Executive Director of the Jones Center for Leadership and Service

 

Responsibilities of the Position

Joining the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT Knoxville), means joining a community driven by purpose and possibility. UT Knoxville is known for innovation, research, and a strong commitment to creating an unparalleled student experience.  

Reporting to the assistant vice chancellor for leadership and campus engagement, the executive director of the Clay and Debbie Jones Center for Leadership and Service (JCLS) will provide strategic leadership and vision for the center while cultivating a culture of leadership development and service across the UT Knoxville campus. They will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and community partners to enhance the university’s leadership ecosystem and create meaningful and sustainable opportunities for leadership development across campus.

The next JCLS executive director will be a strategic thinker, leading a comprehensive assessment program to evaluate student learning and development and stakeholder perceptions, resulting from the center’s high-quality engagement with students and the community.

Overseeing a multi-million dollar endowment and leading a forward-thinking team of 11 professional staff and over 70 student leaders are key responsibilities of the executive director. Prioritizing excellence in all facets of the work, maintaining ethical stewardship, ensuring superior supervision, and leading with vision and purpose are essential to success.

Other responsibilities of the role include:

Administration and Leadership:

• Serve as a senior leader for the campus, providing oversight, strategic vision, leadership, development, and management for the operations of the JCLS.
• Serve as a member of the division of student life leadership team.
• Develop and foster interdisciplinary collaborative partnerships with campus and community partners, non-profit organizations, and mutual aid agencies to create internal and external opportunities that enhance the academic and co-curricular experience of all UT Knoxville Volunteers (Vols).
• Coordinate with faculty and academic units related to leadership and community engagement to advance evidence-based practice, curriculum pathways, and research.
• Establish goals, initiatives, priorities, procedures, risk management standards, and assessments for the unit.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan, and direct the establishment, implementation, and enforcement of departmental priorities, policies, practices, programs, and guidelines.
• Ensure department compliance with university policies and procedures.
• Oversee the enhancement and implementation of JCLS signature programs.
• Build a strong national reputation for JCLS initiatives.

Consultation and Outreach:

• Consult with campus units, academic colleges, and division partners to design and implement innovative, evidence-based academic and co-curricular programs that address all areas of leadership development, service education, and volunteer engagement.
• Collaborate with university departments to ensure that leadership training initiatives align with the broader institutional vision.
• Serve as an administrative leader of the Clifton Strengths campus facilitation team to assess campus-wide coaching needs and develop a network of coaches that support leadership development.
• Serve on the campus’s disaster relief management team and develop and review disaster relief management efforts and volunteer management plans.
• Chair and serve in an advisory capacity to committees as requested by campus, community, and student constituents.
• Represent the university and promote leadership education at events across the community, state, national, and international levels, as well as through publications and research.

Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate

A master’s degree in college student personnel or other fields related to the delivery of services to student populations and five years of full-time experience working with leaders and leadership development, talent management, and/or higher education administration are required. Experience implementing leadership and service initiatives, supervising and coaching staff members, and managing budgets and assessments is also required.

A doctorate in college student personnel or other fields related to the delivery of services to student populations and seven years of professional experience in the area of leadership and service, as well as administrative experience at the college level, are preferred. Other preferred documented qualifications include: experience in development, fundraising, and stewardship initiatives; classroom instruction; coaching and leadership assessment certifications; and direct coordination and oversight of leadership development and service programming.

In addition to the qualifications stated above, key stakeholders identified the following capabilities and attributes of a successful candidate:

• A professional with demonstrated success in advancing a leadership and service department to a high level of excellence within a higher education setting.
• A confident, people-centered leader who builds trust and cohesion across teams, connects existing efforts without duplication, and can align initiatives with divisional and institutional priorities.
• Scholar-practitioner with the ability to articulate and implement frameworks that advance both leadership opportunities and individual leader development across the university.
• Administrator skilled in communicating with diverse audiences and building strong working relationships across the university and within community (town-gown) partnerships.
• Focused leader capable of evaluating curricular and co-curricular programs, balancing diverse opportunities, and effectively managing multiple stakeholders.
• Leader with experience in CliftonStrengths who leverages its philosophy to build high-performing teams, strengthen departmental effectiveness, and foster a culture of leadership across campus.
• Advanced communicator with the ability to convey priorities and vision with executive presence and gravitas to a broad and engaged community.

