Director, Searle Center For Advancing Learning And Teaching

The Director of the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching will be responsible for leading the Center in the following key areas: (a) Provide vision and leadership for advancing learning and teaching within Northwestern in line with University strategic priorities, (b) Collaborate with schools and academic units to develop and apply evidence-based learning and teaching initiatives across the University focused on teaching development, inclusive teaching, curricular innovation, and assessment of learning, and (c) Promote the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in learning contexts across all fields and disciplines in the University. The Director supervises four associate/sr. associate directors in the Center and is responsible for the work of the full Center staff.

Please submit application materials by August 1, 2021.

Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

Vision and Leadership

• Provides vision and leadership for advancing learning and teaching within Northwestern in line with University strategic priorities
• Collaborates with a broad range of constituencies in a decentralized institutional environment in the development of learning and teaching initiatives across the University focused on faculty development, inclusive teaching, curricular innovation and assessment of learning that help faculty enhance their teaching and their students’ learning
• Promotes the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion in the curriculum and classroom across all fields and disciplines in the university in order to promote engagement and learning for all students
• Identifies strategies to support teaching and learning as the University emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Collaborates around the vision and planning for the use of emerging teaching and learning technologies in curriculum development and classroom teaching, in line with the efforts of Teaching and Learning Technologies to support digital educational innovations across the University
• Remains current with the research and literature on learning and teaching in higher education, networks with national and international groups and individuals in the field, and contributes to the literature through publications and/or conferences
• Directs the development and implementation of strategic planning for the Center, with engagement of Center staff

Program Design and Delivery

• Oversees the design and delivery of programs on learning and teaching for the Center’s constituencies (instructors, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) through learning communities, courses, workshops and other innovative formats
• Supports and contributes to the expansion of professional development for the Center’s constituencies (instructors, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) in inclusive learning and teaching
• Provides strategic direction and support for campus collaborations in assessment and evaluation in curriculum, learning and teaching
• Collaborates on learning and teaching initiatives with academic and student support services in connection to Center efforts, and ensures the University community has ample and appropriate resources for supporting these initiatives, including an informed and current website

Administration and Management:

• Oversees the Searle Center professional staff, including supervision, hiring, evaluation, and professional development
• Directs the evaluation and assessment of Center programs and activities
• Oversees the Center’s budget and allocation of resources across Center’s initiatives and programs

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree required
• At least five to ten years of leadership experience in a university-based teaching and learning center
• Experience with the design and evaluation of programs or initiatives that foster evidence-based practices and inclusive pedagogy
• A successful record of teaching in an institution of higher education

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Knowledge of the literature on learning and teaching in higher education, including theories and practice of learning and teaching, learning contexts, curricular design, instruction, and assessment
• Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration and lasting partnerships, promote diversity, equity and inclusion, establish community, and promote innovation
• Demonstrated commitment to supporting meaningful learning for students through the promotion of faculty development, curricular innovation, and assessment of learning
• Demonstrated project and people management skills. Candidates should possess initiative and flexibility, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to set and manage a budget

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or other terminal degree and record of scholarship on teaching and learning preferred