The University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public seeks a Director of Strategy and Operations to join our team as a key leader to help steward this new multidisciplinary institute, housed in the Information School, through its launch and initial development of an organizational program. Working in close collaboration with the Center’s Executive Council, the Director of Strategy and Operations will have the overall responsibility of developing and overseeing organizational strategy, designing and implementing a diverse array of programs, and helping to ensure a sustainable trajectory of high quality work in service of the Center’s mission. 

The UW Center for an Informed Public (CIP), launching Fall 2019, is a new collaborative effort that brings together faculty, staff, students and community partners in service of a core mission aiming to resist strategic misinformation, promote an informed society, and strengthen democratic discourse. Located at the University of Washington, a world-class research university, embedded within the local community in the Pacific Northwest, this new Center will lead programs that span research, education, policy and outreach.

This is a rare and unusual opportunity to join a community of scholars and leaders ready to take on one of the most pressing issues of our time. Our ideal candidate is a passionate leader and communicator with a track record of successfully launching and growing an organization. Further, the candidate possesses demonstrated experience managing and leading people, including the ability to develop and empower top notch staff and promote a culture of high performance that values societal impact and social change. This is a new center, and the successful candidate is someone who excels at helping the faculty co-founders execute a vision and build a center culture and operations.

Reporting directly to the Faculty Director and working closely with the Executive Council and other senior staff, the Director of Strategy and Operations will support the CIP’s leadership team, serving as chief administrator for all the Center’s daily operations and programs. The Director of Strategy and Operations will supervise, support and work closely with several direct reports, including a Program Coordinator, Communications Manager, Data Engineer, and Community Labs Manager. The Director of Strategy and Operations will also be a resource for CIP’s diverse community of faculty affiliates, visiting professors, community fellows, and students. As a center with a strong public engagement mission, the Director of Strategy and Operations will also support the building and maintaining of relationships with strategic partners, public, private and civil society representatives, community leaders, and the general public. 

In the Information School (iSchool) there is an expectation that all faculty and staff will step up where they see an opportunity to apply their special expertise or talents, speak up when they identify opportunities or concerns, and lead by taking actions that exemplify the iSchool’s core values.  Leadership within the iSchool is expressed in diverse ways reflecting the variety of styles and cultures that are represented by our faculty and staff.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy, Vision, and Leadership:

• With the Faculty Director and Executive Council, design and guide strategic planning and overall management of the organization.
• Work in partnership with the Faculty Director and Executive Council to recommend and implement new processes and operational approaches in alignment with strategic plans.
• Advise the Faculty Director and other key program staff on business and financial planning.
• Effectively communicate and present critical financial matters including the Center's annual budget to the Executive Council and the Committee of Associate Deans of Research.
• Maintain effective communication, keeping the Faculty Director informed of all critical issues.
• Advocate for the Center’s mission within the external community and the University of Washington.
• Support the Executive Council, Faculty Director and iSchool Advancement in fundraising efforts, including the preparation of tailored proposals and financial documents.
• Oversee the activities of the Center’s Community Fellows program—community and industry partners from across the region.
• Serve as a point of contact for the Center’s Faculty Affiliates, communicating affiliates needs with Center leadership.

Operations:

• Oversee all Center-wide project activities, responsibilities, and timelines to support effective Center management, task allocation, and efficiency gains.
• Has delegated decision making authority to allocate resources and establish policies, methods, procedures, and work rules for the Center.
• Ensure that the Center is adhering to the strategic plan and delivering status reports to the Executive Council, Committee of Associate Deans of Research, and Advisory Board.
• Lead all operational processes and systems at the Center—including operational management, information flow, and organizational planning—in support of CIP’s mission.
• Attend Executive Council meetings and other key meetings; maintain full operational view of center activities.
• Plan and lead internal meetings.
• Institute processes and infrastructure to support effective organizational functioning and communication.
• Lead and collaborate with Center staff to implement processes for all organizational needs in accordance with UW policies (i.e. hiring standards, on-boarding and HR processes, staff policies, database).
• Oversee financial management and budget planning. 
• Ensure that all Center financial activity, including grant, gift, revenue, and in-kind dollars, are fully tracked and integrated into Center's operating budget and that program staff receive reminders of needed progress/grant reports. In addition, work within UW system and with the Information School’s Research Services and Finance team to ensure all financial activities are in compliance with UW and departmental policies.

Team Development and Management:

• Recruit, hire and lead Center staff, including collaborating with them to create program goals and objectives, cultivate the values of the organization, and support efficiencies in program operations. 
• Manage the Center’s staff, whose dynamic activities span a range of initiatives including projects, events, community programs, digital media, communications, research infrastructure maintenance and office management.
• Oversee, foster and deepen staff relations, training and professional development.
• Ensure staff members receive timely and appropriate feedback, performance appraisals, training and development based on established metrics for staff performance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of five years of administrative and strategic management experience, including financial and budgetary oversight and at least two years of direct professional staff supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of internal and external constituents. 
• Ability to build a successful organizational culture and develop comprehensive internal processes.  
• Strategically minded, analytical leader.
• Discreet facilitator and problem solver with a high tolerance for ambiguity.
• Autonomous self-starter with intellectual confidence and flexibility and ability to effectively manage multiple demands and priorities.
• Demonstrate a high degree of initiative-taking, problem solving capability, creativity, and capacity for innovative thinking. 
• Proficiency in developing budgets, fiscal monitoring and financial projections using multiple fund sources.
• Strong technology skills and inclination to adapt and learn new technologies.
• Demonstrated success in working with diverse populations.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred. 
• Experience in a large-scale, complex academic institution. 
• A passion for the Center’s mission: to resist strategic misinformation and strengthen democratic discourse.  (Domain expertise is not a requirement.)