Career Center

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Evans School of Public Policy is the nation’s #3 ranked school of public policy and governance (#2 among public universities).  Its purpose is to inspire public service and democratize public policy by advancing a mission of educating leaders, generating knowledge, and hosting communities to co-create solutions to pressing societal problems. We are poised to develop a broader array of impactful, graduate education programs that values experiential education consistent with our values of equity, service, and courage, and leaning into our commitment to anti-racism.  We hope to respond nimbly to emerging market demands and provide the most relevant and valuable education to our learners.

This position works to bring a range of learners the exceptional opportunity for ongoing and relevant education by developing new, self-sustaining learning programs. The individual in this position reports directly to the Evans School Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning and will develop and manage programs geared towards executives, managers, and leaders, as well as undergraduates, across various sectors interested in public policy.  The Director is part of the School’s Teaching and Learning Innovation Team.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Professional Learning Programs (PLP) Director will develop a business strategy for the programs, setting short-term program goals in support of school’s annual action plan and work with the Associate Dean to ensure necessary infrastructure and coordinate resources and opportunities with other Evans School programs. The PLP Director must be aware of other executive education and training programs, undergraduate programs, as well as the relevant policies and practices related to the allocation of resources and effort at the University of Washington, to anticipate and mitigate operational and strategic risks involved in establishing such programs.

The Director has programmatic responsibility and delegated decision making for non-curricular aspects of Evans School’s Professional Learning Programs, including establishment of formal relationships with employers and funders, budget development and monitoring, and management of logistical staff.  The Director leverages the operational support and infrastructure of the Evans School, such as marketing and communications, financial and facilities management, to enable an efficient and cost-effective start-up, until programs are sustainable.

Planning & Development

Direct the development and implementation of program design including business, marketing and outreach plans:

Oversee development of individual programs. For each, partner with Faculty Lead & Program Managers/Directors.   

Research and develop flexible curriculum format that is appropriate, relevant and timely for the program audience.

Work with the Director for Technology Enhanced learning to leverage relevant technologies in course development and delivery.

Get input from partners and relevant experts.

Collaborate with faculty directors to find subject experts to collaboratively design courses and educational experiences, as well as teach.

Connect students to Student Services staff who provide relevant career development and other student support resources related to their professional development.

Manage PLP identity and marketing strategies, leveraging knowledge of Evans School faculty, affiliates and adjuncts, and staff. Identify customer targets, and market segments to create effective value propositions and inform marketing strategies. Manage program communications and implementation of marketing plan in coordination with Evans School Communications Director and individual program leads to coordinate branding, identity, and messaging with field needs.

Cultivate, build, and sustain relationships with clients, partners and prospects and coordinate with advancement and Industry relations. Build pipeline of prospects for programs, working closely with subject matter experts.

Explore opportunities to secure Fellows programs for international professionals.  Write proposals to international and national funders.

Educational Infrastructure & Programs

Oversee individual programs in key verticals:

Supervise Program Managers/Directors responsible for PLP implementation.  Currently, this includes:  Executive Master of Public Administration, Americorp, Accelerating Social Transformation, Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA), Next Gen Leadership Corp, and International Development, and Nonprofit Management graduate Certificates.

Assess individual programs. In consultation with the Associate Dean and program managers and faculty, establish a framework for measuring outcomes/effectiveness of offerings and evaluating instructors.  Write learning reports for the Dean and Associate Dean with recommendations for continuous quality improvement.

Manage internal university relationships. Ensure productive collaboration and relationships with partner departments, faculty, lecturers and other university units. Identify, address, and mitigate unforeseen events that may negatively impact relationships between the campus and various constituencies, keeping leadership team appropriately advised and notified.

Operations

Establish and direct all aspects of PLP operations at the Evans School:

Establish and maintain PLP business processes.  Maintain effective operations that contribute to achieving organizational goals; regularly evaluate and update for continuous improvement. Create annual PLP budget, oversee development of individual program budgets, and contribute to short- and long-term expense and revenue projections.  Serve as liaison with UW Continuum College on program operations and logistics.  Contribute to organizational budgeting and MOU development processes, working collaboratively with Evans School fiscal staff.

Oversee partner communications and user relations. Create plans and tools that build and support strong partner relationships as well as exceptional user experience for program participants. Implement policies and procedures to manage issues and promote PLP activities. Respond to constituent inquiries and requests.      

Lead hiring, management, and evaluation of PLP staff, including current staff, student assistants and future subject matter leads, and staff hired to support program offerings.    

Implement a data-driven approach. Compile statistics, reports, and provide analysis for program demand, profile of clients, trends, etc.  Assess individual program effectiveness, and recommends changes to program's content, policies and procedures accordingly. Analyze, summarize, and/or review data; report findings, interpret results and/or make recommendations to the Associate Dean as to curriculum, faculty, instruction, space, fee structure, etc.

Represent PLP and the Evans School, at professional meetings, seminars, and conferences. Collaborate with internal and external partners, and represent the program to outside organizations, constituencies and the general public.

Other duties as assigned, including evening and weekend work as required by programmatic and business need.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, or a related field.

At least five years of experience working in an academic or industry setting, preferably managing programs and leading teams.

Ability and willingness to work in both a leadership role and an implementation role as part of a high- functioning team.

Demonstrated organizational and analytical skills sufficient to prioritize, form strategic plans, and build a program from inception to operation.

Knowledge of administrative, budgetary, human resources and financial principles and practices, and experience applying and interpreting a broad range of policies and procedures.     

Advanced oral and written communication skills, used in situations requiring political acumen, conflict management, and an awareness of cultural differences; demonstrated experience and ability to communicate effectively, including empathetic listening, presentations and public speaking. Ability to persuade and influence people over whom you have no formal authority.

Professional demeanor and ability to effectively interact with a broad community of faculty, researchers, program managers, staff, students, and funding agencies, and to work collaboratively with internal and external peers and managers. Demonstrated commitment to diversity and experience working with individuals from different cultural, ethnic, geographic, and experiential backgrounds.

Attention to detail, ability to think strategically and creatively, gather appropriate input, and act decisively.

The position requires a unique blend of skills. The position requires an ability to work with non-traditional students, both as students and as customers. EMPA students could be executives, public officials or just starting in their organization and may not have been in academic or classroom settings for a number of years, so that requires a high degree of service so they are comfortable with our program(s).  The position also requires understanding of undergraduate programming needs and program development.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Graduate degree in business, public administration, or a related field.

Demonstrated experience developing and marketing academic programs on new topics or managing executive education programs.

Knowledge of or experience working in academia.

Understanding of the market for higher ed programs, credentialing options, and industry training programs and education benefits.

Experience hiring trainers, instructors, or technical experts.

Technical background, knowledge, and/or interest in public policy in a global context.

Demonstrated ability to cost customized programs for a net financial gain. Experience with budgeting, budget development, and appropriate overhead and costing mechanisms in a university setting.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS
EPMA courses often operate outside the regular 40 hour work week. This position requires flexibility to meet the demands during course and program sessions and marketing and recruitment responsibilities

Application Process:   The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.