Duke University Job Description:
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ASSESSMENTS (3785)


Job Title: DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ASSESSMENTS 

Job Code: 3785 

FLSA:

Job Level: 15 

Revised Date: 07/01/2020  

Job Family: JF 28 

Occupational Summary

In consultation with the Dean of Academic Affairs Trinity College, the Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, the Executive Vice Provost, and the Dean of Trinity College, the Director leads the development, communication, and implementation of the Office of Assessment's three- fold mission: to guide the College's overall assessment and reaffirmation strategies, to provide research resources (e.g., data, technology tools) to College leaders, and to consult with faculty leaders in the development of assessment planning at the program level. The Director produces and demonstrates best practices in assessment to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the office and to support excellence in undergraduate education.

This position provides administrative leadership for the formulation, interpretation, and administration of current and long-range policies, procedures, and projects. The Director maintains a deep understanding of the University's regional accrediting body's standards and requirements concerning both general education and program level assessment activities and reporting. The Director provides administrative direction to assessment staff regarding our financial, physical, and human resources. The Director developments and oversees the office operating budget and is charged with procuring external funding to support assessment efforts whenever possible. The Director also is responsible for supervising the training and management of assessment staff: one Associate Director, one Research Analyst, one Project Coordinator, and two to five undergraduate or graduate Research Assistants.

The Director determines the conceptual development of and strategic planning for general education assessment, department level assessment, organizational research, faculty grants, and other ad hoc assessment projects. The Director serves on numerous College and University committees in the areas of accreditation, curriculum development and review, data management, and others as assigned by the Dean of Academic Affairs. The Director contributes to the development and review of College policies and procedures. The Director ensures that the office's mission, events, and achievements are communicated appropriately to local, national, and international audiences.

The Director oversees consultations between Office of Assessment personnel and program officers (e.g., DUSes, assessment liaisons) in Arts & Sciences departments. The Director works with representatives of the Office of the Vice Provost of Academic Affairs to provide supportive and developmental resources including white papers, training guides, handbooks, and regular seminars, workshops, and discussion groups.

The Office of Assessment is the research arm of Trinity College. Partnering frequently with Trinity Technology Services, the Office of Institutional Research, the SISS Office, and the Office of the University Registrar, the Director helps steer policies, procedures, and projects in the areas of data collection, management, interpretation, and reporting. The Director guides the Office of Assessment's technology infrastructure including development and review of assessment measures, analytic platforms, and reporting spaces. The Director supervises the development of training materials and resources for the campus community.

Represent Duke nationally and regionally. The Director plans and instigates outreach to constituents at the college, university and medical center level along with regionally and nationally. The Director maintains and promotes a high level of engagement with the world of assessment, participating in and presenting at national conferences and workshops. The Director maintains contact with the Triangle-area assessment community as well.

The Director is a highly visible member and representative of Trinity College. The Director develops and maintains strong working relationships with faculty, deans, department chairs, center directors, and administrators. The Director meets regularly with lead assessment officers in other units, including the Division of Student Affairs, the School of Nursing, and the Divinity School, to share information and coordinate strategic plans. The Director also serves the college as a pre-major academic advisor. The proposed new Director teaches in the Program in Education and serves on honors thesis committees annually.

Work Performed

Office administration: - Plan and review budget and expenditures - Develop and supervise staff, Research Assistants, and interns - Manage the physical office - Oversee computing, data, and technology resources - Supervise the evolution of the office website as a communications hub

Reaffirmation (SACSCOC), episodic: - Provide ongoing assessment support and reporting for all information to support reaffirmation including the impact of the General Education curriculum and the Quality Enhancement Plan. - Maintain Trinity College compliance standards - Maintain departmental compliance with reporting requirements - Liaise with Associate Vice Provost of Academic Affairs regularly

Consultation: - Provide intellectual leadership to a variety of assessment activities including, but not limited to, assessment policies and protocols, research design, and best practices. - Maintain assessment liaison program (resources, training, outreach) - Liaise with A&S faculty on auxiliary assessment projects supporting undergraduate education. - Liaise with faculty and programs external to A&S (high-level consultation, grant development)

Strategic Planning: - Determine the conceptual development of and strategic planning for general education assessment, departmental and program level assessment, organizational research, faculty grants, and other ad hoc assessment projects. - Serve on numerous College and University committees in the areas of accreditation, curriculum development and review, data management, and others as assigned by the Dean of Academic Affairs. - Contribute to the development and review of College policies and procedures. The Director ensures that the office's mission, events, and achievements are communicated appropriately to local, national, and international audiences.

Committee work; intra- and inter-campus outreach: - Serve as the college's liaison on university level committees as needed but specifically for those related to assessment and accreditation. - Maintain clear and open communications with other offices and personnel in the college charged with the gathering and maintenance of student data for the purposes of the daily operation of the college. - Attend and present at appropriate regional and national conferences and serving on national committees.

Project development and management: - Lead the planning of research studies, including designing strategies for data collection and analysis. Anticipate intellectual, analytical, or logistical challenges associated with research studies. - Provide college level institutional data to Trinity College leadership to inform policy, personnel, and pedagogical decisions. - Oversee the ongoing improvement of and management of the undergraduate course evaluation system and advise the graduate and professional schools in the development and administration of their evaluation process. - Supervise the development, implementation, and reporting of direct and indirect measures of student learning as necessary to support the mission of the college and university. - Oversee the coordination of regular and ad hoc assessment initiatives (e.g., Global Perspectives Inventory, Collegiate Learning Assessment, Reasoning about Current Issues test, Critical Thinking Assessment Test, and the Defining Issues Test). - Partner with Trinity College Academic Deans to align evidence and policy development.

Teaching and Advising: - Teach at least one course annually - Advise undergraduate students (pre-major and within the major)

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education/Training:

Bachelor's required; Ph.D. or Ed.D. preferred in psychology, education, applied statistics, or another social sciences discipline.

 

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in higher education, preferably with 3 years in a leadership role in a research or assessment setting at a four-year institution. Experience teaching, advising, and/or supervising undergraduate students are highly desirable.

 

Skills:

 

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.


Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

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