An Invitation to Apply For Director School of Professional Studies at NYU Shanghai New York University THE SEARCH New York University (NYU) invites applications and nominations for the role of director of the School of Professional Studies (NYUSPS) at NYU Shanghai. This is an exceptional opportunity for an entrepreneurial and market savvy leader to provide strategic vision and implement the next phase of NYUSPS s expansion of programs in China. Reporting directly to the dean of NYUSPS, the next director will join during an exciting time for impact and will have the opportunity to shape and execute a vision for delivering professional education in the global marketplace. NYU is the largest private university in the United States and a globally distinguished research university on a remarkable trajectory. NYU s global network includes degree-granting campuses in New York, Shanghai, and Abu Dhabi, complemented by eleven additional academic centers across five continents. NYUSPS serves the educational needs of those striving to maximize their full personal and professional potential by providing a comprehensive, professional oriented educational experience. NYU has been developing capacity for delivering the SPS model of education in new global contexts. Having established English-language programs in Tokyo and Shanghai in 2013 and 2015, respectively, NYUSPS recently introduced professional development pilot courses in both locations. Encouraged by the initial market response, is now poised to quickly scale programming aimed at equipping students and professionals with the skill sets and competencies demanded by an increasingly global economy. NYU has retained Isaacson, Miller to assist in this recruitment. After consultation with university leadership and drawing heavily on the University s existing materials, the firm has prepared this document to be shared with candidates and sources in the search. This document describes NYUSPS, the challenges and opportunities for the director of, and the personal and professional characteristics desired in the ideal candidate.
NYU SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES For 80 years, the NYUSPS has fostered a rich tradition of serving New York City and the world, by providing educational experiences that prepare students who are just beginning on their career path as well as those who are seasoned veterans. SPS offers undergraduate degree programs, graduate degree programs, and noncredit courses and diplomas in a wide range of professionally oriented areas of study. Academic departments offer programs that provide a theoretical and practical education, one that is enhanced by rigorous curricula. Classroom learning is translated into real-world contexts by a team of distinguished faculty members who are leading practitioners in their fields. More information on NYUSPS and its departments and/or program areas may be found here: http://www.sps.nyu.edu/ Having served as Interim and Vice Dean of NYUSPS, in addition to holding other senior-level positions for nearly 20 years, Dean Dennis Di Lorenzo has an in-depth understanding of NYUSPS that few can claim. This knowledge is eclipsed only by his enthusiastic passion for and palpable dedication to NYUSPS, as evidenced by the key leadership role he has played in its evolution and growth. Dean Di Lorenzo has fostered the development of innovative programming, provided insight and guidance on faculty and student affairs issues, expanded the School's horizons in the US and abroad, and overseen the renovation the flagship home for SPS. Establishing this new home combined with renaming the NYU School of Professional Studies (from SCPS to SPS), has served to transform its identity and brand, solidifying its claim and reputation as a trailblazer in professionally oriented higher education. NYUSPS AT NYU SHANGHAI NYU Shanghai is the newest degree-granting campus within New York University s global network. It is the first higher education joint venture in China authorized to grant degrees that are accredited in the U.S. as well as in China. All teaching is conducted in English. A research university with liberal arts and science at its core, it resides in one of the world's great cities with a vibrant intellectual community. NYU Shanghai recruits scholars of the highest caliber who are committed to NYU's global vision of transformative teaching and innovative research and who embody the global society in which we live. continues to refine English-language content for the Chinese market, and has introduced professional workshops focused on specific skill-building. In Fall 2015, NYU Shanghai and NYUSPS launched the American Language Institute (ALI) at NYU Shanghai to bring high-quality and rigorous English-language programs to students in China. In an effort to expand the scope of program offerings and introduce a range of professional development programs, the ALI was rebranded as in Fall 2016. NYUSPS oversees all academic aspects of, including curriculum and course content, instructor and staff recruitment, selection, training, scheduling, supervision, and marketing of programs across China. NYU Shanghai employs the director, support staff, and instructors for. 2
THE ROLE Working closely with NYUSPS, the director will expand the scope of program offerings and introduce a wide array of professional development initiatives at NYU Shanghai. The ideal candidate will be market savvy, strategically-minded, and operations-oriented. She or he will cultivate connections across multiple industries, connect with experts to identity market needs, and develop a variety of market ready offerings in the way of professional advancement certifications. Reporting directly to the dean of NYUSPS, the director will oversee a staff of six dedicated professionals three full-time faculty members and three administrative staff members. The director will provide leadership and vision for the delivery and expansion of noncredit professional development programs in Shanghai. She or he will conceive and oversee the implementation of courses, programs, and public events that reflect current market needs in China as well as student demand for relevant content and innovative learning modules. The director will coordinate closely with NYUSPS to implement strategic planning, consult on marketing strategies, and conduct competitive analyses for these programs, including custom and open-enrollment professional development, global diploma programs, and online education. During both the analysis and implementation phases of noncredit program development, the director will ensure that active collaboration and communication occurs between key stakeholders, including those at NYUSPS and NYU Shanghai. The director is responsible for managing the academic content, program development, operations, and staff oversight of. The director will liaise closely with NYUSPS, NYU Shanghai, and other key stakeholders to identify opportunities to grow noncredit programming, introduce new delivery formats, and hold large-scale conferences and events related to noncredit program areas. The director will also serve as the public representative for, and will accordingly cultivate strategic relationships with key industry leaders in targeted business areas to identify needs, add value to noncredit offerings, and develop new content. S/he will consult on academic planning and curriculum development and will draw from academic resources in New York as well as local content experts in China. The director will approve continuing education program budgets as well as income and expense projections, and will manage permanent and adjunct faculty recruitment, engagement initiatives, relationship development, and program evaluation. KEY OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES The next director will join during an exciting time to make an impact and advance NYUSPS s mission to provide professional education to a global market. The key challenges and opportunities for the new director include: 3
