Executive Director, Continuing Education

The Executive Director, Continuing Education manages all aspects of the university's continuing education programs.

• Provides strategic vision and leadership in developing and expanding the visibility and outreach of Continuing Education at the University of Houston-Downtown.
• Fosters strong, dynamic relationships with campus partners and stakeholders, including deans, chairs, faculty, staff, and external partners to enhance collaboration and support of Continuing Education's mission and goals.
• Develops collaborative partnerships with the business community, health care industry, educational institutions, university departments, and state/federal agencies to promote and identify programming opportunities.
• Develops and executes a successful growth strategy for non-credit courses (professional and personal development) through collaboration with faculty and staff at the University of Houston -Downtown as well as third-party vendors.
• Designs, plans, and implements innovative on-campus and online educational solutions and instructional design models for continuing education programs.
• Develops and executes a successful growth strategy for courses for school-aged children during the summer, establishing new, relevant courses for students and prospective students.
• Develops and builds programs at off-site locations to increase the outreach of continuing education programming to both children and adults.
• Solicits grant funding to further the goals and objectives of the continuing education program and its partners.
• Coordinates data collection and reporting for purposes of analyzing enrollment and growth trends, ensuring compliance and accountability, assessing educational effectiveness, and ensuring effective program review.
• Directs day-to-day operations, monitors budgets, and supervises and hires staff, ensures all continuing education staff are hired and compensated according to all university guidelines.

• Performs all other duties as assigned

Direct Reports:

• Full-time Employees and Student Workers

Delegation of Work:

• Regularly assigns work to subordinate(s)

Supervision Given:

• Has primary responsibility for conducting performance evaluations and making recommendations for hiring and dismissing employees.

Required Education:

• Master's degree

Required Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of related job experience

License/Certification:

• None Required

• Experience in growing non-credit programs for adults;
• Experience in growing non-credit courses for school children;
• Experience in curriculum design and development;
• Experience in successfully securing grants;
• Experience in data management, analysis, and reporting;
• Experience of successful engagement with external partners.

Knowledge:

• Working knowledge of registration software;
• Knowledge of HTML and SharePoint; knowledge of the contracting process.

Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Good customer care skills.

Abilities:

• Ability to use the university's computer programs and software, and Microsoft Office in particular;
• Ability to maintain and update the departmental website;
• Ability to teach classes in one of the subjects offered.

Primary Work Location:

• Works in an office environment.

Physical Demands:

• Work is performed in a typical, comfortable interior work environment which does not subject the employee to any unpleasant elements;
• Individual has discretion in relation to walking, standing etc., and has minimal exposure to physical risks.

Commitment to Excellence - UHD

• Demonstrates a commitment to competently perform his/her job duties and responsibilities within established time frames.
• Continuously strives to improve work performance.
• Accepts responsibility for his/her commitments to the university.
• Contributes to the success of the university by consistently providing quality results in the performance of his/her job duties and responsibilities.

Respect and Cooperation

• Treats others with courtesy, respect, and dignity in the workplace.
• Promotes cooperation through open and honest communications and consideration of others ideas, thoughts, and opinions.

Integrity

• Demonstrates high ethical standards of conduct in the performance of his/her job duties and responsibilities.
• Accepts responsibility for his/her actions.
• Respects and complies with department and university policies, procedures, and work rules.

Leadership

• Leads the organizational unit's endeavors to achieve its goals and objectives in support of the university's vision and mission.
• Oversees the organizational unit's operations in accordance with the university's shared values of excellence, student success, inclusiveness, respect, and integrity.
• Fosters a dynamic work environment that encourages teamwork and cooperation.

Accountability

• Accountable for oversight of organizational unit's projects and initiatives; monitors utilization of allocated resources and status of projected time frames.
• Ensures organizational unit's operation are in compliance with university and department policies and procedures; responsible for development and revision of policies and procedures for assigned area(s).
• Resolves complex issues after careful consideration of all relevant information.
• Collaborates with other university administrators to keep the university apprised of significant developments and issues.

Change Management

• Manages the development and implementation of change initiatives to advance the university's goals and objectives.
• Assesses the availability of resources and ascertains additional resources required to effect change within projected timelines.
• Promotes the benefits of new methods, technology, and/or work environments resulting from changes.
• Addresses concerns to minimize impact of potential consequences of changes.
• Provides encouragement and support to employees through the change process.
• Supports changes in the university's organizational structure.

Talent Management

• Communicates the organizational unit's priorities and initiatives to employees and the importance of their contributions to the organizational unit's goals and objectives.
• Motivates employees by encouraging a commitment to excellence and recognizing employee accomplishments.
• Clearly defines employee responsibilities and expectations; provides guidance and constructive feedback.
• Encourages employee participation in professional development and training, and supports mentoring and on-the-job training to provide the tools for employees to be successful.
• Promotes teamwork and a work environment that fosters cooperation.
• Manages the resolution of performance issues expeditiously and with discretion.

Financial Administration

• Assesses and modifies organizational unit's budget annually to provide sufficient resources for organizational unit's operations aligned with goals and objectives, in consideration of the university's budget constraints.
• Directs administration of the organizational unit's budget to ensure effective utilization of financial resources and compliance with federal, State, and university policies and procedures.
• Approves disbursement of funds consistent with the organizational unit's budget.
• Monitors status of organizational unit's budget, and directs the resolution of deficiencies and/or discrepancies.

Organizational Management

• Manages department or section planning and assessment consistent with the university's goals and objectives and executive management's directives.
• Develops and oversees administration of the department/section budget to ensure effective utilization of financial resources and appropriate disbursement of funds.
• Fosters a cooperative and productive work environment that advances department/section operations and initiatives through motivation, encouragement, and professional development of staff.
• Develops department/section procedures and work rules for compliance with government regulations and university policies; participates in the development and revision of applicable university policies.
• Competently represents the department/section through interactions with the university community and/or external constituents.

Student Success Indirect Support

• Contributes to student success by assisting students with anything that supports their student experience, whether directly or indirectly.
• Helps students navigate their way through the different offices, programs, and services at the university and/or connects students with the appropriate party(ies).
• Connects students with services or resources that can help them with career exploration, goal selection, and ongoing academic assistance.
• Helps students build peer support networks.
• Encourages student participation in out-of-class activities.
• Provides encouragement and guidance to foster student success.
• Treats students with respect
• Maintains the learning environment to ensure quality and/or sound pedagogy.