Sr. Director, Academic Affairs (Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation)

The Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University (BCPI, the Center) seeks a Sr. Director Academic Affairs as a senior member of the Center’s leadership team to manage an applied research and experiential learning portfolio of programs. The first of its kind in the world, the Center aims to advance the field of public sector innovation by marrying cutting-edge practice with world class research to transform the culture of government, deliver exceptional results for residents, and inspire trust in public service. The Center is housed within the JHU School of Government and Policy (SGP) alongside the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence and the Black Wealth Data Center.

Working closely with and under the supervision of the Executive Director of the Center and in collaboration with other senior leaders at the Center, SGP leadership and faculty, other JHU faculty, and collaborating partners, the Senior Director of Academic Affairs leads the design and implementation of an applied research portfolio grounded in the Center’s public innovation programs, which seek to strengthen local government capacity to address important public problems with the support of grants and other resources. As the head of the Center’s Academic Practice, the Sr. Director is responsible for building a knowledge base and demonstrating impact for the field of public innovation by developing thought leadership and sponsoring, conducting, and translating research relevant for practitioners in local governments. The Sr. Director also oversees the Bloomberg Public Innovation Fellowship and a student-facing Summer Scholars program.

The Sr. Director must have a forward-thinking mindset, with the vision to develop and lead research strategies and academic programming, manage a high-performing team, cultivate a strong network of partners and collaborations, deliver measurable and impactful programs, and advance leading-edge research that engages and benefits a network of students, faculty, city leaders, and practitioners.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong academic research background to shape the research agenda for the Center and identify collaboration opportunities with scholars and partners. They must also possess strong management capacity to effectively build and implement new programs and strategies in a fast-evolving environment.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Design, develop and implement an interdisciplinary research agenda and associated projects and programs to advance the field of public innovation, in collaboration with Center leadership, funders, and faculty from across the SGP and university.
• Oversee the efficient and effective production and dissemination of multiple research projects and other knowledge products (e.g., case studies) designed to contribute towards the body of knowledge for the field of public innovation.
• Design the frameworks supporting the provision of funding and other resource support to faculty and collaborating partners for research and student programming.
• Support school and university-wide initiatives that promote interdisciplinary collaborations, including student-focused academic programs and opportunities, such as the Summer Scholars program, research assistants, and development of public innovation-focused curricula or courses.
• Advance programming that engages faculty and government leaders in meaningful projects and collaborations.
• Contribute towards the Center’s standing as a highly respected international thought leader for public innovation and civic engagement practices.
• Keep abreast of relevant research in the field to identify opportunities for collaboration, amplification, and scholarly engagement.
• Coordinate with other JHU research centers and external stakeholders to align research agendas and support strategic collaborations.
• Represent the Center to external stakeholders including governments, philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, and academic and public sector leaders.
• Continuously cultivate and manage a team of staff to support advancing the outlined responsibilities.
• Perform other duties, as assigned in support of BCPI, the school and university.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree.
• Ten years of related experience including leadership experience managing diverse teams and initiatives.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond HS Diploma/Graduation Equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• A PhD in a relevant field or J.D. degree
• At least 10 years of experience in academic research, academic programming, local government or governance.
• Strong record of excellence in developing and implementing new academic programs and initiatives, teaching, mentoring and public engagement.
• Experience managing donor-funded programs and initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research related to public innovation and cities and communities.
• Experience working with cities or local governments
• Familiarity with administrative demands of research coordination, including funding and grantmaking processes and research compliance issues
• Strong record of excellence in developing and implementing new academic programs, curricula and initiatives, teaching, mentoring and public engagement.
• Significant supervisory experience, especially in a research-based environment.
• Experience managing teams and coordinating with external partners
• Interest in bridging research and praxis and growing a worldwide network of government innovation experts and practitioners
• Strong communications skills to serve as a persuasive representative for programs with cities, partner organizations, and students at public forums and elsewhere.