Provide Strategic Leadership and Vision The director will offer compelling leadership, promoting the role and value of professional education in China, through the lens of a global university, on behalf of NYU and on an international stage. S/he will champion as a burgeoning center of industry specialization, articulating the ways in which customized professional education advances global business and communication, promotes lifelong learning, and spawns the development of executive noncredit initiatives thereby preparing professionals, organizations, and businesses to engage successfully in the international marketplace. In so doing, the director will align the strategic goals of NYUSPS programs with the institutional values of NYU Shanghai; create and implement a vision and framework for noncredit program expansion in China; and develop and oversee the implementation of a strategic and tactical plan in keeping with the NYUSPS mission and vision for professional program delivery in the China market. Identify Untapped Communities of Learners, Spearhead Outreach, and Grow Enrollments Presently, enrollments are around 100-200 students and growth has been incremental. Building upon a strong foundation of success in China delivering English language courses, NYUSPS at NYU Shanghai has a goal of introducing at least 25 executive noncredit programs within the next five years and engaging 5,000-7,000 professionals across China. The director will help expand noncredit offerings in the professional development space by exploring a range of program models, which includes open enrollment, conferences and workshops, and blended models. As precursor, the next director will commission a market study to identify new communities of potential students and participants, craft marketing strategy, and deploy targeted outreach. S/he will demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of what the China market needs, and will sustain a keen sense for how to evaluate and respond to market opportunities, as well as an ability to refine program offerings and best deliver the SPS model of education in the Chinese context. The director will be expected to develop a strategic approach that effectively engages the Shanghai market. S/he will have an important role in articulating the benefits of professional education in a way that is culturally resonate. This will invariably require innovation and experimentation to achieve optimal outcomes as relates to course delivery and enrollment strategies. Drive Infrastructure Development and Online Instruction Strategy The next director will insist on effective, persistent, and increasingly smarter use of systems and data. Collaborating across NYU Shanghai departments/programs, she or he will build and strengthen the infrastructure required by to scale the critical functions of marketing, recruitment, and enrollment management. To that end, the director will leverage data for a wide range of priorities: budgeting and financial planning, enrollment 4
projections, scorecards for productivity analyses, course registration, credit completion, program outcomes, salary analyses, and other projects. Under the director s leadership, the improved information technology function will comply with local regulations while enhancing performance, improving reporting, increasing automation, and streamlining delivery of strategic information throughout NYUSPS in Shanghai, New York, and elsewhere. Looking forward, the incoming director will be expected to spearhead exploring online learning modalities for the China market. Working with faculty and staff, the director will continuously identify emerging areas, drive to market early with relevant offerings, and develop new types of academic learning experiences. With a sound business mind and autonomy to experiment, s/he will take the lead on building excellent online programming and developing innovative delivery methods. This will require close collaboration with colleagues in New York. This is a significant institutional priority for NYUSPS. Lead and Manage a Culture of Collaboration and Partnership Championing the many contributions of staff and faculty, the director will forge a culture of high ambition and shared enterprise. She or he will create and capitalize on opportunities for collaboration among academic departments at NYU Shanghai to spur innovation, creativity, and the development of meaningful and exciting initiatives that deepen NYUSPS s market penetration. This collaboration will be essential to addressing unforeseen challenges that will invariably arise while establishing new initiatives in this cross-cultural context. The next director will link and communicate regularly with NYUSPS and NYU Shanghai offices, faculty, and leadership. Concentrated on aggressively scaling program offerings, the director will lead on the execution of strategic priorities while enlisting and inspiring the many partners indispensable to the NYUSPS success in Shanghai and China. Cultivate External Relationships To effectively promote NYU s approach to professional education to a wide range of constituencies, the next director will be skilled at articulating NYUSPS s distinct philosophy, approach, and outcomes to diverse stakeholders in compelling fashion. As the externally facing representative of, she or he will develop and manage connections across multiple industries, leveraging these external relationships towards useful partnerships for revenue growth. The director will liaise closely with NYUSPS faculty and local industry experts to spawn and deliver cutting edge high-quality, current, and relevant curricular context. QUALIFICATIONS The successful candidate will bring the following professional qualifications, skills, experience, and personal qualities: Ten years of managerial experience or an equivalent combination in managing international or bicultural organizations 5
Must be an effective manager, with evidence of significant contributions in strategic thinking, program management, and staff supervision Demonstrated ability to think strategically and execute tactically in a global environment, and possess a flexible approach to problem-solving in a unique professional environment Demonstrated ability to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate programs in an international setting Nuanced understanding of higher education, professional development or relevant industry sectors in China Strong preference is given to proven experience in higher education and/or managing businesses in China Native English-language fluency and excellent verbal and written communications skills Demonstrated background in assessment of academic offerings, and oversight of operations and academic activity Bachelors degree in related field, including business and management, higher education and other areas Master s or terminal degree in related field, including business and management, higher education and other areas, is strongly preferred Written and spoken fluency in Mandarin Chinese is strongly desired TO APPLY New York University has engaged Isaacson, Miller to assist with this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed in confidence to the firm as directed below. Sean Farrell and Carmen Delehanty Isaacson, Miller 1300 19 th St, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036 www.imsearch.com/6398 If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out directly to Carmen Delehanty (cdelehanty@imsearch.com) or Rosemary Karr (rkarr@imsearch.com) NYU Shanghai is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity, diversity and social inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who are under-represented in the profession, across color, creed, race, ethnic and national origin, physical ability, and gender and sexual identity. NYU Shanghai affirms the value of differing perspectives on the world as we strive to build the strongest possible university with the widest reach. 6