EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ROBINSON CENTER FOR YOUNG SCHOLARS

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.

Undergraduate Academic Affairs (UAA) shapes, advances, and stewards a world-class undergraduate academic experience for students at the University of Washington. Staff, faculty and students in UAA deepen and enrich the learning experience for all undergraduates, recognizing and supporting the unique learning path of each individual student and the commitment of each academic program to excellence in learning and teaching.

To visit our Careers in UAA page and learn more about our open positions, click here.

Within UAA, the Halbert and Nancy Robinson Center for Young Scholars (RC) at the University of Washington is a leader in the nation for developing programs that serve highly capable young pre-college and college students. Through early entrance programs, the RC prepares younger students for college and provides them with challenging, accelerated learning opportunities in a vibrant, intellectual community. The RC provides outreach through enrichment, professional development, online, summer and Saturday programs.

Undergraduate Academic Affairs has an outstanding opportunity for a mission-driven, values-oriented, strategic leader to serve as our next Executive Director of the Robinson Center for Young Scholars.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Executive Director of the Robinson Center for Young Scholars reports to the Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. The Executive Director leads the Robinson Center’s (RC) Leadership team and the development and pursuit of the center’s strategic goals, and oversees operations, programming, budgets, resources, and staff for the Center as a whole. The Executive Director leads the center’s research mission, identifies and cultivates new revenue sources; oversees: fee-setting, program and constituent assessments, staff training and development, and develops and convenes the RC advisory board. The Executive Director represents UAA and UW in local, regional, national, and international settings relevant to research, policy, and programs in accelerated education and talent development.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, the Executive Director has the following responsibilities:

Center Leadership (25%)

• Provides leadership for RCYS including developing strategic plans, evaluating outcomes, and establishing and reviewing policies and procedures for all RCYS programs.
• Represents RCYS, UAA and UW interests and positions with regional, national, and international partners.
• Interacts with all RCYS constituencies and stakeholders including K-12 organizations and personnel, state K-12 leadership, regional and national leaders and practitioners in gifted/accelerated education, families, students, and alumni of the RCYS.
• Has broad oversight of all RCYS operations, programs and activities, ensuring that RCYS meets or exceeds quality and compliance standards in all its work.
• Encourages and supports program directors and staff to implement promising practices and monitor outcomes in all their activities.

Administration and Financial management (25%)

• Oversees all of RCYS budgets, guides program directors on budget planning and decision-making, and ensures that expectations of revenue and spending are aligned.
• Establishes and implements all policies and procedures related to financial oversight in consultation with the RCYS Financial Manager and UAA’s administrative leadership.
• Reviews budget planning and expenditures monthly, quarterly, and annually to ensure that programs are meeting revenue and spending targets.

Staff Management and Development (25%)

• Hires, supervises, develops, and supports the three RCYS program directors and the administrative assistant III who manages the RCYS front desk and facilities and supports the Director and programs as needed.
• Works closely with, providing performance feedback and work-related guidance to the Finance Manager, who reports to the UAA administrative lead.
• Provides opportunities for professional development for staff to help them meet their professional goals and improve their skills through RCYS events and activities and/or UW or external providers.

Research Initiatives (25%)

• Pursues a research agenda in accelerated or gifted education, or a related field.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities for research initiatives, engage RCYS staff and/or UW students as research collaborators/assistants, develop research partnerships or collaborations with colleagues with shared interests, and participate in national and international conferences to present findings and learn from colleagues in the field.

Competencies/Essential Functions:

• Accountability and integrity
• Race, equity and difference
• Constituent focus
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Organizational acumen
• Business acumen
• Strategic ability
• Financial management
• Personnel management
• Building effective teams
• Managing and measuring work
• Problem-solving and decision making
• Planning and prioritization
• Process and project management
• Written communications
• K-12 and higher education policies

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Doctoral degree in Education, Psychology, Arts & Sciences, or related field.
• Minimum of four years’ experience in program development and management.
• Minimum of four years’ experience managing personnel at the program or unit level.

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

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Experience overseeing complex budgets with multiple funding sources.
• Teaching experience in a post-secondary or K-12 environment.
• Record of successfully working with marginalized populations.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with a wide variety of constituencies.
• Record of research experience (publications, presentations, funded grants, etc.) related to education, psychology, or related field

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience developing programs for K-12 or college students.
• Experience providing teacher professional development or parent education.
• Research accomplishment in talent development or gifted education, twice-exceptional education, educational psychology, or related field.

The Robinson Center, as a part of the University of Washington, is committed to creating an inclusive working environment and an equitable educational experience for a diverse student population. When submitting your application, you will be asked to discuss the experiences and qualifications that exemplify your ability to contribute to this mission. In what ways have you pursued equity and inclusion in your previous work with students and staff? What have your experiences taught you about the challenges and effective strategies for fostering a diverse workplace and supporting a diverse student population?

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

Governor Inslee's Proclamation 21-14.2 requires employees of higher education and healthcare institutions to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless a medical or religious exemption is approved. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination. View the Final candidate guide to COVID-19 vaccination requirement webpage for information about the medical or religious exemption process for final candidates.