Director of Bowen Center for Public Affairs
Ball State University
Muncie, IN
Job posting number: #7293857 (Ref:BSU45722)
Posted: November 16, 2024
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Job Description
With input from the Bowen Center Board of Advisors, the Bowen Center is in the process of reinventing itself to meet contemporary political and governance needs in the State of Indiana. The successful candidate for Director will be a creative, forward thinker who generates and is prepared to implement innovative ideas. The Director is responsible for general oversight of all Bowen Center programs and activities, including budget administration and oversight, marketing, program development, fundraising, and community outreach. The Director works closely with the Ball State University Foundation and the Center’s Board of Advisors in seeking support for the Center’s activities. The successful candidate will have experience working in government and will have developed connections with officials at various levels of government.
Ball State University is seeking a Managing Director of the Bowen Center for Public Affairs.
Founded in March 2007, the Bowen Center for Public Affairs honors the integrity and leadership of Dr. Otis R. Bowen, the 44th Governor of Indiana, by advancing the ideals of civic literacy, community involvement, and public service embodied by Dr. Bowen’s career.
The Bowen Center for Public Affairs directly supports Ball State University’s strategic imperatives related to lifetime learning and providing enrichment programming that is enjoyed by community members locally and throughout the state. The Bowen Center emphasizes civic engagement, public management training, and public policy research and application.
Job Function:
With input from the Bowen Center Board of Advisors, the Bowen Center is in the process of reinventing itself to meet contemporary political and governance needs in the State of Indiana. The successful candidate for Director will be a creative, forward thinker who generates and is prepared to implement innovative ideas. The Director is responsible for general oversight of all Bowen Center programs and activities, including budget administration and oversight, marketing, program development, fundraising, and community outreach. The Director works closely with the Ball State University Foundation and the Center’s Board of Advisors in seeking support for the Center’s activities. The successful candidate will have experience working in government and will have developed connections with officials at various levels of government.
Minimum Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in political science or a related field from an accredited university by date of employment.
Preferred Education:
Master’s Degree in political science or a related field from an accredited university by date of appointment.
Minimum Experience:
Experience in budget administration, personnel administration, fundraising, and marketing; demonstrated connections with state and local government officials, journalists, and alumni.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Actively promote available internship opportunities in meetings with Ball State University students and departmental internship coordinators
- Act as the information clearinghouse for BSU departmental internship coordinators
- Actively assist departmental internship coordinators in recruitment and seeking appropriate placement for interns
- Oversee activities of Ball State’s intern team at the Statehouse, reviewing daily activities of interns with frequent liaison with the interns and their employers, especially legislators. Where needed, create events for interns to share their experiences and information.
- Cooperate with and assist BSU VP for Governmental Relations and Industry Engagement or their designee to recruit students for this program and to oversee their activities in the Statehouse
- Investigate fundraising opportunities to support student access to and offset expenses for internships
- Revise and prepare an annual statewide, nonpartisan public opinion poll measuring Hoosier opinion on various public policy issues facing the state. Generally administered in November. Work with the University’s Vice President for Governmental Affairs and Industry engagement to seek input on the survey from the 4 respective caucuses in the Indiana House and Senate.
- Disseminate the results of the survey with a plan for maximum local, state and national media penetration. Serve as media spokesman for survey results. Generally disseminated in early December.
- Actively promote and publicize the work of the Bowen Center.
- The Center has historically engaged with students and the general public in outreach events such as the Bowen Institute for Political Participation. The Director shall work with the Bowen Center Board of Advisors to conceptualize appropriate venues for future outreach initiatives
- Communicate to the Board the activities of the Center and work with the Board under their general guidance to accomplish program goals
- Other duties as assigned
At Ball State University, we recognize inclusive excellence as an integral endeavor to fulfill our University’s mission and our strategic plan. We recruit, support, and retain a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. We encourage and reward diversity of thought. We promote a work environment that encourages and rewards innovation and creativity. We pledge to keep Inclusive Excellence at the highest level of institutional importance and as a foundation in all that we strive to do. Our over-arching goal for Inclusive Excellence is to adopt a university-wide Inclusive Excellence approach to academic, administrative support, and service functions of the university. We believe Inclusive Excellence must be infused in every step we take.
