Title: Director of Leadership and Professional Development

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday - Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Finance and Administration

Department: Human Resources

Position Summary

The Director of Leadership & Professional Development provides leadership for the creation and advancement of training and professional development programs designed to maximize the ability of Elon University staff and faculty to perform their current and future jobs and to be engaged in the life of the university. The Office of Leadership & Professional Development (OLPD) supports Elon University's mission by fostering a culture of learning and professional development and facilitating a variety of growth opportunities while nurturing an inclusive and holistic approach to individual learning and institutional development. OLPD supports a wide range of programs and groups including, individual and group (department or division) programming, the grant in aid program to support individual professional development, Lunch and Learns, coaching programs, Employee Resource Groups, the Enhanced Supervision Program. The Director serves as the primary and lead administrator and represents the OLPD across campus.

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.

Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses

Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.

Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.

Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.

Free use of campus fitness facilities.

Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.

Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

Master's degree in Psychology, counseling, leadership, or related field with more than 8 years of experience with the following relevant work experience:

• Current certification in coaching and assessment tool administration and scoring, including but not limited to 360 assessments preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to handle and maintain highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Experience supervising and motivating staff, setting priorities, providing direction, and delegating.

Preferred Education and Experience

Terminal degree (i.e., MFA, MD, JD, PhD) preferred, particularly in Clinical or I/O Psychology; masters degree in related field and minimum 10 years of learning, development, and coaching experience required. Experience in higher education strongly desirable.

Job Duties

• Leadership and Strategy: Articulate and design a strategy and plan to offer a comprehensive curriculum of employee leadership and professional development at all levels to connect and engage employees in the life, mission, values, and priorities of the university. Address skill building, professional competencies, and career progression. Provide employees with a wide range of topics and pedagogies, including cutting edge technology and resources. Ensure a healthy and dynamic workforce for current employees. Attract, retain, and develop staff and faculty of the future. Conduct assessments of individual, departmental, and university needs and collaborate with campus leaders to identify staff and faculty professional development and continuous learning needs of across campus. Build strong external partnerships with other campuses and professional organizations and associations to remain current on best practices and advance high-quality programs. Embed feedback and assessment within all programs, monitor and track participation for all programs, and use this data to better understand campus conditions. Manage the development and achievement of the OLPD Strategic Plan in support of the university strategic plan. 
• Administer Leadership and Professional Development Programs: Develop a full complement of online and in-person employee training and organizational development programs on a wide range of topics, to include but not limited to supervisory and managerial, leadership, compliance, customer service, and technical procedures and processes. Collaborate with and oversee campus subject matter experts (SMEs) and research, select, negotiate with, and supervise off-campus experts/vendors to design, development, pilot, and evaluate leadership and professional development programs and series. Work closely with subject matter experts to incorporate DEI throughout professional development opportunities and ensure staff and faculty achieve competency in these areas. Work with departments to develop customized training courses, team building experiences, and retreat agendas; facilitate custom team building and professional development workshops; and provide resources as requested. Provide expertise and coaching in usage and implementation of proprietary training instruments and curricula. Plan for future budget needs by utilizing industry benchmarking.  
• Presentations and Participation: Participate in advisory boards and other Elon councils and affinity group meetings on a routine basis. Manage the Staff Development Committee, comprised of staff from across campus. Participate on university wide committees, as assigned. 
• Daily Operations and Supervision: Respond to and work with individual staff and faculty members regarding professional development, coaching, leadership challenges, requests for grant in aid and OLPD certificates. Work with facilitators and coaches to ensure open, respectful, and effective relationships with staff and faculty. Forecast, oversee, manage, and track budgets and annual budget request and reports. Recruit, hire, evaluate, and supervise OLPD staff. Oversee all communications and marketing for all programs, including website and monthly newsletters and regularly working with University Communications. Other duties as assigned. 

Special Instructions to Applicants: Applicants who submit all required application materials by March 28, 2025 will receive priority consideration, however, the position will be considered open until filled.