Executive Director

Position Number:

005449

Functional Title:

Executive Director

Position Type:

Research

Position Eclass:

EP - EHRA 12 mo leave earning

University Information:

Located in North Carolina’s third largest city, UNC Greensboro is among the most diverse, learner-centered public research universities in the state, with 18,000 students in eight colleges and schools pursuing more than 150 areas of undergraduate and over 200 areas of graduate study. UNCG continues to be recognized nationally for academic excellence, access, and affordability. UNCG is ranked No. 1 most affordable institution in North Carolina for net cost by the N.Y. Times and No. 1 in North Carolina for social mobility by The Wall Street Journal — helping first-generation and lower-income students find paths to prosperity. Designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, UNCG is a community-engaged research institution with a portfolio of more than $67M in research and creative activity. The University’s 2,600 staff help create an annual economic impact for the Piedmont Triad region in excess of $1B.

Primary Purpose Of The Organizational Unit:

The SERVE Center is a university-based research, development, dissemination, evaluation, and technical assistance center. Through customized research and evaluation services, SERVE delivers actionable insights for both policymakers and practitioners. From large-scale experimental studies to small-scale qualitative work on topics ranging from early childhood to high school reform, SERVE builds the capacity of educators and policymakers to improve educational outcomes for students of all ages.

Position Summary:

The position of SERVE Executive Director, is responsible for the overall leadership, direction, and management of the SERVE Center.

Responsibilities Include:

• Creating and refining the vision of the Center.
• Serving as the liaison between the Center and external funding agencies, including the US Department of Education and UNCG.
• Exercising overall management and leadership for the Center, operating as spokesperson for the Center.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or Ed.D. degree in education or a related field, or Master’s in Education or related field with 5 years experience.
• 10 years experience with state, regional or national educational organization or agency, as leader or senior management.
• Experience leading complex educational research and development efforts at the regional and/or national level.
• Experience in applying for, receiving, managing and being directly responsible for large federal contract/grant awards.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• In depth knowledge of McKinney Vento Act and other federal, state and local education programs.
• Experience in facilitating project teams and team building.
• Proposal writing skills, flexibility to respond to emerging issues and requests.
• Experience working with U.S. Department of Education and NC Department of Public Instruction.
  
  

Recruitment Range:

Commensurate with Experience

Org #-Department:

SERVE - 12004

Job Open Date:

04/21/2026

Job Close Date:

05/24/2026

Open Until Filled:

No

FTE:

1.000

Type Of Appointment:

Permanent

Number Of Months Per Year:

12

FLSA:

Exempt

Percentage Of Time:

25%

Key Responsibility:

Center direction and scope of work

Essential Tasks:

• Provides leadership to the organization to expand its work in:
• Conducting educational research and evaluations.
• Synthesizing and disseminating results.
• Providing technical assistance to SEAs, LEAs, IHEs, schools, and the U.S. Department of Education.
• Creating and refining the vision of SERVE Center.
• The SERVE Institute is a dynamic organization that continuously evolves to meet the needs of sponsors and of the programs it houses.
• The Executive Director must be cognizant of the funding trends and public policy developments with respect to state and federal regulations and adjust the vision accordingly.
• This includes the development of an annual scope of work as well as the comprehensive Institute review every three years required by the UNC system in order to carry out all project tasks (relative to contracts with the U.S. Department of Education, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, etc.)
  

Key Responsibility:

Collaboration and liaison

Essential Tasks:

• The SERVE Institute works with federal, state, and district agencies, institutes of higher education, and with other education organizations and foundations to provide services in the areas of research and development, evaluation, professional development, and technical assistance.
• The Executive Director serves as the primary liaison between the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the Center’s sponsors and partners.
• As the Institute diversifies its funding sources, the Executive Director maintains contact with officials of other agencies and serves on committees and boards as appropriate.
  
  

Key Responsibility:

Contract and program management

Essential Tasks:

• Development, management and oversight of trainings, publications, meeting facilitation, response to emerging issues or other requests from the field.
• This position oversees several strategic areas of research concentration — Regional Comprehensive Center, National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE), NC Department of Public Instruction program, which includes the NC Homeless Education Program (NCHEP), NC Foster Care Education Program and several federal programs.
• The position also oversees several special projects and the Early College Research Center.
• In addition, the position provides special contracts to education systems as needed.
  
  

Percentage Of Time:

15%

Key Responsibility:

Staff management and leadership

Essential Tasks:

• Oversees staff of highly qualified and experienced individuals specialized in the areas of public instruction.
• There are over 50 employees in the SERVE center covering a variety of services in the field of education.
• This position has approximately 15 direct reports.
  
  

Percentage Of Time:

10%

Key Responsibility:

Funding and Development

Essential Tasks:

• This position is responsible for seeking and obtaining new opportunities for contracts and the development of proposals for funding.
• The responsibility for the oversight of center grants and their compliance with grant guidelines and budgets fall under this position.
• This position works closely with local, state and federal agencies to identify needs and develop, fund and initiate programs to strengthen support for students, families and educators.
  
  

Physical Effort:

Hand Movement-Repetitive Motions, Reading, Writing, Hearing, Talking, Walking, Lifting-30-60 lbs.