Director, Think Tank

Think Tank is a centralized academic support center in the Student Success division. The Think Tank Director leads a large team of professional and student staff in providing academic support services to university students and serving as a resource to faculty and staff. The Director must clearly articulate a vision for enhancing student success through learning center services and foster relationships within the department and across campus. The Director is responsible for strategic planning, maintaining partnerships, staff development, and fiscal & policy management.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide vision and leadership for the department. Coordinate strategic planning that involves all staff and ensure completion of department goals. Oversee a department of 7-8 student support programs, 25-28 professional staff members, and over 200 student workers. Directly supervise and provide work direction for 2 Associate Directors and an Administrative Services Coordinator.
• Support ongoing learning and development of all professional staff. Coordinate and/or facilitate staff meetings, training, and professional development opportunities. Manage the creation and implementation of employee policies. Ensure the department's compliance with university policies and procedures.
• Oversee the implementation and maintenance of quality training programs for graduate assistants and student workers, including but not limited to the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) certification and UMKC Supplemental Instruction (SI) certification.
• Oversee the design and implementation of academic support services that reflect student development & learning theory, current research, and best practices. Work with the entire Think Tank team to coordinate the efficient and effective delivery of academic support services.
• Ensure the provision of safe, accessible & inclusive learning environments for all students. Guide the staff in using strength-based approaches and university procedures to address student conduct issues and safety concerns.
• Work with Think Tank staff and the Chief Retention Officer & Associate Vice Provost, Student Success to set ethical and transparent policies and procedures for programs and services.
• Assess the effectiveness of all programs and services in coordination with Think Tank staff. Work with the Student Success Central Office Assessment Team to design and implement departmental assessment efforts.
• Oversee partnerships between Think Tank and academic departments, colleges, and other campus partners. Foster and maintain collaborative relationships with campus colleagues to effectively support students.
• Serve as the department liaison to university units as well as local, state, and national agencies. Represent the department, division, and university within relevant professional associations that provide support networks and resources that will develop Think Tank's work.
• Serve as a member of the Student Success leadership team, participating in the strategic planning and decision-making for the division. Collaborate with Student Success colleagues to provide and streamline student success services. Support the division through relevant committee work.
• Manage $3.0-3.5M budget that includes staff wages/ERE, student wages/ERE, and operational expenses.
• Create staffing and funding plans that anticipate cuts and/or expansion. Analyze financial data to see where cuts can be made or expenses can be reduced and communicate about/carry out financial decisions. When cutting or expanding programs, provide direction to the staff on how to adjust services/staff.
• Coordinate leadership team's involvement in budget management and routinely review reports.
• Oversee the department's development initiatives; secure gifts and other funding sources to support the department's financial and programming goals.
• Prepare monthly, semester and annual utilization reports; prepare, monitor, and analyze all data; report trends and problems. Work with Think Tank staff and university colleagues to implement solutions to identified problems.
• Facilitate the department's cooperation and collaboration with the Student Success Central Office teams: work with the Administrative Operations Manager to maintain Think Tank's fee-based services; work with the Communications & Marketing Team to implement the Think Tank marketing plan; work with the Tech Resources Team to maintain Think Tank's technology services.
• Responsible for regularly communicating the progress, outcomes, and direction of work to the Chief Retention Officer & Associate Vice Provost, Student Success.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Thorough working knowledge of learning theory and best practices in postsecondary learning support.
• Knowledge of instructional strategies to promote learning.
• Knowledge and understanding of current research findings, ongoing research agendas, and legal precedents pertaining to learning assistance in postsecondary education.
• Knowledge of leadership, management, and supervision principles and practices.
• Demonstrated skill in managing a team of multi-disciplinary professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, manage, and present budgets.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, attention to detail, and high degree of openness to new approaches and new ideas.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement educational programs and curriculum.
• Demonstrated ability and commitment to apply knowledge of best practices for inclusive student excellence to earning environments.
• Effective communication with campus and community, including strong consultative, collaborative and mediation skills; excellent presentation, public speaking and writing skills; proactive and responsive interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of basic reading, writing, mathematics and science skills instruction at the postsecondary level.
• Understanding of scope, philosophy, and values of student success and retention and experience integrating them within the environment of learning support.
• Knowledge of FERPA and ethical principles in working with students.
• Familiarity with University of Arizona procedures and policies.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience AND
  minimum of 9 years related work experience, including 5 years of managerial experience, or equivalent
  combination of education and work experience.
• Experience leading a team, project, program or function is required.

• Master's degree in related field.
• Knowledge of and experience managing all aspects of learning support or student success programs including personnel, budget, partnerships, outreach, and assessment.
• Knowledge of and experience in leading, training, and developing individual staff members and large teams of support staff.
• Knowledge of and experience in strategic planning and implementation of student support programming.
• Knowledge of and experience in complex budget management, budget forecasting, planning and scaling, revenue generation and fundraising.