Description The School of Sport Sciences Center for Active WV in the College of Applied Human Sciences at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Managing Director.
What You'll DoStrategic Leadership: In partnership with the Center's faculty leadership group, provide essential vision and leadership to develop, articulate, and implement center-wide strategies to further the Center's goals.
- Deeply engage in the development, creation, and evaluation of new strategic initiatives.
- Further the advancement of strategic priorities through planning and programmatic steps.
- Lead efforts to acquire resources to establish the internal structure that ensures the center flourishes and reflects operational excellence.
Administrative Leadership and Operational Management: Serve as the senior staff member for the Center and provide leadership to all constituents of the Center.
- Coordinate with School, College, and University administrative units to support compliant operations, including the administrative, financial, technological, space and facility components.
- Responsible for the improvement of current processes and coordination of organizational procedures for increased efficiency and productivity.
- Represent the center on both internal and external committees/working group.
Outreach and External Engagement: Build and cultivate partnerships that advance the goals of the Center, elevate its visibility, and strengthen its statewide and national impact.
- Lead external engagement and stewardship activities on behalf of the Center in coordination with School, College, University, and development leadership.
- Build and maintain relationships with organizational partners, state agencies, schools, community organizations, funders, and other stakeholders that support Center priorities.
- Provide oversight for the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan, including coordination with organizational partners, advisory board members, and implementation teams.
- Help define the Center's identity, impact narrative, and communication strategy to increase visibility and support partner engagement.
Financial Stewardship and Funding Development: Provide leadership for Center sustainability, funding development, and responsible stewardship of resources in coordination with appropriate School, College, University, Foundation, and sponsored-program units.
- Monitor the Center's overall funding portfolio, including grants, contracts, philanthropic support, and other external resources.
- Review budget information to inform staffing, program planning, project priorities, and long-term sustainability.
- Support appropriate use of funds and compliance with institutional and funder expectations.
- Identify external funding opportunities aligned with the Center's mission, programs, and strategic priorities.
- Lead or support proposal development, grant renewal efforts, and funding strategies in collaboration with faculty, staff, partners, and sponsored-program offices.
- Coordinate with appropriate development personnel to identify and cultivate foundation, donor, and corporate partnership opportunities.
- Use financial and programmatic information to position the Center for responsible growth and measurable community impact.
Teaching: Support the School's instructional mission through teaching, student mentoring, and applied learning opportunities aligned with the Center's mission and statewide initiatives.
- Teach courses related to program design, implementation, and evaluation for health educators; individual and community well-being; health coaching; physical activity promotion; community health; and professional immersion experiences.
- Normally teach one course per semester or equivalent, with adjustments based on Center needs, School teaching priorities, and workload expectations.
- Develop avenues for students to engage in service projects, internships, applied learning, and other experiential opportunities connected to Center projects and statewide initiatives.
- Support student mentoring and professional preparation through community-engaged projects, grant-funded initiatives, and partner-based learning experiences.
Other Duties as AssignedQualifications- Master's degree required.
- A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, in nonprofit, public health, education, community development, sponsored-program, or higher education settings.
- All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities- Demonstrated ability to lead an organization or major initiative toward a shared vision, build consensus among diverse stakeholders, and translate strategy into actionable priorities.
- Strong background in program development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement, with the ability to use data and program outcomes to guide decision-making.
- Experience with operational management, including budget development and oversight, personnel supervision, process improvement, and adherence to institutional policies and funder expectations.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, funders, community partners, public agencies, and university leadership.
- Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, manage complex situations, balance competing priorities, and make sound decisions in a dynamic, externally funded environment.
- Demonstrated commitment to transparency, accountability, responsiveness, and responsible stewardship of Center resources and relationships.
- Ability to work in office, classroom, school, community, and partner-site environments.
- Ability to communicate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, projects, and partner expectations.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in complex and dynamic situations.
- Ability to travel occasionally within West Virginia and out of state for meetings, trainings, conferences, site visits, and partner engagement activities.
Preferred Qualifications- Doctorate preferred in a physical activity or health-related field or a closely related area with extensive industry or higher education experience.
