Career Center

Pay Grade/Pay Range:  Non Classified - Grade NA

Department/Organization: 204101 - Dean's Office-Arts and Sciences Adm

Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:45pm

Job Summary: The Director of Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership oversees the Shelby Institute to continue the legacy of public service and leadership of Senator Shelby and his wife. Develops and implements a student-focused academic and service program concentrating on the education and training of students interested in public policy. Builds a program that attracts and includes students with a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Generates a sense of community among the students. Exposes students to a range of philosophical and practical perspectives that inform political and policy debates. Develops students’ skills in writing, speaking, research, and analysis. Helps students identify and achieve the next step in their career plans. Organizes visiting speakers and other programming for the broader campus and community audiences. Oversees the selection of the students. Supervises program staff.

Additional Department Summary: The University of Alabama invites applications for a position as the inaugural Director of the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership. On February 3, 2023, the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama created the Shelby Institute to continue the legacy of public service and leadership of Senator Shelby and his wife, former UA and Georgetown professor Dr. Annette Shelby, who have long shared a dedication to the growth of Alabama’s capstone of higher education, as exhibited in their lifetimes of respective service in the U.S. Congress and in higher education. The Shelby Institute will benefit from the official Senate papers, records and materials graciously donated by Senator Shelby at the conclusion of his career in Congress. The Shelby Institute is supported by a $20 million endowment and is envisioned as a student-focused academic and service program concentrating on the education and training of students interested in public policy. About 20 undergraduate students will be selected annually into the Shelby Scholars Program, a two-year policy leadership program. Students in the program must complete a minor in public policy and will receive scholarship support for each year in the program. Shelby Scholars will participate in specialized coursework in policy and unique experiences outside of the classroom, including internship and professional development experiences, national conferences, a speaker series, and interactions with prominent political leaders and policy analysts on a local, state, and national level. The UA System Board of Trustees appointed an advisory board to assist the Director and the Shelby Institute with programmatic implementation and strategic planning. The first scholars are expected to be selected for the Fall Semester 2024. We seek a director who will build a program that attracts and includes students with a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences; generates a sense of community among the students; exposes students to a range of philosophical and practical perspectives that inform political and policy debates; develops students’ skills in writing, speaking, research, and analysis; and helps students identify and achieve the next step in their career plans. Beyond its focus on the Shelby Scholars, it is anticipated that the Shelby Institute will organize visiting speakers or other programming for the broader campus and community audiences. In the director role, the candidate selected will oversee the selection of the students, supervise program staff, and may teach one or more courses per year in the Department of Political Science. The position will include time and resources to maintain an active public-facing research and service agenda.

The University of Alabama is a student-centered research university and the flagship campus of the University of Alabama system. The Political Science Department offers BA, MA, MPA, and Ph.D. degrees.

Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and ten (10) years of state or national policy experience with increasing responsibility, prominence, or accomplishment.

Skills and Knowledge: Scholarly and/or professional expertise in American Politics and/or Public Policy. Demonstrated ability to analyze public policy issues from a range of values and perspectives. Enthusiasm for and interest in working with high-performing undergraduate students.

Preferred Qualifications: Administrative experience, ideally including supervising staff and managing a budget. Legislative or policymaking experience. Sufficient accomplishments in research, teaching, and service to be appointed at the full professor level in the Department of Political Science. Experience teaching graduate students and successfully directing dissertations.

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" Poster

About University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

As the state’s flagship university, The University of Alabama family has always focused on being the best. After all, we are The Capstone of Higher Education. Founded in 1831 as the state’s first public college, The University of Alabama is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and service. We provide a creative, nurturing campus environment where our students can become the best individuals possible, learn from the best and brightest faculty, and make a positive difference in the community, the state and the world. You’ll like what you find here. Become part of The University of Alabama family.

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