Associate Director of Faculty Recognition, Awards, & Special Projects

Associate Director of Faculty Awards and Recognition

Department : Office of the Provost Salary / Grade : EXS / 9

Job Summary : The Associate Director of Faculty Awards and Recognition and Special Projects develops and executes processes related to faculty nominations for external honors and awards, creating pathways to elevate Northwestern both nationally and globally. The individual reviews, creates, and nurtures internal and external alliances, collaborations, and partnerships; this involves working closely and engaging in complex interactions with the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Deans and Chairs in Northwestern's schools, Office for Research, Global Marketing and Communications, faculty, and other key stakeholder groups. The individual creates and leads operational functions that support the goal of cultivating and coordinating opportunities for faculty nominations and provides direction and thought leadership to develop strategic goals and objectives, defining associated metrics to measure results, and creating and obtaining resources to ensure program goals are achieved. The Associate Director of Faculty Awards and Recognition and Special Projects oversees the representation of faculty honors achievements at the University, including implementation of various means of recognizing faculty success and achievement such as the Faculty Recognition Dinner and, in collaboration with the Office of Global Marketing and Communications, the Faculty Accolades webpage.

Specific Responsibilities :

• Develop and implement the program's strategic vision and long-term plan, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and fostering a culture of faculty recognition and excellence.
• Lead and oversee faculty nomination processes, including strategy, outreach, collaboration with key stakeholders, preparation and submission of materials, and tracking nomination outcomes.
• Direct and manage day-to-day program operations, ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with internal standards and external expectations.
• Design and execute evaluation frameworks and performance metrics, analyzing outcomes and recommending enhancements to continuously improve program impact and visibility.
• Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal and external partners including senior leadership, academic units, and communications offices to strengthen program reputation and reach.
• Develop and oversee communication and outreach strategies, including creation of program identity, digital presence, and targeted campaigns to broaden awareness and engagement.
• Plan, organize, and manage key events and programs, such as Domain Dinners and Faculty Recognition Dinners, including budgeting, logistics, and content development in collaboration with faculty.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for program innovation and growth, including benchmarking peer institutions, assessing emerging trends, and implementing best practices to enhance faculty recognition efforts.

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills) : Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience. 2 years program / project administration or other relevant experience. Demonstrated interest in the business of higher education and research.

Minimum Competencies : (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.) Proficiency in data management tools and approaches. Experience with external web-based benchmarking and database applications. Demonstrated aptitude in MS Word, Excel, as well as web-based productivity tools. Strong written, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Organization, time management, detail oriented. Ability to interact professionally with multiple levels of staff and faculty. Multi-tasking. Ability to work independently and in a team environment. Ability to work under pressure and prioritize.

Preferred Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills) : Experience with developing dataset structures and models to enable scalability, data security, and analytics.