The University of Kansas (KU) seeks nominations for and expressions of interest in the position of Executive Director of the Achievement and Assessment Institute (AAI). At a critical time for our society, AAI has the potential to increase our positive impact on the lives of children and adults through research, development, direct-impact programming, the development of healthy environments, and community engagement. The Executive Director will be the driver of AAI's future--providing visionary and inspirational leadership that elevates this already successful, indispensable institute to its next level.
AAI is a unique and influential leader, providing innovative tools to enhance the capacity of organizations that help children, adults, and communities. AAI supports researchers, practitioners, faculty, staff, and students in research and service related to key areas of its mission. AAI's impact can be seen in its partnerships with local, state, national, and global communities to apply scholarship to implement programs with direct public impact; development and publication of generalizable knowledge that allows the magnification of their mission through solution development; faculty support and encouragement to generate resources for research and development in support of enhanced achievement of individuals and organizations; and vital work experiences for students as they develop professionally.
AAI is one of 11 designated research centers that fall under the auspices of the University of Kansas Office of Research. The Office of Research facilitates innovation, creative activity, discovery, and the application and dissemination of knowledge. AAI is comprised of eight Strategic eight Tactical Centers.
The Executive Director is an executive level position reporting to the Director of AAI and is responsible for implementing AAI strategies into daily operations to meet mission, quality, and growth objectives. Potential areas of growth are K-12 educational assessment, technology used to facilitate education and social services, systems transformation, and equitable and participatory evaluation and research. With more than 400 full-time employees, affiliated faculty at KU and other institutions a $68M budget, and a compound annual growth rate of approximately 12%, AAI is the largest research, development, and implementation center at the University of Kansas. AAI strategic centers will report to this position.
KU is the state's flagship university, an R-1 institution, and a member of the Association of American Universities, with 40 graduate programs ranked by US News. Founded in 1865, KU enrolls 27,638 students, employs nearly 2,900 faculty members and 10,689 staff, and offers programs in nine locations, including online through Jayhawk Global and at its research residential campus on beautiful and historic Mt. Oread in Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence has a lively downtown and a thriving arts and music scene, and its local government has enacted ordinances supporting equality for all members of its population.
At the minimum, the Executive Director must have ten years of experience growing and leading entrepreneurial service delivery enterprise, with at least five years of experience as a senior member of its executive team; three years' experience advanced business planning and/or management in a research and development focused environment; and demonstrated leadership in managing continuous improvement processes in a collaborative environment.
