Public Service Faculty - Economic Development Training

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

The UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government – Who We Are
As a Public Service and Outreach unit at the University of Georgia, the UGA Institute of Government contributes directly to the university’s overarching public service mission of improving people’s lives by helping to create jobs and prosperity, developing leaders, and addressing critical issues. This public service mission, and the Institute of Government’s role in its success, is at the heart of UGA’s land-grant and sea-grant mission to serve the State of Georgia and its residents.

We have a wide range of experts who inform, inspire, and innovate every day so that governments, large and small, can be more efficient and responsive to their citizens, address current and emerging challenges, and serve the public with excellence. We are uniquely positioned to provide impartial support to local governments and state agencies and convene multi-disciplinary and intragovernmental groups to plan for and address many of the challenges faced by communities across Georgia.

Our areas of expertise and focus include workforce and economic development; infrastructure and community resilience; government operations and organizational effectiveness; measuring and reporting on impact and outcomes; building skills, knowledge and capacity of government leaders and teams; and maximizing technology and data for governments and their leaders.

Whether it is through our award-winning PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) program for rural communities, our CyberArch student program that helps Georgia communities increase their cybersecurity, our efforts to build a visionary plan for military and community partnerships to spur economic prosperity and resilient infrastructure, our financial management certificate program to build the capacity of public officials, or hosting educational events about e-mobility strategies for local governments …. We Know Georgia. Fulfilling our land-grant and sea-grant mission to serve the State of Georgia is more than a project. It’s our purpose.

We are growing and excited to add individuals to our team who share our commitment to public service – building stronger communities, inspiring economic resilience, and improving quality of life for communities across Georgia and beyond.

Our Culture – How We Operate
We disseminate knowledge through research, scholarship, and instruction. We collaborate internally across our areas of expertise and across the university with academic researchers to bring best practices and expert insights to the governments and communities we serve. We are committed to fielding a team of experts who have a variety of professional and academic experiences and are grounded in our culture of excellence and approach our work with Georgia’s governments in a comprehensive and objective fashion.

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ([email protected]).

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Master’s degree or terminal degree in public administration, political science, education, finance, accounting, business management, higher education, or a closely related field.

The Public Service Faculty member develops, coordinates, delivers, and evaluates training, education, and professional development opportunities for adult learners serving local and state governments, economic development organizations, and other public sector partners throughout Georgia. This position utilizes current research, data, emerging trends, and best practices to inform, inspire, and equip elected and appointed officials, economic development professionals, and public sector leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to address current and emerging challenges.

Creating engaging learning environments that expand participants’ knowledge and strengthen their ability to address complex economic development and leadership challenges is foundational to success in this role. Through the design, development, delivery, and continuous improvement of curriculum and educational programming, the incumbent applies adult learning principles to ensure training is relevant, practical, and responsive to the evolving needs of Georgia’s communities. Responsibilities include developing curriculum and instructional materials, coordinating and delivering courses, evaluating program effectiveness and participant outcomes, and supporting learners across multiple Institute programs.

This position establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with local and state government officials, economic development organizations, professional associations, University partners, and other stakeholders to identify emerging training needs and expand the Institute’s impact. Responsibilities include developing, coordinating, marketing, and delivering customized training programs, certificate programs, and contracted educational services while identifying opportunities to establish, negotiate, and implement new partnerships and client engagements.

As a member of the Institute’s Public Service Faculty, the incumbent is responsible for understanding the evolving needs of Georgia’s governments and developing innovative programs and services that strengthen leadership capacity, organizational effectiveness, and economic prosperity. The position also contributes to the Institute’s mission through technical assistance, webinars, professional presentations, applied scholarship, publications, and other activities that advance knowledge and enhance public service throughout Georgia.

Previous experience in an economic development field is essential, with a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible economic development experience is preferred.

• Extensive knowledge of economic development within the state, including, but not limited to issues, trends and challenges related to general economic development, business recruitment and retention, downtown development and tourism.
• Demonstrated ability in designing, developing, and delivering training and professional development programs for diverse audiences, including curriculum development, educational materials creation, instruction, facilitation, and service delivery that promotes understanding of tools, resources, and practices that support positive change within Georgia communities.
• Proficiency in managing and administering educational programs, contracts, grants, budgets, and complex long-term projects and initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to establish, manage, and maintain effective relationships with clients, stakeholders, and prominent University and governmental officials while exercising sound judgment, diplomacy, and professionalism.
• Ability to learn, adapt, and apply new learning technologies and innovative approaches to training and development service delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise significant initiative and judgment, and develop creative solutions to highly complex organizational, operational, and community challenges within the framework of University policies and procedures.
• Advanced skills in leadership, economic development, strategic planning, and marketing.

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Curriculum Development & Training
This position maintains a heavy focus on design, development and delivery of training and content to adult learners within economic development and adjacent fields. Content may be part of existing certificate programs or as stand-alone training, depending upon the needs of the client.

Stakeholder Engagement & Business Development
This position requires the incumbent to identify economic development opportunities for content delivery. This consists of securing contracts for both ongoing training opportunities, agreements for one-time course offerings, and maintaining relationships with professional organizations.

Technical Assistance & Service Delivery
The position requires the incumbent to listen critically to the needs expressed by leadership in economic development leadership to satisfy training needs, but also to identify opportunities for the Institute as a whole.