Job Title

Dean, The George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service

Applications Accepted From

Public: Open to the public , University Wide

Special Instructions to Applicants

The full position profile may be found here

This position is eligible for the following benefits:

medical, vision, dental, basic and supplemental life, winter break closure, paid holidays, educational benefits for you and eligible dependents, sick leave, vacation, and retirement.

Posting Number

20165217S

Job Description

Originally created in 1981 as the Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development, the George V. Voinovich School was formally established in 2007 in honor of the late Senator George V. Voinovich. He served the State of Ohio in numerous capacities for 46 years and championed public-private partnerships in government. The Voinovich School is now
considered one of the premier public service programs in the nation, serving as a leader in developing research-based solutions to challenges facing communities, the economy and the environment.

Among public service colleges, the Voinovich School remains true to Senator Voinovich’s vision, and is distinctive in its ability to build partnerships with nonprofit organizations, government, and businesses that create public value. Ranked 62nd in the U.S. News and World Report’s list of top public affairs graduate schools for 2023, the Voinovich School integrates services, investments, and talent development to grow companies, build community collaboratives and non-profit organizations, and improve government delivery of services.

The Voinovich School hosts projects in every county in Ohio, and then works to scale these solutions across Appalachia, the country, and the world. Focusing on three key strategic outcomes: economic growth and opportunity, social impact and sustainability, and leadership and community building, the School has helped Ohio enterprises generate nearly $3 billion in economic activity since 2014 – including the Small Business Development Center, Ohio Apex Accelerator (formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Center), TechGROWTH Ohio, the Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion, and the Center for Economic Development and Community Resilience. The Voinovich School also serves as an active partner with the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Health Sciences and Professions in the Ohio University Health Collaborative to raise awareness of the factors that give rise to health disparities and coordinate their collective health efforts to improve the quality of care for Ohioans in the region.

Through its strong public service mission and commitment to working with communities to implement evidence-based solutions that make meaningful, lasting impacts on Ohioans’ health, livelihoods, and well-being, the Voinovich School serves as a bridge among local communities and state, local, and national governments. With a focus on entrepreneurship and economic
development, energy and environment, health and wellness, education, and social innovation and public service, the Voinovich School puts research into action.

The Voinovich School’s degree and non-degree granting programs educate and inspire tomorrow’s workforce. Faculty, staff, and students work in tandem on social innovation and public service, economic development and entrepreneurship, and energy and the environment. Degrees include an on-campus Master of Public Administration that is coupled with executive and online options,
a Master of Science in Environmental Studies, an online Master of Sustainability, Security, and Resilience, graduate certificate programs, and an undergraduate Environmental Studies, Sustainability, and Resilience Certificate. Additionally, the School partners with the Honors Tutorial College to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. The Voinovich Academy for Excellence in Public Service offers professional and executive education programs to support current and future leaders serving public and nonprofit organizations, equipping them with the tools to make a difference in the region and state. The Voinovich School’s interdisciplinary approach facilitates unique learning experiences for its students, encouraging collaboration across multiple fields
and opportunities to work with real clients and organizations. Through these multiple educational offerings, students apply their research and knowledge to address some of the toughest challenges facing society.

The Dean of the George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service

Reporting directly to the executive vice president and provost, the dean of the
George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service (“GVS dean”) serves
as its chief academic and administrative officer. The founding dean of the George
V. Voinovich School, Mark Weinberg, will step down at the conclusion of the 2022-
23 academic year. His successor will inherit a well-established School that has
become one of the most highly respected and innovative schools of public service
in the nation. The next GVS dean will continue this momentum in collaboration
with accomplished faculty and professional staff, dedicated alumni, and talented
students.

Administratively, the GVS dean is responsible for planning and managing the
operational, personnel, budgetary, external relations, and student activities of
the School while providing leadership and direction in the development and
implementation of modern and relevant curricula and academic programming.
The GVS dean currently has 16 direct reports: 3 associate deans, 10 program
directors, and 3 administrative leaders (comprising 10 faculty and 6 professional
staff). Overall, the Voinovich School includes 78 administrative staff members, 7
tenured faculty, 4 instructional faculty, 11 visiting faculty, 3 part-time faculty, and 26
adjuncts working across its Athens and Dublin-based campuses. The incoming
GVS dean must have a deep commitment to recruiting and retaining diverse
faculty and staff members, as well as to equitable outcomes for students from
diverse backgrounds. Financial oversight includes a projected 2023 budget of
approximately $21 million, including research expenditures of about $10 million
and state appropriation expenditures of $3.8 million.

