Director of Research, Publications,
and Professional Advancement

The NCA is a collaborative environment with a relatively small staff where teamwork is valued.

 

Responsibilities

Serve as a member of the association’s senior leadership team:

  • Attend and represent the Research, Publications, and Professional Advancement Department in executive staff meetings about all aspects of the association and its management.

  • Formulate, develop, and implement NCA’s policy agenda with direction from and in collaboration with executive director.

  • Supervise the development of policy issue briefs and updates for NCA leadership and membership on proposed policies affecting Research, Publication, and Professional Advancement.

  • Engage NCA leadership and membership in education efforts about proposed policies.

  • Collaborate with communications director to monitor Congressional and Executive Branch actions relevant to NCA research, education, teaching, and training and advocate for NCA research, publications, and interests.

  • Supervise the preparation and presentation of NCA testimony, as appropriate, to Congressional committees, federal agencies, and related organizations.

Lead internal and external research, publications, and professional development:

  • Establish alignment with organizational goals to drive organizational results and key performance indicators. Develop operational performance metrics for Research, Publications, and Professional Advancement.

  • Support scholar/researchers, teachers, students, and practitioner members. Identify innovative opportunities for members of NCA in collaboration with NCA’s Research Council and NCA’s Teaching and Learning Council.

  • Exercise oversight of member interest groups. Work collaboratively with membership director to facilitate new interest groups and to grow standing interest groups. Develop effective metrics for assessment of interest groups.

  • Exercise oversight of all journals. Work collaboratively with Publications, Research, and  Teaching and Learning Councils, and with editors of the journals.

  • Work with Taylor & Francis to enhance circulation and develop new products.

  • Identify and share new research opportunities for members.

  • Develop relationships with potential funders and donors.

  • Identify sources of outside funding for research by members and within NCA. Develop new externally funded projects.

Manage departmental operating budget and annual work plan.

Conduct timely and constructive staff performance evaluations.

 

Qualifications

  • PhD in Communication or related field.

  • Evidence of scholarly publications and teaching experience in higher education.

  • At least five years of progressively responsible experience with a nonprofit organization or membership association. Federal policy experience would be an advantage.

  • Superior/excellent writing and editing skills, including the ability to research and synthesize information into content that meets members’ needs and aligns with NCA’s strategic plan.

  • Demonstrated appreciation of humanistic, social scientific, and aesthetic inquiry.

  • Evidence of advanced research experience including qualitative and quantitative data gathering, analysis, and output.

  • Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and to offer alternatives to current practices.

  • Ability to carefully consider academic, practitioner, and stakeholder groups and diverse perspectives to shape departmental planning and strategy.

  • Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access through marketing and communications.

Note

Several professional profiles may be well suited to this position. Should your qualifications be different from those described below but you believe this is the job for you, please do not hesitate to apply. The Higher Education Group is assisting NCA with these searches. Applications will be reviewed as received until the position is filled.  The salary is competitive.

Work Mode

The NCA operates in a hybrid work mode, three days in the office, two days at telework. The work mode is regularly reviewed to meet the evolving needs of the association. Such review may necessitate changing a position’s mode of work designation.

To Submit an Application

To apply, please e-mail a PDF file with the following information:

  • A cover letter describing your interest in this position;

  • Your C.V. or resume;

  • The names and contact information of at least 3 references.

  • Send to NCA@heig-edu.com with “Research, Publications,
    and Professional Advancement” in the subject line.

    Thank you.