Director

Director, UConn Waterbury

Position Description

 

The Position

The University of Connecticut (UConn), one of the nation’s leading public research universities, seeks a visionary and dynamic leader to serve in the management-exempt position of Director of UConn Waterbury. UConn seeks candidates who can demonstrate exceptional skills and experience that will enable them to provide strong leadership to a research and educational enterprise.

 

The Director will provide strategic vision and operational leadership to all aspects of the academic and scholarly program at UConn Waterbury, setting priorities for the campus and guiding it towards strategic goals of enhancing scholarship, promoting research and outreach, and providing excellence in professional and graduate education in an academic setting with a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. The Director is the campus’s chief advocate, promoting its goals and achievements to the University at large and to industry and community partners, leading its development and fundraising activities, and speaking for its mission of excellence in scholarship, teaching, and public service. The Director will be the campus’s public voice, promoting initiatives within UConn and across the state, strengthening and expending its role within community associations, and articulating the campus’s contributions at the local, state, regional, national and international levels. In pursing these responsibilities, the Director, who reports to the provost, will work collaboratively with the president and provost and with vice presidents and deans.

 

The successful candidate will be a nationally recognized, self-assured, entrepreneurial leader prepared to advance the initiatives and priorities of the University’s academic vision. Candidates will be expected to broaden participation among members of under-represented groups; demonstrate through research, teaching, and/or public engagement the commitment to, and support of, diversity in the learning experience; and provide leadership in developing initiatives designed to meet the needs of diverse learning styles and intellectual interests. In addition, the ideal candidate will be an independent thinker dedicated to collaborative governance, will possess a leadership style that values diversity and difference, will be a sophisticated administrator capable of building strong working relationships, committed to the search for new knowledge, and able to imagine new possibilities for the campus.

UConn

Founded in 1881, the UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

UConn Waterbury

UConn is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT; four regional campuses throughout the state in Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury; and 13 Schools and Colleges, including the Law School in West Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington.

 

With its modern facilities in the heart of Waterbury’s revitalized downtown, UConn Waterbury has opened the doors to educational access and excellence for thousands of students. UConn Waterbury students grow and achieve through rigorous academic programs and community engagement. UConn Waterbury offers undergraduate degrees in Allied Health Sciences, American Studies, Business Administration, Business Data Analytics, English, Human Development and Family Sciences, Psychological Sciences, and Urban and Community Studies in partnership with UConn Hartford. At the graduate level, UConn Waterbury offers Master of Business Administration and Master of Engineering degrees, the Certificate Entry into Nursing (CEIN/BS) Program, and Master of Education and Connecticut Teacher Certification through the Teacher Certification Program for College Graduates.

 

UConn Waterbury promotes the personal growth of students of all ages and economic circumstances through intellectual achievement, enhanced leadership skills, and workforce development. The campus provides access to lifelong learning and community engagement through its academic programs and provides entry to the more than 110+ undergraduate programs available at the University of Connecticut. UConn Waterbury is committed to developing important interaction between its student body, faculty, and the community.

The Leadership Opportunity

UConn will welcome a Director who thrives on innovation to develop, organize, and manage new initiatives. The faculty and staff at UConn Waterbury are deeply committed to their students, their research, and to public service. The Director will articulate a vision for the campus, defining its role in research and teaching within the University community, the state, and the nation. From that vision, the Director will shape the organization and, with the faculty and staff, configure, create, and grow programs and attract a student body to realize their success.

 

The Director will make critical contributions to the continued development of the campus. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual with the drive, skill, and experience to bring creative leadership to the organization and to play a meaningful role in shaping its future. The new Director will embrace these opportunities, helping to realize the potential of UConn Waterbury. The Director will build on a solid foundation to contribute to the campus and its diverse constituents, as well as the University community at large, to address key challenges and pursue important opportunities.

 

Specific opportunities include:

• Provide visionary and strategic leadership to UConn Waterbury in a manner that acknowledges the responsiveness to the City of Waterbury while functioning as part of a larger University system
• Hire, guide, and support excellent faculty and staff in partnership with deans and department heads
• Oversee financial decisions and create clear and efficient processes, staffing, and structures
• Support and promote a diverse and inclusive culture
• Help to articulate the University-wide vision and to raise further resources
• Cultivate opportunities for development and fundraising
• Pursue strategies to sustain and grow enrollments

The Position

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Director of UConn Waterbury ensures the effective and efficient management of the campus, including overseeing day-to-day operations, administration, facilities, and resources, with the aim of fostering a community and learning environment appropriate for a leading research university. In accordance with the Provost’s priorities and guidance, the Director also collaborates with academic deans and departments in determining the focus, development, staffing, and execution of academic priorities and programs at the campus. In addition, the Director develops relationships with key community partners and stakeholders that advance and sustain mutual interests.

