Executive Director, Program for Leadership and Character in the College

Wake Forest University
United States, North Carolina, Winston Salem
May 07, 2025
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Job Description Summary The Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University seeks a high-level leader to be Executive Director of Leadership and Character in the College. This strategically minded senior leader will help lead an innovative, dynamic, and values-driven program that inspires, educates, and empowers leaders of character to serve humanity and is at the forefront of a national movement to educate character in U.S. colleges and universities. The Executive Director will serve as a member of the senior leadership team and work closely with the Senior Executive Director to develop and oversee the Program's strategic plan, manage key Program staff and initiatives in the undergraduate College, and steward the Program's resources and opportunities to advance its core mission, integrate key functions across the team, and extend its impact at Wake Forest and across higher education. The Executive Director will develop a strategic vision for advancing the Program's mission, especially in the undergraduate College; hire and manage key staff; oversee special projects and ensure successful completion of core initiatives; build and sustain a culture of creative collaboration among the team; communicate the Program's values, vision, and initiatives to a variety of audiences; and direct important aspects of program development, management, and communication. The ideal candidate will have a capacity for strategic thinking; a passion for management practices that support staff development; a commitment to fostering collaborative teams and encouraging organizational improvement; and an ability to communicate complexity with clarity and care. The ideal candidate will be also purpose-driven with a genuine enthusiasm for the mission of the Program and a desire to make a positive impact at Wake Forest and in higher education. They will be caring, reliable, humble, diligent, and detail-oriented, with the capacity to exercise wise judgment, write clearly and persuasively, and build meaningful relationships and collaborative cultures. Familiarity with higher education is required. Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational institution dedicated to academic excellence in liberal arts, graduate and professional education. Located in Winston-Salem, NC ("The City of Arts and Innovation"), the University has a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world, as indicated by the motto Pro Humanitate (for humanity), which encourages students to develop the qualities of human character needed to serve humanity. With the aim to educate the whole person, the University has established an innovative Program for Leadership and Character that designs creative, liberal arts-based programming to help students develop the virtues of character needed to lead in an increasingly complex world. The Program is based on cutting-edge academic research on leadership and character, including research conducted by Wake Forest faculty who are leading experts on the study of character. The Program has received major gifts from individual donors and grants from major foundations to develop leaders of character at Wake Forest and beyond, including through the Educating Character Initiative, a national effort funded by $43 million from the Lilly Endowment to support other colleges and universities who wish to educate character in their contexts. The Program is increasingly seen as a national and international leader on issues of character in higher education. Please submit 1) a cover letter explaining your interest in the position, your experience managing staff and/or building organizational cultures, and your commitment to leadership and character; 2) a resume or curriculum vitae; and 3) contact information for three professional references (at least one of whom must be a current or former supervisor). If you wish, you may also submit 4) an (optional) link to a shared folder with relevant supplemental materials (such as a writing sample, program description, syllabus, past strategic plan, video recording, etc.). The position will remain open until it is filled, but applications received by May 23, 2025, will receive priority consideration. This position will be in-person at Wake Forest's campus in Winston-Salem, NC. Job Description Essential Functions: Provides high-level strategic leadership, including working with the senior leadership team to develop and implement a strategic plan; identifying, clarifying, and achieving strategic goals; and empowering team members to accomplish these goals. Leads strategic initiatives and projects and provides program oversight in collaboration and consultation with relevant staff, especially in the College. Works with the senior leadership team to integrate the Program's intellectual vision and strategic functions across the Program's three teams in the College, Professional Schools, and Educating Character Initiative. Manages key Program staff, including the Director of Communications; Director of Programming in the College; Director of Leadership and Character in Academic, Civic, and Religious Life; Senior Research Scholar in the College; and Executive Assistant. Builds and sustains a culture of collaboration, creativity, and support among the team and with relevant partners. Works with staff to plan effective and constructive team meetings, retreats, and workshops and to provide professional development opportunities that strengthen the team and support individual growth. Works with the senior leadership team and the Senior Director of Program Administration to develop budgets and spending plans that maintain alignment between the Program's expenditures and its strategic goals. Assists with grant-writing and fundraising to support the Program's mission. Drafts and/or edits strategic communications, including annual reports, newsletters, speeches, and other high-level internal and external communications. Develops, coordinates, and sustains strategic internal and external partnerships that advance the goals of leadership and character education at Wake Forest and beyond. Serves as an ambassador for the Program, including meeting with high-level campus leaders and partners and representing the Program at relevant conferences, meetings, and events. Advises the Senior Executive Director on important decisions. Collaborates with the research team and senior leadership team to support iterative program evaluation to ensure the Program meets key goals, continuously improves, and is accountable to funders, partners, and stakeholders. Performs other duties as needed. Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Masters degree in a relevant field, and/or the equivalent level of experience managing teams, programs, or strategic initiatives, especially in a higher education or non-profit setting. High-level capacity for strategic leadership and experience developing, implementing, and assessing a strategic plan. Extensive experience managing and mentoring staff and helping teams to develop collaborative cultures and practices that support individual growth and organizational flourishing. Excellent writing and communication skills in all formats: emails, public presentations, grant reports, memos, one-on-one meetings, etc. Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. Detail-oriented with the ability to develop, coordinate, and execute careful, comprehensive, and complex plans. An ability to effectively manage multiple priorities, programs, and projects at once. A deep commitment to supporting the professional and personal development of staff. Genuine enthusiasm for the mission of the Program for Leadership and Character and a willingness to learn more about leadership and character development. Good character, a strong work ethic, and high emotional and relational intelligence. Familiarity with best practices in leadership and organizational management. Demonstrated ability to: Work independently with minimal supervision. Think strategically and make thoughtful, compassionate, and courageous decisions. Solve problems creatively. Set priorities and effectively manage time and resources. Be a constructive, compassionate, and cooperative leader of a team. Navigate complex relational dynamics with a variety of stakeholders. Positively influences colleagues and develop collaborative relationships with a wide range of people. Manage conflict in healthy and constructive ways. Openness to feedback and a commitment to personal and professional growth. Ability to represent the Program and the University in a professional manner. Ability to travel and work occasional weekend or evening hours as needed. Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Ph.D., J.D., M.B.A., or terminal degree in your field. Knowledge of character and character education. Advanced study in organizational leadership or management. Certification or training in project and/or staff management. Accountabilities: Reports to the Senior Executive Director of the Program for Leadership and Character. Responsible for own work. Supervisory responsibilities. Physical Requirements: Sedentary work primarily involves sitting/standing; communicating with others to exchange information; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers; and assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned. Environmental Conditions: No environmental conditions. Additional Job Description Time Type Requirement Full time Note to Applicant: This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor. In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment. Equal Opportunity Statement The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status. Accommodations for Applicants** If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact AskHR@wfu.eduor (336) 758-4700.