Director, Kusske Design Initiative

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Director leads, manages, and furthers the core mission of the Kusske Design Initiative (KDI), which involves three primary tasks: (1) developing and furthering the strategy of KDI in close collaboration with the dean and the KDI core team, (2) managing programs and projects, and (3) managing people at KDI.

The initiative’s guiding principle is “advancing the dialogue” across disciplines by: conducting events and public programs throughout the year; initiating, cultivating, and leading collaborative projects that exemplify designed solutions; and providing access to facilities and diverse resources for creative work. To orchestrate the co-development of KDI event, program, and project content, the Director draws from their own broad expertise in design and related fields while working with CDes leadership, faculty, staff, collaborators, and partners for specific subject-matter expertise.

The Director works with the KDI core team to harmonize and hone themes and content of programs and projects, knitting together different disciplinary perspectives. With administrative support primarily from the KDI coordinator, the Director ensures rigorous follow-through in implementation, as projects and programs unfold both ad-hoc and according to specified rhythms throughout the year. The Director works across and among constituents and collaborators who are diverse from both disciplinary and cultural perspectives.

APPOINTMENT DETAILS
This is a regular, 100% time, 12-month P&A appointment on an annual contract that is renewable for up to three years and has potential for subsequent annual renewals. The expected annual salary range is $85,000-$130,000. Comprehensive benefits include excellent health care and retirement plans and generous paid time off.

The Director will report to the dean; the role will supervise the KDI coordinator and student assistant/s.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

KDI Strategy – 40%
– Connect project topics and outcomes to ongoing KDI events and portfolio development.
– Work with development and administrative colleagues to cultivate and steward philanthropic support.
– Cultivate supplemental support through both originating and responding to ideas with potential for grant funding.
– Develop and manage the overarching strategy for the KDI student experience.
– Develop the high-level communications strategy for the initiative.

Program and Project Management – 40%
– Direct the KDI events throughout the year.
– Manage and co-develop the virtual and physical KDI galleries and exhibits.
– Steer development of the evolving physical collections.
– Manage the ongoing operation and innovative augmentation of the initiative’s custom-developed suite of digital tools for supporting dialogue and co-creativity.
– Pursue grants to extend and deepen KDI inquiries and supplement the initiative’s existing funding. Lead, co-lead, and otherwise contribute to grant-funded projects as appropriate.
– Expand the reach of KDI. Prepare and present information about KDI in professional forums and public venues.
– Manage KDI communications through multiple channels, collaborating across the college and University as needed.
– Manage the application and review processes for the Kusske Scholars and Fellows.
– Manage the processes for incoming faculty co-principals.

People Management – 20%
– Manage processes related to the KDI-supported work of the faculty co-principals and other collaborators designated by the initiative’s core team.
– Supervise the KDI coordinator and any additional staff who may be added through increased funding.
– Hire and supervise undergraduate and graduate student assistants.
– Meet regularly with the student cohort, guiding them to ensure a cohesive, substantive student experience.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications
– Advanced degree in relevant field, and at least 6 years of experience. Significant recognition in the field may be considered as some type of substitution.
– Demonstrated commitment to or experience advancing principles of inclusion and equity
– Demonstrated ability in strategic planning for complex projects involving diverse collaborators
– Demonstrated achievements in research involving creative production and/or other non-traditional modes of scholarship
– Experience with inter/multi/trans-disciplinary scholarship and/or programming
– Experience leading small- to medium-sized teams
– Excellent written and verbal communication skills
– Experience being nimble and flexible

Preferred Qualifications
– Demonstrated achievements in teaching
– Proven success in collaborating closely with fundraising efforts for philanthropy and grants
– Familiarity with project-based learning, object-based learning, and/or supports for learning within or outside of formal venues and/or credentialing structures
– Experience managing maker space/s and/or other facilities supporting studio-based and/or hands-on learning
– Facility with a variety of digital tools for widely communicating through multimodal forms supplementing text

TO APPLY

Apply online at https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/364721.

Include a CV or resume, and letter stating views of the importance of diverse perspectives in inter/multi/transdisciplinary work, cultivation of collaborative contexts, and dialogue as design methodology.

COMPENSATION:  $85,000 to $130,000 DOQ