Job Description

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree plus six years of related experience, or master’s degree plus at least eight years of related experience, or BA/BS degree plus at least 10 years of related experience
• Effective interpersonal communication skills, both written and oral
• Evidence of experience in developing high-quality professional development for adult learners.
• Deep knowledge of the processes of educational research, use of and translation of research for practitioner use, and the role of research in program development within the University setting.
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring, developing, or advising school leaders
• Demonstrated experience in program development, implementation and evaluation at a system level
• Demonstrated experience in not only an understanding of Minnesota educational policy, but an ability to navigate the legislative process in securing support of needed policies. This could include but is not limited to: legislator relationship development, policy language drafting, mobilizing of educational leaders to understand and support proposed policies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD or Doctoral degree in Education or similar field
• Experience as a School or School System leader for five or more years with demonstrated effective system leadership
• Higher education teaching and advising experience
• Experience convening leaders from across organizations and sectors
• Proven record of securing grant funding

Department: Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development
Job Code: 9743CB
Job Title: Executive Director of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Practice


The position of Director of Educational Leadership is intended to provide internal and external leadership regarding the development of K-12 school and system leaders, and statewide policy agendas for higher education. This person leads multiple programs within the University that directly impact the development of Minnesota’s K-12 school leaders. They also interface with and advance partnerships with senior leaders of the many educational leadership organizations in the state of Minnesota including but not limited to The Minnesota Department of Education, The Minnesota School Boards Association, The Minnesota Association of School Administrators, The Association of Metropolitan School Districts, The Minnesota Rural Education Association, The Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association, The Minnesota Secondary School Principals Association, Education Minnesota, and legislators and philanthropic organizations.


Location and Work environment: This is a hybrid position; in-person work will be located on the UMN Twin Cities campus. The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location.


Job Responsibilities:
Educational Policy & Leadership Program Alignment and Growth (40 %):

• Develop new audiences, directions, and opportunities for both graduate education programs in Educational Policy and Leadership, and sponsored professional development programs for regional K-12 schools

o Collectively setting the vision of EPL for the next 5 years
o Articulating a sense of coherence amid what each faculty member brings to bear on the program and how that serves what our students and ultimately the K-12 systems in Minnesota and beyond need
o Determining the courses needed to achieve the vision in the PhD as well as our professional development offerings
o Collaborate with existing faculty and potential instructors to embed a three-course writing sequence to support of Executive PhD programs
o Grow our MEd program into an online offering that is the premier offering in the state in educational leadership
o Undertake student recruitment efforts that elicit a diverse and excellent applicant candidate pool
o Support potential students through the application process, in collaboration with fellow EPL faculty and coordinators


Leadership of Professional Development Activities, including Minnesota Principals Academy, Minnesota Instructional Leadership Academy, Minnesota Principals Academy, etc. (25%):

• Oversee all aspects of externally sponsored educator professional development activities, including Minnesota Urban Leadership Academy,
• Recruitment of participants
• Set schedule and including logistical details (site, space, time) in collaboration with other project staff
• Establish and foster relationships with faculty across the college to engage them in professional development efforts to share their scholarly work and expertise with participants.
• Advise participants through relevant professional development plans
• Coordinate a culminating symposia for projects
• Promote the University and all it has to offer PK-12 schools to Academy participants past and present and other audiences as appropriate.
• It is expected that a minimum of 25% effort will be assigned to these projects. Should further responsibilities and opportunities develop, additional time will be allocated to these projects.

Education Policy and Leadership Advising and Teaching (15 %):

• Work with faculty to establish the Executive Systems PhD cohort curriculum, Traditional PhD curriculum, MA/MEd offerings, or potential future undergraduate offerings.
• Teach one (1) three-credit course per year (across Fall, Spring, and Summer offerings). Additional courses (including one-credit offerings) can be taught on an overload basis.
• Advise or co-advise students in MA, MEd, and PhD programs, as determined in program area admissions meetings.

LEAD Conference Planning and Facilitation (10%):

• Form and lead a Content Team that meets throughout the spring term and into the summer to plan all aspects of the 2-day summer LEAD conference
• Identify key topics that are connected with the overarching leadership conference and relevant to PreK-12 school leaders, policy makers, and University researchers
• Launch a Request for Proposal (RFP) process and establish a review process and small group committee to identify appropriate break-out sessions. Communicate with all RFP submitters as to their acceptance or not for the upcoming conference
• Identify local and national keynote speakers for the conference
• Identify relevant policy-makers for invitations and potential inclusion in a policy panel discussion
• Serve as the Emcee and/or identify appropriate podium speakers relevant to the LEAD conference
• Conduct and/or participate in post-conference evaluation meetings to identify successes and begin planning for the next year's conference

Department/University Engagement (10%):

• Attend EPL program meetings, OLPD Department meetings, and College of Education meetings and events
• Support university, collegiate, and departmental shared governance work as determined in collaboration with Department Chair and EPL colleagues

Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program.


The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees.

CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location.

Please note that 100% remote work requires approval prior to offer from management or HR before a final job offer is extended.

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the University's third largest college, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of life. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That’s why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice.

Our world is full of systems and policies that affect how individuals learn, grow and relate to one another. Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) studies how those systems and policies are shaped by culture and power. We prepare leaders and researchers to transform our education and organizations for the better.
We teach our students how to design, test, implement, and revise our institutional strategies in both the public and private sectors, from the international to the local level. Our students gain practical experiences in creating approaches to increase social and economic development, foster human flourishing, disrupt power structures, and promote a more just society.

About the College:
The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the third largest college and the University, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of the life span. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That’s why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions.

You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume or CV.

Resume and Cover Letter are required.

This position will remain open until filled.

Priority Deadline Note: The application review will begin on April 15, 2026.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U:

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).

Job Tags

Full time, Summer work, H1b, Local area, Remote work, Flexible hours

Similar Jobs