 

Opportunities and Challenges of the Role

In transitioning to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the executive director for the Jones Center for Leadership and Service will encounter the following opportunities, priorities, and challenges, as shared by key campus stakeholders:

• In the summer of 2025, the JCLS hired Dr. Brandon Kliewer, associate professor of civic and organizational leadership, as its interim faculty director, with responsibility for establishing the center’s foundation as a leadership clearinghouse for UT Knoxville. While initial efforts—including campus presentations, leadership academies, and symposiums—have begun, the next executive director will work collaboratively with campus partners to connect leadership pathways and define program goals through the lens of the university’s institutional identity. Kliewer’s efforts are strengthening JCLS’s academic underpinnings and connections to faculty while also clearing the way for the new executive director’s success.
• The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has built an excellent reputation for student-focused services, supported by the campus’s decentralized structure. The new executive director will unify and amplify leadership and service opportunities by identifying existing programs, connecting stakeholders, and creating a framework to showcase and expand the many opportunities available to students. By enabling the conditions for the network’s success, students will have a streamlined pathway to find their leadership and service footing at UT Knoxville.
• Aligned with the UT Knoxville’s mission to learn, lead, and serve, the executive director will position the JCLS at the heart of this vision. Building on a strong culture of leadership and community, symbolized by the longstanding and respected Volunteer mascot, the executive director will bring a creative vision to strengthen student leadership across campus.
• The JCLS is a well-supported center, funded by the Jones family and other key community stakeholders. The executive director will continue to identify and pursue additional funding opportunities to support ongoing initiatives, including expanding the leadership clearinghouse.
• It is an exciting period of growth at UT Knoxville, reflected in increasing enrollment, expanding employment, and the university’s commitment to its role as a modern land-grant institution. The executive director will contribute to this mission by advancing leadership and service initiatives that meet the needs of the local community and the state of Tennessee.

Measures of Success

The items listed below will define the executive director of the Jones Center for Leadership and Service’s success throughout the first year of employment:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the division of student life, including establishing collaborative relationships with colleagues and a nuanced awareness of divisional structure, resources, and systems that support the ongoing growth and effectiveness of the JCLS and the division as a whole.
• Advance a shared, institutionally grounded understanding of leadership and service by articulating clear definitions and ensuring broad awareness among students, staff, and campus partners of available opportunities for engagement and development.
• Foster and sustain collaborative relationships with faculty and academic administrators, enhancing cross-divisional partnerships and contributing to a deeper institutional understanding of the role and impact of student life on student learning and development.
• Demonstrate effective organizational leadership by maintaining a holistic and informed perspective on the operations of JCLS and its alignment within the broader institutional context. This includes attention to operational practices while also recognizing the intrinsic value of leadership and service as a meaningful student experience independent of formalized learning outcomes.
• Establish a strong, collaborative partnership with student life communications to ensure alignment with institutional branding and messaging standards. Effectively leverage existing communications resources and expertise to enhance the visibility, coherence, and impact of JCLS initiatives.
• Develop and apply a thorough understanding of the financial framework of JCLS, including budget oversight, resource allocation, and the varied funding models that sustain its programs and operations.
• Provide strategic leadership that advances JCLS’s mission through excellence in staff supervision, program development, and long-range planning, positioning the center for continued growth and increased institutional impact.

Division of Student Life

The departments and offices housed within student life provide the daily services students need to thrive at UT Knoxville. These departments and offices foster student engagement and leadership opportunities, prioritize the health and wellness of students and staff, and work to enhance a sense of belonging. The departments and programs of student life provide students with transformational experiences that are critical to realizing their academic and personal aspirations.

Student Life Organizational Chart

Divisional Leadership

Student Life Mission, Vision & Strategic Plan

The Student Body

Total Enrollment: 40,421

Undergraduate: 32,041

Graduate: 8,380

Male: 46.6%

Female: 53.4%

African American/Black: 4.3%

Asian: 3.6%

Hispanic/Latino: 7%

White: 74.9%

Two or More Races: 5.0%

Unknown: 1.4%

Non-Resident: 3.6%

Institutional Leadership

President’s Cabinet

Strategic Vision & Mission

Academic Appointments

Non-tenure track appointment

Candidates with an extensive teaching and research record in leadership and service may request a non-tenure-track courtesy appointment in the Herbert College of Agriculture or the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

Tenure-eligible appointment

Following existing university policy, tenure-eligible faculty may request tenure upon initial appointment (TUIA) consideration in the Herbert College of Agriculture or the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

Application

Review of applications will begin Immediately and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position, please click on the Apply button, complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.

Visit the University of Tennessee, Knoxville website at https://www.utk.edu/

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), ADEA (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the equal employment opportunity (EEO) office.

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