Executive Director for the Open Education Network
University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, MN · Hybrid · Administration
Salary USD 129,500–138,000
Posted Sep 15, 2025
The Executive Director reports directly to CEHD’s Senior Associate Dean for Research and Policy. The Executive Director provides strategic leadership, management, and oversight for the program activities of the OEN. Key responsibilities of this position include leadership of program teams, establishing and maintaining key relationships externally (with partners and members) and internally (across the UMN). Success in this role will require someone who:
- Is a strategic leader able to inspire, mobilize, and galvanize programmatic staff (currently 6 FTE) and support the long-term impact of the OEN’s work.
- Is an exceptional relationship builder, increasing rapport, trust, and transparency across a diverse community of robust, passionate, talented staff, stakeholders, and partners.
- Is a strong listener, public communicator, and storyteller who can articulate and amplify the values, mission, and approach of OEN’s work across diverse stakeholders and settings within and outside the University.
- Is committed to advancing the common good before the self. You have an optimistic outlook and the humor, integrity, kindness, and patience necessary to work within a transformative environment. You are willing to set aside a personal agenda in favor of organizational and/or community goals and objectives.
The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a
flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location. Please note that 100% remote work requires approval prior to offer.
Job Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership (30%)
- Develop and implement community-centered strategic plans aligned with OEN’s mission and guiding principles.
- Ensure all leadership and management practices align with the OEN’s seven guiding principles.
- Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, action, and continuous improvement.
- Expand the scope of a successful Center for Open Education to include support for expanded sponsored scholarly activity.
- Identify and pursue funding opportunities, including grants, sponsorships, and memberships.
- Diversify and grow sponsored project and related fiscal support
- Represent OEN in national and international open education communities.
Organizational Management (30%)
- Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring effective program delivery and organizational efficiency.
- Follow CEHD and UMN policies and procedures regarding the OEN’s financial, HR, legal, external sales, and other administrative functions
- Lead, mentor, and manage a diverse team of staff and contractors, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
- Manage robust community input and feedback mechanisms, including the OEN Steering Committee, Community Scan, and topic-specific groups (e.g., Pub101 committee, Certificate Instructors, Event Planning Committee)
- Ensure compliance with legal, financial, and ethical standards.
Partnerships and Community Engagement (20%)
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with member institutions, funders, and strategic partners.
- Build strong internal administrative UMN and CEHD relationships (e.g., HR, Finance, Office of General Counsel, External Sales)
- Serve as the primary spokesperson for OEN.
Financial Stewardship (10%)
- Develop and manage the annual budget in collaboration with the Steering Committee, community, and finance staff.
- Develop program-specific budgets to ensure sustainability, competitiveness, and fairness.
- Ensure transparent and responsible financial practices.
Steering Committee Relations (10%)
- Collaborate with the Steering Committee to set organizational priorities and policies.
- Provide regular updates and reports to the Steering Committee on progress and challenges.
- Support Steering Committee development and governance.
- Engage Steering Committee members to help lead community conversations and activities.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- BA/BS Degree and at least 10 years of relevant experience, or advanced degree plus at least 8 years of relevant experience.
- Proven leadership experience in nonprofit, academic, or open education sectors.
- Deep understanding of the potential benefits, risks, challenges, and opportunities of open educational resources (OER), open pedagogy, and open educational practices.
- The ability to stay abreast of emerging trends and needs in the field of open education.
- Evidence of leadership based on shared expertise and perspectives.
- Experience of success in environments of mutual expertise, acknowledging and leveraging the ideas and perspectives of community partners to build initiatives of mutual benefit.
- Experience working in various community contexts building strong relationships and working on sensitive issues including strategic priorities, and ecosystem partner concerns.
- Strong communication, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Excellent public speaker
- Proven ability to successfully attract grant funding, including grant writing and funder relationship management.
- Experience managing distributed teams and budgets.
- Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Ability to develop and deliver courses in ways that effectively account for a variety of diverse backgrounds, communities, identities, and abilities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree in education, public or nonprofit administration, or related field.
- Experience working with higher education institutions and consortia.
- Expertise and experience working in the field of open education
