Knowledge: Faculty and Fellows at the Center generate rigorous and relevant research with public value. We conduct research that builds public and nonprofit capacity. It helps people frame and solve problems. Because we integrate research, teaching, and programs, we leverage a network of deep skills and expertise. Practitioner Network: The Center provides resources, connections, and community for public affairs leaders and managers. We have unique practitioner relationships that inform everything we do, from choosing research projects to customizing our professional programs to connecting students with current developments in practice. These relationships form a network that allows us to regularly make connections among practitioners, faculty, staff, students, and the public. Relevant Teaching Tools: We create learning materials that build individual and organizational capacity. We leverage the educational benefits of technology through web-enhanced course management as well as blogs, video, and podcasts in our teaching and engagement efforts. Our new multi-media teaching materials, the Hubert Project, is available to anyone committed to building skills and highlighting critical lessons for effective public affairs education.

Position Description August 2011 Page 2 of 4

POSITION OVERVIEW The Humphrey School of Public Affairs seeks a creative dynamic Director for its Public & Nonprofit Leadership Center (PNLC). The Director is fully responsible for overall operations and program management of this innovative group of faculty, fellows, staff, and students. The Director will be eligible for nomination to the Humphrey Schools graduate faculty. The Director will focus his/her time on: 1) General management of the Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center including managing relationships with key external and internal audiences, developing major programmatic initiatives, and daily operations; 2) Participation in succession planning to assume leadership of the mid-career Masters in Public Affairs (MPA) degree, that include student recruitment, continued program refinement, and instruction; 3) Fund development, including working with faculty to identify funding opportunities, managing relationships with corporate sponsors and foundations, and contributing to proposal development and implementation. Working within the Humphrey Schools Leadership & Management Area, and under the overall supervision of the Academic Area Chair, the Director will lead effectively in a multi- and interdisciplinary college. The Director manages a staff of four plus graduate research assistants, and undergraduate student workers. The Director is responsible for the Centers budget, currently $600,000. PRIMARY ROLES OF THE DIRECTOR While this position will evolve, given the skills, background and passion of the person hired, the primary roles are: Program Development and Management. Lead development of the Centers programs including conferences, events, and customized executive training. Cultivate and maintain relationships with public and nonprofit professionals and funders to develop research and program initiatives. Recruit prospective clients and program instructors for non-credit professional development programs and work with faculty to develop program curriculum. Manage programs, including the Hubert Project, an initiative focused on developing and sharing multi-media learning materials among public affairs educators. When succession process occurs in Directorship in the mid-career program, the person will manage recruitment of mid-career students, serve on the schools admissions and curriculum committees, and convene networking gatherings of our accomplished mid-career students and alumni. Instruction & Curriculum Development. Teach one to two courses per year and/or modular courses for the mid-career Masters program. Possible courses include: Leadership

Position Description August 2011 Page 3 of 4

for the Common Good (PA5941), Public Affairs Leadership Cohort (PA5051), Capstone Workshop (PA8081), and others in substantive areas of expertise. Fund Development and Management. Maintain diversified funding portfolio for the Center. Manage fund development opportunities, including drafting proposals and preparing related materials such as budgets, program descriptions and evaluation plans. Develop and maintain relationships with prospective donors, program officers, and corporate sponsors, coordinating with schools development staff. Manage all budgets and financials reports and make decisions about expenditures in consultation with Area Chair. General Area Operations and Management. Supervise and coordinate Center staff: Acting Associate Director, Program and Research Manager, Associate Administrator, Project Specialist, and Graduate Research Assistants. Develop Center operating plans and oversee communications activities. Maintain regular communication with Area faculty, fellows, and staff regarding operational issues and strategic direction. Convene regular Center meetings. Convene biannual meetings and management relationships with our External Advisory Group members who are accomplished state and local public affairs leaders.

QUALIFICATIONS The ideal candidate for this position is a seasoned and dynamic professional with a passion for serving the stakeholders of public and nonprofit organizations and a firm belief that good management and leadership can be taught. The successful candidate is a person of integrity with proven leadership and senior management experience, and exemplary management skills. A minimum of ten years of experience in a position of leadership in government, philanthropic, or non-profit agencies is required, and candidates must possess (or be working towards) a terminal post-graduate degree (PhD, MD, JD). The core competencies required for this position are: Strong Relationships and Collaborative Mindset: Cultivates and maintains strong relationships with wide range of diverse stakeholders from business, government, academic, philanthropic, and nonprofit spheres Fosters mission-based collaboration between PNLC and its stakeholders, solidifying the Centers impact on a University, state, and regional level Leverages relationships to recruit new clients, students, and funders for the Center Facilitates open communication with all stakeholders to advance the work of the Center Passion for Mission and Holding Strong Personal Integrity: Demonstrates the highest level of personal integrity; is trustworthy, authentic, and credible. Models a genuine passion for the PNLCs mission Infuses leadership style with passion and spirit, not just functional expertise Serves as a role model for staff, students, and clients Develops, manages, and sustains programs that generate transformative conversations

Position Description August 2011 Page 4 of 4

Combines Research and Innovation into Dynamic Teaching and Training Programs: Keeps current with PNLC- and Humphrey School-led research efforts, and integrates research-based knowledge into courses, executive training, public programs, as well as learning materials produced as part of the Hubert Project Builds repertoire of knowledge, skills, and technologies to advance both the research and academic work of the Center Preferred competencies for this position are: International professional experience Knowledge of diverse public affairs institutions to aid working with and recruitment of midcareer adult learners Experience teaching or training in public affairs settings Understanding of open source web-based communities and cloud computing Interest in the scholarship of teaching and learning

COMPENSATION Annual renewable contract. The salary for this position is commensurate with experience and competitive with similar nonprofits and academic institutions. A full benefits package includes: UPlan Health Benefit Options: Medical, Dental, Life Insurance, and Short-term Disability Faculty Plan Benefits: Faculty Retirement Plan and Academic Disability Program Additional Benefits: Voluntary Retirement Plans, Health Care & Dependent Daycare Flexible Spending Accounts, Long-term Care Coverage, and Wellness Program

APPLICATION INFORMATION Please apply online via the University of Minnesotas Employment System at https://employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=96773 Please submit a resume or curriculum vitae, a cover letter, and names of three references online.

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.