UWM University Centers Director

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Position Title:UWM University Centers Director

Job Category:Academic Staff

Employment Type:Regular

Job Profile:Academic Program Manager

Job Duties:

The UWM University Centers Director leads the development, implementation, and ongoing operations of the UWM University Centers located (or to be located) at Wisconsin Technical College System partner/host institutions, exact locations to be determined mutually between UWM and the host WTCS institution senior leadership, subject to approval by the Higher Learning Commission.

The Director of the UWM University Center(s) has the primary responsibility to develop and manage any planned and current Centers, including oversight, budget, planning curriculum, monitoring progress and effectiveness, assessment, facilities agreements, etc. The Director will liaise between UWM and the WTCS host offices—including academic units (such as colleges offering courses and programs at the Centers and Academic Affairs), business units (such as IT, facilities and finance), UWM governance, UWM legal, UWM Chancellor and Vice-Chancellors, Provost and Vice-Provosts/Associate Vice-Chancellors as appropriate.

Approximately 50% of the Director’s time will be devoted to Center development and oversight, and the remaining 50% to advising and counseling meetings with students at the Centers, as follows.

Key Responsibilities:

Center Development & Oversight (50%)

Lead planning and operations for UWM University Centers in alignment with UWM’s strategic goals.

Build collaborative relationships with WTCS partners and internal UWM stakeholders.

Manage inter-institutional agreements, facilities coordination, and technology needs.

Oversee Center budgets, student fee structures, and financial planning.

Coordinate course offerings, staffing, and scheduling in partnership with academic units.

Ensure accurate marketing and communication in collaboration with UWM and WTCS teams.

Supervise Center staff and ensure compliance with university policies and regulations.

Monitor program effectiveness, student outcomes, and continuous improvement efforts.

Student Engagement & Advising (50%)

Maintain a regular presence at each Center to provide:

Admissions counseling to prospective students.

Academic advising to enrolled students (in coordination with virtual advisors).

Travel regularly to Centers (e.g., WCTC, MPTC, MATC) based on enrollment needs.

Serve as a liaison between students, instructors, and support services.

Based on the proportion of enrollments at each Center, the Director might spend up to 4 days a week at the Centers with 1-2 days a week at each of the WCTC location, the MPTC location once opened (Spring 2026 anticipated), and MATC (possibly in 2026). Approximately 5 hours on each of those 4 days, the Director would be available to meet with students. The remaining hours could be spent on meetings with employees and working on oversight required as listed above. Regular regional travel is required, to each Center once opened and prior to that potentially for periodic meetings.

The Director may serve as the supervisor of some support staff to be hired and assigned to the UWM Center locations in the future. Other UWM staff who are employed by other UWM units, for example instructors or advisors, who may spend only some of their time at the Center, do not report to the Director but are expected to work collaboratively/ collegially with them.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to guide teams and align stakeholders toward institutional goals. Excellent communication skills are essential, including the ability to clearly present complex ideas and represent the institution effectively. Candidates should have a proven ability to analyze data and make timely, informed decisions within the higher education landscape. A commitment to inclusive excellence, emotional intelligence, and the ability to build collaborative relationships are critical. The role also requires the capacity to lead organizational change and foster a culture of innovation, creativity, and continuous improvement in teaching, research, and student success.

The Director reports to the UWM Vice-Provost for Academic Affairs.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Manages degree programs and/or certificates, high impact practice programming and events, and curriculum development and implementation

Leads the development and implementation of academic program initiatives

May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees

Serves as the liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups to identify and maintain academic program-related partnerships

Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and academic program objectives

Evaluates existing academic program strategy and makes recommendations to unit leadership for program enhancement

May manage the unit budget and approve unit expenditures

Assists stakeholders with preparing and/or maintaining documentation, financial management, and/or reporting requirements related to sponsored grants, contracts, or agreements

Provides full service advising resources and services, provides information about educational options and academic requirements, and communicates directly with students regarding all aspects of the advising process

Department:

UWM Division of Academic Affairs

Compensation:

$60,000-$70,000/annually. Salary will be determined by finalist's experience, training, education, and equity-based factors.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree.

At least five years, at 50% or higher FTE, in college or university level front-line, direct experience with students such as teaching, admissions counseling, or advising,

Record of progressive responsibility in higher education, including leadership of a significant committee, initiative, program, center, department, or similar for at least three years.

Experience in academic program evaluation or assessment, improvement, and policy.

Demonstrated ability to strategically plan and manage resources (e.g., financial, personnel, facilities, and/or technology) and to lead cross–functional teams to achieve strategic unit priorities.

Preferred Qualifications:

Graduate degree, such as master’s or doctorate; preferably in an area aligned with position responsibilities.

Experience developing and marshalling inter-institutional agreements through approval and/or leading inter-institutional projects, preferably with one or more two-year and four-year institution partners.

Experience serving as supervisor

Experience collaborating with multiple university offices and functions such as Legal, Business and Financial Services, Enrollment Management, Marcomm, and the Provost’s office.

Experienced-based knowledge of various faculty and staff personnel matters, equitable hiring practices, employee professional development and related activities.

Participation in college or university shared governance committees, especially related to curriculum and/or academic program planning or review.

Experience with university budgeting (such as overseeing a large grant or project, or unit budget and/or membership on a university budget committee such as UWM’s APBC).

Experience fostering a culture of transparency, equity, inclusion and professional development and growth.

How to Apply:

Applicants will be expected to provide:

A cover letter that addresses the candidate’s professional level work experience as relates to all required and preferred qualifications.

A Resume

Finalist candidate(s) being considered for hire will be required to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified.

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates’ application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.

Contact Information:

Zoe Carballido - HR Coordinator

Reasonable Accommodations

UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact or . This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials

UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC and Reference Check Policy

Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization

In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

EEO Statement

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

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