Director CLRWD - Center Leadership Research & Workforce Development

Director, Center for Leadership Research and Workforce Development

The Director of the Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership's Center for Leadership Research and Workforce Development will lead an integrated effort that advances women's leadership through the strategic management of rigorous research and pedagogical innovation. The Director will oversee the Center's dual mission to (1) generate and disseminate high-impact research on women's leadership, and (2) partner with the Faculty Commons and other faculty development efforts to promote evidence-based teaching strategies that develop essential workforce skills.

This visionary leader will provide strategic direction for the Center's research agenda, support curricular integration, faculty development, and external partnerships that reinforce TWU's position as a national leader in workforce readiness education. Work is performed under minimal supervision, and performance is based on the effective operation of the administrative function. The performance evaluation is conducted through the performance evaluation system and in accordance with University Policies & Procedures.

Reports to: Executive Director/Chief Officer of the Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership. Reporting indirectly to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.

Supervises: Senior Manager of Data Analytics, Special Projects Manager, and Faculty Fellows.

• Provide strategic direction and operational oversight for the Center's research and pedagogical initiatives.
• Foster a cohesive vision that aligns with institutional goals for student success, faculty excellence, and women's leadership.
• Serve as a thought leader across the university and with external stakeholders in workforce development and educational innovation.
• Ensure delivery of high-impact programs, events, and faculty support services.
• Oversee reporting, budget management, and assessment of Center activities.

• Oversee the HerDataTXSM database, a comprehensive, searchable repository of women's leadership resources spanning academic research, industry reports, news coverage, and educational materials.
• Direct primary research initiatives including rural women's entrepreneurship studies, educational leadership analysis, and local elected office participation research.
• Manage the Representation Tracker for real-time monitoring of women's participation in municipal and county government positions.
• Oversee the Research Portal featuring monthly research highlights, scholar spotlights, and trend analysis.
• Ensure production of annual "State of Women's Leadership" reports and quarterly research briefs for policymakers and business leaders.
• Maintain public-facing dashboards with representation metrics and research findings.
• Guide high-quality, applied research initiatives related to women's leadership and pedagogical effectiveness.
• Ensure research is published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national conferences.
• Lead or support grant writing and external funding efforts to sustain and expand Center initiatives.

• Collaborate with the Faculty Commons to support faculty development programs that promote evidence-based teaching and integration of leadership and workforce readiness skills.
• Contribute to a research-informed teaching agenda, supporting faculty in the development, implementation, and publication of innovative pedagogies.
• Partner with academic units to embed essential career-readiness competencies (e.g., critical thinking, ethical reasoning, emotional intelligence, AI literacy) across academic programs.

• Build and maintain partnerships with employers, academic peers, and workforce organizations to ensure curriculum alignment with labor market needs.
• Coordinate with the Senior Manager of Data Analytics and faculty fellows to integrate data-driven approaches into both research and instruction.
• Collaborate with the JNIWL and Provost's Office to leverage institutional resources and extend…