With a keen ability to collaborate across Ohio University and with external
partners, the next GVS dean will need to bring successful leadership experience,
coupled with legislative acumen and intellectual depth. The GVS dean will be
expected to be a bridge to policymakers outside of the University, tapping into
the School’s network while building relationships to position the Voinovich
School as a meaningful partner to address social, economic, and environmental
concerns through effective programs and legislation. The new GVS dean should
be prepared to leverage the assets of the School while working at the nexus of
state government agencies and programs to advance understanding of major
contemporary issues, especially in the Appalachian region, while advancing
community solutions.

AMONG THE NATION’S TOP PUBLIC AFFAIRS SCHOOLS
The Voinovich School continues to strengthen its position
as a national frontrunner in leadership and public affairs
education through its strong public service mission and
commitment to working with communities to implement
solutions that make meaningful, lasting impacts on Ohioans’
health, livelihoods, and well-being.

PRIORITIES FOR FUTURE SUCCESS
The next GVS dean is expected to foster partnerships across the University, region, and state, and to facilitate strategic planning and goal development across the School in unison with the University’s broader strategic framework. This work will require effective and collegial interaction with University peers and as a member of University leadership teams, and increased collaboration across multiple colleges, campuses, and community partners. Opportunities that have been identified as priorities to further the Voinovich School’s future progress include:
1. Advocate for the Voinovich School and its partnerships: Cultivate relationships with government, non-profit, and private sector leaders to amplify the Voinovich School’s role in serving Ohio and the Appalachian region. Elevate the Voinovich School’s reputation as a national leader in public service, with an emphasis on the efficacy of strategic partnerships.
2. Respond to the expressed needs of communities (broadly defined): Employ a big-picture mindset to engage partners in solutions-based approaches that address seemingly intractable societal problems, while contributing the Voinovich School’s academic expertise and knowledge of the region.
3. Foster institutional and external collaboration: Promote the Voinovich School’s role as a cornerstone of the University’s public service outreach and community engagement mission, with a special focus on the state of Ohio and Appalachian Ohio regional partnerships. Advance collaboration across multiple colleges, campuses, and community partners, while growing innovative, public service-related degree programs that develop the future public/nonprofit sector workforce.
4. Prioritize strategic outcomes within Ohio and the Appalachian region: Expand and develop new initiatives around the Voinovich School’s three strategic outcomes: economic growth and opportunity, social impact and sustainability, and leadership and community capacity building. Using metrics and an evidence-based approach, determine these initiatives’ impacts and efficacy in consultation with internal and external partners.
5. Advocate for appropriations and contributions that are strategically aligned: Make the case for sustained financial support from key funders, especially within state government, while pursuing additional grant and private funding opportunities to support the Voinovich School’s overall mission.
6. Administer fiscal and people resources effectively: Facilitate metrics-based decision-making that promotes responsible allocation of financial resources, coupled with an understanding of how to build and sustain a collaborative, high-performing team.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least fifteen years of executive-level experience in academia, non-profits,

state government and/or government relations, ideally in Ohio and/or the
Appalachian region

• Significant experience in bipartisan coalition-building, with a commitment to

sustained partnerships with the private sector and with public leaders across
the state

• Contemporary understanding of a public research university, including its

structure and the role it plays in effecting broad-based and positive societal
change

• Evident passion for public service, especially in service to the people of Ohio

and Appalachia

• Proven track record of executing large-scale initiatives involving multiple and

diverse constituent groups

• Demonstrated skills in consultative decision-making with clearly defined and

achievable goals

• Experience in broad-based, multi-year strategic planning guided by community

needs

• Senior-level administrative experience in financial planning, management, and

operational execution within a complex organization

• Deep knowledge of the policymaking and appropriation process at the local,

state, and federal levels, coupled with an understanding of grant funding

• Ability to build and maintain successful relationships and innovative

collaborations among diverse constituencies

• Visible commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
• Confident public speaking skills, coupled with excellent written communication
• Working knowledge of higher education preferred; relevant experience with

access to and/or relationships with key legislative decision makers is desired

• Master’s degree required, with a terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D. or J.D.) preferred

Preferred Qualifications

Department

Provost Office

Pay Rate

Job Open Date

03/23/2023

Posting Close Date

04/07/2023

Job Category

Administrative at-will appointment

Months

12 month

Planning Unit

Office of the Provost

Work Schedule

Campus

Athens

Expected hours worked per week

40+ hours per week

Expected duration of assignment

indefinite

Applicants may contact this person if they have questions about this position.

GVSdeansearch@beecherhillsearch.com.

Diversity Statement

Ohio University is proud of its rich history, diverse campuses, international communities, and beautiful Appalachian settings. As part of our ongoing efforts to provide and support a transformative learning experience, we affirm our commitment to fostering a welcoming, respectful, diverse, and inclusive workforce and community. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, ethnicity, national origin, national ancestry, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military service or veteran status, mental or physical disability, or genetic information. Ohio University is an equal access/equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Employment Type

full-time regular

Job Family/Subfamily

Career Track & Level

Pay Grade

EXEC 01