Director, National High School Institute

Department: SoC Administration

Salary / Grade: EXS/9

Location:

Evanston, Illinois

Target hiring range for this position will be between $85,000-$95,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

As part of the External Affairs team at the Northwestern University School of Communication (SoC), the Director of the National High School Institute (NHSI) leads and produces all activities for year‑round and intensive summer experience, serving 600+ high school students. This includes preparation, recruitment, and execution of programs in debate (policy), theatre arts (performance, musical theater, and stage management/design), film and video (production, writing for stage/screen, animation, and acting for the camera), and play writing, as well as managing potential SoC/NHSI affiliate high school summer program contracts.

• Leads high school preparation/recruitment programs; works with area division directors, and full time NHSI staff to identify and implement dynamic curriculum opportunities aligned with the mission goals and educational direction of SoC. Determines program needs and allocates resources on an ongoing basis. Oversees in‑school play writing residencies in Chicago and Los Angeles area high schools and acts as Director of the Summer Playwriting Institute.
• Coordinates efforts with NU Legal, Risk Management, SoC, HR, The Family Institute, NU Temp Center, and NHSI area directors to recruit, hire, and train faculty/staff in compliance with rules/regulations relating to minors on campus, including DCFS mandated reporting, criminal background checks, non‑discrimination, harassment, mental health support, and any other relevant student health/safety procedures as needed.
• Manages budgets and payrolls for the NHSI programs, provides quarterly projections of enrollment and revenue/expenses, and guides the program toward annual objectives in accordance with SoC mission goals/educational direction.
• Collaborates with colleagues in the School of Communication and staff that manage SoC facilities including the Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, John J. Louis Hall, and Annie May Swift, as well as central units including Residential Services, food service, health services, Norris Center, and the registrar on securing needed facilities, services and space for curricular and residential programs for over 600 students and 100+ summer faculty/staff.
  
  Works with Alumni Relations and Development to support donor outreach.
• Reads, assesses, and coordinates application data intake from applicants and over 1,300 high schools for the admissions and scholarship committees. Compiles post program data/support on student participation, Northwestern matriculation, and other relevant outcomes.
• Coordinates and shares information between Student Enrichment Services, The Registrar's Office, Student Accounts, and The Bursar's Office to create class information, and student online profiles for automated payment in compliance with best accounting practices.
• Develops relationships with leading high schools (national and international), guidance counselors, fine arts coordinators, teachers, principals, college test boards, NHSI student (and parent) alumni, and various high school educators/program directors to grow the program profile. Manages/guides online social media initiatives and content creation to support the NHSI mission.
• Serves as the guardian or parent liaison to over 500+ NHSI students in cases of safety/emergency annually from June through August. The position also serves as the daily available contact for any other non‑emergency parental contact for health, safety, or discipline related issues.
• Collaborates with colleague in the School of Communication to support communications, marketing, event, technology support, finance, and undergraduate and student affairs to develop the programs in alignment with the mission and resources of the SoC.

Perform other duties as assigned.

• Identify the minimum qualifications required to…