About This Role: 

The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA), within the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS), is looking to hire an Executive Director to join their team. This position will be responsible for overseeing the operations and administration of all aspects of the consortium in a manner consistent with the alliance principles of collaboration, shared leadership, and providing high-quality distance education teaching and learning opportunities. The Great Plains IDEA community includes university administration, colleges and academic departments, faculty, professional staff, and students. The Executive Director will maintain working relationships with all these constituents, responding to information requests, providing consultation on alliance policy and procedures, facilitating communication and the open exchange of ideas, as well as decision-making that supports the delivery of alliance academic programs.

The Executive Director must be knowledgeable and able to perform at all levels of the alliance with the ability to anticipate needs, determine work priorities, and monitor progress toward goals. Essential abilities include working in a highly collaborative environment, appreciating diverse points of view, and a proactive approach to management. Areas of responsibility include financial management, day-to-day alliance operations, governance, program assessment and data analysis, and academic program support. This position reports to the HHS Interim Dean.

Additional duties include, but are not limited to:

• Identify and cultivate strategic opportunities for alliance growth to drive business development and expand alliance reach and impact
• Position and promote the alliance as a national leader in collaborative online education and learner access and impact
• Track and report on national policy issues that impact the alliance
• Organize and facilitate communication among and between Cabinet, Human Sciences and Agriculture Boards of Directors, inter-institutional administrative teams, and faculty via conference calls, video conferencing, and face-to-face meetings (e.g., visits to alliance member campuses, Great Plains IDEA Annual Meeting, APLU, etc.)
• Organize and participate in the functional team (graduate deans, registrars, continuing education, disability support services) and department chair calls
• Facilitate special subcommittees of the Cabinet and Boards of Directors to consider policy and special projects or initiatives
• Develop/revise and implement policies, special projects, and initiatives as directed by Cabinet and Boards
• Coordinate consortium marketing activities through design and production of marketing materials, maintenance of consortium website, and support for member institution marketing activities
• Conduct site visits to member campuses to provide orientation to new administrators and faculty, as funding allows
• Identify and seek additional sources of funding to promote the alliance and offer innovative, market-driven education and support to institutions
• Develop annual alliance operating budgets for approval by three consortium governing boards
• Prepare revenue analysis by institution and by program showing the distribution of all consortium tuition received
• Organize annual conference call and prepare consortium data/financial reports for the Great Plains IDEA chief financial officers to recommend the consortium Common Price
• Direct the collection and analysis of data and prepare reports on demographics, enrollment trends, credit hour generation, and revenue distribution 

Why Join Us: 

Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance is a consortium of 20 renowned public universities from across the United States, offering online degree and certificate programs in human sciences and agriculture. These transformative academic programs foster an expanded knowledge of skillset in your field of interest, in a flexible online learning environment. The mission of Great Plains IDEA is to serve learners by offering online, flexible, affordable instruction for a virtual community of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Our alliance offers high-quality, academic programs that are greater in reach and significance than any single university could offer alone by sharing resources in efficient ways. Under a contract with Great Plains IDEA, Kansas State University provides management services to the alliance. Additional information can be found at www.gpidea.org.

The College of Health and Human Sciences is home to six academic departments (Applied Human Sciences; Food, Nutrition, Dietetics & Health; Hospitality Management; Interior Design & Fashion Studies; Personal Financial Planning; and Kinesiology), the Center on Aging, Physician Assistant program, and a Nursing partnership with Wichita State University. The College enrolls roughly 2,800 students (undergraduate and graduate) and employs more than 105 full-time faculty members in teaching, research, and Extension positions (https://www.hhs.k-state.edu/). The College is committed to promoting research, scholarship, creative activity, and discovery with a strategic and cohesive focus on health and human behavior.

Kansas State University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays). To see what benefits are available, please visit https://www.k-state.edu/hsc/benefits. 

We Support Diversity and Inclusion: 

Kansas State University embraces diversity and inclusion. The university actively seeks individuals who foster a collegial environment and cooperative interactions with coworkers, students, and others. The University is dedicated to promoting the Principles of Community. 

Worksite Options: 

This position is eligible for remote worksite. Work is performed fully in a remote capacity. An employee who is working remotely must reside within the United States to comply with all federal and state laws, filings, or tax requirements. 

What You’ll Need to Succeed: 

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Seven (7) years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in related content area or MBA
• Demonstrated ability to organize complex projects, solve problems, and prioritize and direct various activities
• Demonstrated team building, consensus building, and facilitating dialog skills
• Experience working with governing boards
• Minimum 5 years’ leadership and/or organizational management experience in higher education
• Skilled in speaking, listening, and writing in a clear, thorough, timely, and professional manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques relative to the audience
• Demonstrated exceptional interpersonal skills in multiple settings
• Experience with remote work and/or leading a remote team
• Experience in higher education administration
• Experience with governmental financial management and budget preparation
• Demonstrated creativity and innovation in building new higher education initiatives
• Experience with best practices in online education  
• Success in seeking and administering grant funding

Other Requirements:

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment 

How to Apply: 

Please submit the following documents:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. Three professional references

Inquiries about the position should be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Bronwyn Fees, at fees@ksu.edu with the subject line: GPIDEA Executive Director Search. 

Screening of Applications Begins: 

Immediately and continues until the position is filled. For best consideration, apply by April 8, 2024. 

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: 

$60,383 - $81,500 annually 

Equal Employment Opportunity: 

Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. 

Background Screening Statement: 

In connection with your employment application, Kansas State University will procure a Background Screen on you as part of the process of considering your candidacy as an employee.