Co-Director for the Center for Human Development

The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Center for Human Development (CHD) is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to serve as Co-Director. This position provides senior-level leadership for CHD operations, programs, staff, budgets, grants, contracts, and community partnerships while advancing the Center’s mission to improve the lives of Alaskans with disabilities. The Co-Director will work closely with the CHD Co-Director and leadership team to guide strategic planning, ensure compliance, develop funding opportunities, and represent CHD with university, government, community, and professional partners.

The Center for Human Development (CHD) at the University of Alaska Anchorage is Alaska’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities in Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD). As Alaska’s only UCEDD, CHD serves communities throughout the state through interdisciplinary education, community training and technical assistance, research, and information dissemination. CHD’s work supports greater independence, productivity, community integration, and inclusion for individuals with disabilities across the lifespan and addresses a broad range of disability-related issues.

As Co-Director, you will provide senior leadership for CHD in partnership with the other Co-Director, with primary oversight of Community Services, ECHO, LEND, and Training. You will help establish policies and procedures, develop and support strategic and annual work plans, and ensure the Center’s programs and operations align with its mission and university priorities.

This position also provides broad administrative and fiscal leadership, including managing a multi-million-dollar departmental budget, overseeing contracts and state reimbursable service agreements, identifying funding opportunities, supporting grant development and reporting, and ensuring compliance with applicable university, state, and federal requirements. The Co-Director supervises managers and assigned support staff, supports the development and performance of CHD employees, and works collaboratively with internal and external partners to advance the Center’s work.

The successful candidate will also represent CHD with external agencies, professional organizations, advisory committees, policymakers, and community partners and may serve as Principal Investigator on selected projects.

To thrive in this position, you will bring substantial professional experience in the field of disabilities along with experience managing research projects and leading people and programs. You will be an effective strategic thinker who can balance competing priorities, navigate complex organizational environments, and build productive relationships across university, government, community, and professional settings.

You will be comfortable managing budgets and funding, developing partnerships, interpreting program data, and identifying opportunities to strengthen and expand programs through grants and other funding sources. Strong communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills will be essential, as will the ability to make thoughtful decisions, motivate employees, and maintain a positive environment built on collaboration, transparency, and open communication.

The ideal candidate will also bring experience with budgeting, planning and forecasting; grant writing and contract administration; and developing and maintaining community partnerships. Adaptability, systems thinking, and a commitment to advancing effective disability services will help you succeed in this role.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree in psychology, public health, social work, health administration, vocational rehabilitation administration, or relevant field and five years progressively responsible experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Position Details:

This position is located on the University of Alaska campus in Anchorage, and flexible on-site/hybrid work arrangements may be considered in accordance with UA regulations. There is an expectation that this position works in the office a minimum of three days per week. This is a full-time, term-funded, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package . UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule , Grade 83, based on education and experience.

We review applications on a rolling basis. Because we may close the posting once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates is established, we encourage early submission. Please note that once a viable pool is identified, further applications may not be reviewed.

The University of Alaska (UA) requires employees to work on-site based on operational and business needs. Hybrid and remote work arrangements may be considered only for positions specifically designated and advertised as eligible for hybrid or remote work. Any approved arrangement will be based on the position’s duties, operational needs, and the employee’s ability to effectively perform the work remotely.

To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE .

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Karen Heath, Search Committee Chair, at View email address on us.fitly.work .

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction. Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

This is a term-funded position reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at View email address on us.fitly.work .

The University of Alaska () is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution. The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination () against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

* Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA : (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: . Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: View phone number on us.fitly.work or View email address on us.fitly.work / View phone number on us.fitly.work or View email address on us.fitly.work . 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: . Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: View phone number on us.fitly.work or View email address on us.fitly.work .

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: . Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: View phone number on us.fitly.work or emailing View email address on us.fitly.work .