Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Division of Student Success

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives & Special Advisor to the Vice Provost of Student Success will be pivotal in fostering a campus-wide culture of well-being and Student Success and working closely with the Associate Vice Provost for Student Success, who supports well-being and career development; this individual will oversee strategic initiatives to enhance curricular and co-curricular well-being experiences and strengths-based approaches on campus.

The Senior Director will develop and implement comprehensive strategies to promote well-being and strengths-based practices among UTK faculty and staff. They will also collaborate with academic departments and colleges to integrate well-being principles into the curriculum. Additionally, the Senior Director will manage a $200,000+ annual budget for student success grants, supporting redesigning high-volume academic courses with low achievement indicators.

Supervising a team of faculty and staff, including two Faculty Directors, 15 faculty fellows, and a Manager for Professional Development and Training, the Senior Director will collaborate with campus partners such as the campus CliftonStrengths Taskforce and the university's Quality Enhancement Plan. They will also work closely with the AVP for Student Success and other relevant stakeholders.

Within six months of assuming the role, the Senior Director will become a certified Clifton Strengths coach knowledgeable about the PERMA pedagogical approach to provide personalized support and coaching to faculty and staff.

The ideal candidate will be a passionate and innovative leader with a strong track record in higher education and a commitment to creating a positive and supportive campus environment. They will have a deep understanding of well-being frameworks, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a proven ability to lead and inspire teams.

About the Division

The Division of Student Success at UT works to engage each scholar's experience by supporting their unique strengths and goals. We collaborate with UT faculty and staff to help each scholar maximize their strengths and understand how they contribute to their academic dreams, career paths, and personal well-being.

Job Responsibilities

Leadership of Academic Integration: (65%)

The Senior Director will support academic department leaders seeking to integrate PERMA and CliftonStrengths both inside and outside the classroom. They will hire, train, and supervise two faculty directors, one manager, and 15 faculty fellows who will be trained on and foster peer-to-peer promotion of well-being and CliftonStrengths strategies among the faculty and staff in their departments. This role will partner with the Manager on developing core training and professional development to facilitate their understanding of CliftonStrengths and well-being when working with students.

Staff Professional Development: (20%)

Ensure oversight of professional development to integrate well-being and CliftonStrengths with academic advisors, academic coaches, and other student success professionals. Identify key departments interested in developing their well-being and strengths-based work through multiple points of engagement. Collaborate with the Faculty Director for Research and Assessment to assess the integration of PERMA & CliftonStrengths.

The Senior Director will work with colleges and faculty to lead the curricular initiatives associated with the Student Success Grants and the Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows. They will supervise the Volunteer Experience Faculty Director to lead a faculty program that will focus on promoting well-being among faculty members in their respective departments/colleges. This role will also collaborate with Teaching and Learning Innovation and other university partners to provide professional development and resources for integrating well-being strategies in the classroom. Additionally, the Senior Director will establish partnerships and manage the academic department Student Success Grants to redesign or innovate teaching practices for high enrollment courses.

Division Support and Infrastructure Enhancement: (10%)

Serve on campus- and division-wide committees as requested. Collaborate with academic departments and campus units, including Teaching and Learning Innovation, and other stakeholders to facilitate programmatic synergies and continued success of UT’s emphasis on creating a community where scholars can thrive. Also, serve on the VPSS executive leadership team.

Other duties as assigned (5%)

Required Competencies/Qualifications

· Experience leading a team.

· Independent judgment, strong organization and communication skills, and superior leadership skills;

· Ability to collaborate with various departments and colleges across campus and externally;

· Excellent communication skills (oral & written), planning, problem-solving, analytical, organizational, and project management;

· Ability to influence and build work relationships among a diverse workforce at all levels; and

· Have experience working closely with faculty or academic units on transformational change

Preferred Competencies/Qualifications

· Prefer knowledge of CliftonStrengths, wellbeing and positive psychology

· Curriculum redesign and teaching best practices.

Required Education & Experience

Five (5) years of prior relevant experience in undergraduate education, pedagogy, or teaching and learning innovation.

Prior experience in higher education and a terminal degree.

Preferred Education & Experience

Ten years relevant experience

Anticipated hiring salary: Minimum of $90,000

Flexible work arrangements are available. The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package.

For full consideration, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 references.