Associate Director of Faculty Recognition, Awards, & Special Projects

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

Target hiring range for this position will be between be Salary range is as be $85,000-$90,000 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.

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.

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

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.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

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.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.