Vice President, Institute for Public Service

About the Institute for Public Service: The Institute for Public Service (IPS) is a nationally recognized, university-based system delivering expert solutions to government and industry. in every region of the state, IPS promotes effective governance, supports economic development, and improves quality of life for Tennesseans. Its work includes direct assistance to city and county governments, training for public officials and law enforcement, support for manufacturers to enhance productivity and competitiveness, and language services, among others.

IPS includes the following agencies and programs: the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) , Center for Industrial Services (CIS) , County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC) , Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership (NCEL) , Tennessee Foreign Language Center (TLC) , the Substance Misuse and Addiction Resource Center for Tennessee (SMART Initiative) , and the Center for Local Planning (CLP) .

Strategic Leadership, Operations, and Innovation

Lead IPS Executive Directors and teams in delivering high-impact programs and services across Tennessee

Execute the IPS Strategic Plan in alignment with the UT System’s strategic priorities

Ensure fulfillment of IPS’s statutory responsibilities and organizational excellence

Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, proactivity, and continuous improvement while honoring the unique strengths and identities of IPS agencies

Expand the reach, effectiveness, and long-term sustainability of IPS by leveraging university expertise, strengthening partnerships, and identifying new opportunities to serve the state of Tennessee

Advance a "One IPS" culture that encourages collaboration across agencies, increases awareness of shared capabilities, and strengthens service delivery for communities and industries across Tennessee

Organizational Leadership and Culture

Build credibility through active listening, transparency, and engagement across IPS agencies and stakeholder groups

Develop trusted relationships with employees, agency leaders, university leadership, elected officials, government partners, and external stakeholders

Foster a culture of collaboration, proactivity, accountability, and shared purpose across the Institute

External Engagement and Advocacy

Serve as the chief ambassador for IPS by communicating its impact, telling its story, and increasing awareness of the Institute's value across Tennessee and within the University.

Build strong partnerships with municipal and county organizations, professional associations, and industry partners

Contribute to UT System leadership through participation on the Executive Leadership Council

Build visibility and awareness of IPS’s impact and services across Tennessee

Stakeholder Relations

Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with state, county, and local officials to strengthen partnerships and support IPS’s mission.

Preserve and strengthen IPS’s existing relationships while cultivating new partnerships that advance the University's public service mission

Engage regularly with business and industry leaders, economic development partners, and law enforcement

Regularly and proactively collaborate with key state partners, including the Tennessee Comptroller and other key entities in coordination with the Government Relations team

Enhance IPS’s reputation as a trusted, responsive, and impactful partner in advancing public service across Tennessee

Organizational Excellence

Strengthen organizational infrastructure to support sustainable growth

Promote succession planning, leadership development, and employee engagement

Ensure financial stewardship while pursuing opportunities to diversify resources and enhance operational effectiveness

Champion technology and process improvements that improve customer service and organizational efficiency

The Vice President is a high-impact leadership role central to advancing the University of Tennessee’s statewide mission and expanding the reach, visibility, and effectiveness of public service across the state.

The position requires an advanced degree and at least ten years of leadership experience working with state and local government officials in complex organizations, or significant leadership experience in higher education, particularly within a public service or outreach-focused environment.

The successful candidate will be a highly collaborative, relationship-oriented leader who values listening, builds trust through authentic engagement, and is committed to leveraging IPS's strengths to lead the organization into its next chapter.

Additional qualifications and characteristics include:

Leadership and Strategy

Demonstrated ability to lead complex organizations and deliver results

Strong leadership presence with a demonstrated ability to drive strategy and align stakeholders

Demonstrated servant leadership with the ability to earn trust through authenticity, humility, and transparency

Experience leading organizational change while preserving institutional strengths and culture

Unwavering integrity and ethical standards

Demonstrated ability to inspire, motivate, and elevate high-performing teams

Communication and Influence

Ability to build trust, influence a broad range of stakeholders, and represent the Institute for Public Service effectively

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

Demonstrated ability to communicate organizational impact through compelling storytelling and public engagement

Strong presentation and public engagement capabilities

Demonstrated ability to effectively champion the University of Tennessee System's mission and statewide impact

Institutional and Policy Knowledge

Understanding of legislation and public policy, and their impact on public service stakeholders

Skilled at aligning University capabilities with the evolving needs of government and industry partners

Deep understanding of the University’s outreach mission, with a clear vision for expanding its impact and reach

Ability to successfully navigate complex political, governmental, and higher education environments while building consensus across a wide range of stakeholders

Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply laws, policies, and procedures with sound judgment and consistency

Relationship Building

Proven ability to establish trust and credibility with employees, government officials, community leaders, and external partners

Demonstrated success leading through influence rather than authority

Highly collaborative leadership style with exceptional emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills

Commitment to visibility and engagement across urban and rural communities throughout Tennessee

Judgment and Execution

Demonstrated ability to balance strategic vision with operational excellence

Strong organizational and operational leadership skills

High integrity and sound judgment in decision-making

Proven ability to make informed, strategic decisions with openness and accountability

Experience developing high-performing teams through coaching, empowerment, and succession planning

Demonstrated ability to delegate effectively, empower leaders, and hold teams accountable for results

Benefits & Compensation: Compensation for the position will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, and much more. Additionally, Tennessee residents do not pay state income tax.

Application Process:

To be fully considered for this opportunity, candidates must apply using the University of Tennessee’s online application system using the link below. Application materials should include a resume/CV outlining relevant experience, skills, and qualifications, and a cover letter highlighting your interest in the role and how your background aligns with the position.

Internal candidates should apply via Opportunity Marketplace in DASH.

The review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the search concludes. The deadline for full consideration is October 1, 2026. Nominations, recommendations, or inquiries may be made via the search website .