 

Responsibilities:

1. In partnership with department heads, deans, and senior university administrators, assure the campus environment appropriately enables and supports academic goals, objectives, and programs.
2. Partner with faculty, staff and students to maintain a climate of civility and collegiality through effective communication and a strong commitment to enhancing the quality and diversity of the campus population.
3. Collaborate with the Vice President for Enrollment Management to recruit and retain high-caliber students. Develop and nurture relationships with K-12 schools, community colleges, and other educational institutions to recruit these quality students to UConn and increase enrollment of qualified students at UConn Waterbury.
4. Collaborate with the Department of Public Safety, Facilities Operations and Building Services, University Information Technology Services, and Planning, Architectural, and Engineering Services to assure a safe, secure, productive working environment for the conduction of research and instructional activities.
5. Collaborate with Waterbury faculty, academic department heads, and deans to identify instructional needs and provide input in recruiting, hiring, and managing faculty.
6. Prepare and manage UConn Waterbury’s annual operating budget. Prioritize the allocation of resources to support the university’s academic mission and plan.
7. In support of university and campus priorities, develop capital improvement proposals. Assess the need for and make recommendations about equipment acquisitions and facilities renovations and upgrades.
8. Provide leadership, direction, and oversight to campus employees, including hiring, evaluation, professional development, discipline, training, and promotion of all direct reports. Represent the campus in labor-related procedures.
9. In support of University goals and priorities, promote UConn Waterbury through communications and public relations efforts critical to the success of the campus, including building relationships and partnerships with alumni, civic, youth, historical, financial services industry, museum, arts, and other groups and organizations.
10. Engage with local, state, and federal leaders and with the local civic community.
11. Assure UConn Waterbury offers a positive learning environment and students receive appropriate support services. Coordinate closely with university offices to enhance access to course offerings through on-line education, assure programs available to meet the needs of various student groups, and assure the campus operates in accordance with University-wide policies and practices regarding student conduct, disability services, counseling and mental health services, behavioral threat assessment, and other important student affairs functions.
12. Perform other duties as required.

 

Minimum Qualifications

1. Masters or other graduate degree.
2. At least five years of senior administrative experience including demonstrated knowledge of core management functions and clear experience with managing strategic priorities, human resource management, and budgeting and financial management.
3. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop, engage, and maintain constructive and professional relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, campus supporters, residents of area communities, and other individuals and organizations.
4. Demonstrated commitment to enhance the diversity of the campus population, including assessing needs, developing initiatives, and applying best practices.
5. Demonstrated ability to analyze, understand, and interpret complex situations and problems, evaluate options, devise and propose solutions that align resources with goals, implement plans, and measure outcomes.
6. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a diverse organization. Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to communicate the campus’s needs, plans, and programs effectively.

 

Preferred Qualifications

1. Credentials that merit appointment for a tenure-track academic appointment, including a terminal degree in a field relevant to leadership of UConn Waterbury. Equivalent foreign degrees are acceptable.
2. Background and experience pertinent to the unique programs and setting of the Waterbury campus, including a clear understanding of the academic mission of a campus whose primary goal is delivery of quality undergraduate and graduate education.
3. Experience as an agent of innovation and change, achieving excellence across a complex organization.

Appointment Terms

This is a full-time, 12-month, management-confidential position with an anticipated start date of October 2022. The successful candidate may be considered for a 9-month, tenure-track academic appointment in one of the University’s schools/colleges.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Employment at the University of Connecticut is contingent upon the successful candidate’s compliance with the University’s Mandatory Workforce COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.  This Policy states that all workforce members are required to have or obtain a Covid-19 vaccination as a term and condition of employment at UConn, unless an exemption or deferral has been approved. 

 

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics, which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

To Apply

The University of Connecticut has retained the services of the executive search firm Parker Executive Search to conduct this important search. All inquiries, nominations/referrals, and applications will be held in the strictest confidence and should be submitted to the search firm.

• A cover letter, articulating interest and responding to the position challenges and objectives outlined above. Cover letter should include a robust statement on the candidate’s familiarity and comfort with diversity, equity, and inclusion and examples of their leadership in those domains.
• Curriculum vitae
• Names and contact information for 3-4 professional references.

 

Evaluation of applicants will begin immediately. It is preferred, however, that all nominations and applications be submitted prior to August 1, 2022.

 

Laurie C. Wilder, President

Porsha L. Williams, Vice President

Jacob Anderson, Senior Principal

Parker Executive Search Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875 Atlanta, GA 30328

pwilliams@parkersearch.com | janderson@parkersearch.com

(678) 775-4563 | (678) 775-4564

 

For more information regarding UConn Waterbury, please visit the campus website: https://waterbury.uconn.edu/.

 

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

 

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.