Director, Honors Program

Recent Jobs; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Florida in Gainesville seeks a Director of the Honors Program to provide strategic vision and leadership across academic, co-curricular, administrative, and operational dimensions. Working with faculty, staff, students, and university partners, the Director will advance a nationally distinctive honors experience and imagine what comes next for honors education.

The role demands a terminal degree and at least ten years of faculty experience, with a sustained record in teaching,

Qualifications

• Hold a terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) and at least 10 years of faculty experience.
• Evidence of sustained achievement in teaching, scholarly or creative activity, and professional engagement.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic vision and leadership for the Honors Program across academic, co-curricular, administrative, and operational dimensions.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, students, university leaders, colleges, departments, and external partners to advance a nationally distinctive honors experience.
• Imagine and articulate the next phase of honors education for a large, public research university.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

stakeholder engagement

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate

Job description

Classification Title

PRG DIR & PROF

Classification Minimum Requirements

Hold a terminal degree, Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate, and bring at least 10 years of faculty experience, including sustained achievement in teaching, scholarly or creative activity, and professional engagement within their discipline.

Job Description

The Director provides strategic vision and leadership for the academic, co-curricular, administrative, and operational dimensions of the UF Honors Program. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, university leaders, colleges, academic departments, and external partners, the Director will advance a shared vision for a nationally distinctive honors experience.

The next Director will inherit a program with compelling assets: a nationally recognized advising model; innovative honors courses; signature experiential learning opportunities; a highly engaged student community; partnerships across a comprehensive research university; and a philosophy built around Opportunity, Community, and Challenge.

The Director will have the opportunity to bring these strengths together around a bold, cohesive strategy that defines what honors education can mean at a large, comprehensive, research-intensive institution.

This leader will be expected not simply to administer an established program, but to imagine what comes next.

The UF Honors Experience

The UF Honors Program is a dynamic academic community for highly motivated and intellectually curious undergraduate students. Through innovative coursework, interdisciplinary learning, leadership development, service, experiential opportunities, and close engagement with faculty and peers, Honors complements students’ academic majors while encouraging them to explore complex questions and pursue ambitious goals.

At the center of that experience are three interconnected pillars.

Opportunity

Honors opens doors to deeper engagement with the university and to personalized pathways for academic, professional, and personal growth. Students have access to distinctive courses, experiential learning, research and internship opportunities, faculty connections, leadership experiences, fellowship opportunities, early registration privileges, and priority housing in Honors Village.

Community

Within a university of tens of thousands of students, Honors creates a smaller and highly supportive intellectual community. Students build relationships with peers, advisors, and faculty across academic disciplines and interests, developing connections that can extend well beyond their undergraduate experience. The program intentionally emphasizes collaboration rather than competition.

Challenge

UF views Honors not simply as recognition for past accomplishment, but as an invitation to continued growth. Through rigorous academics, leadership, intellectual exploration, personal development, and experiences beyond the traditional classroom, students are encouraged to stretch themselves, redefine success, and discover new possibilities.

The University of Florida

The University of Florida is Florida’s flagship university and a leading public research institution based in Gainesville. UF encompasses 16 colleges, a major academic health center, championship athletics, and a 2,000-acre campus that combines historic spaces, contemporary facilities, and preserved natural areas.

UF is ranked No. 8 among U.S. public universities in the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings and is a member of the Association of American Universities. The university serves more than 62,000 students, employs approximately 32,000 people, and includes more than 6,600 faculty. UF reported record research expenditures of $1.34 billion in FY 2026.

The scale and breadth of the institution creates extraordinary possibilities for honors students to connect across disciplines, engage in research and discovery, and learn from leading faculty.

UF has also made significant investments in artificial intelligence education. AI has been incorporated into more than 230 courses taught by approximately 350 faculty, supported by HiPerGator, which UF describes as the most powerful university-owned supercomputer in the United States.

Together, UF’s research enterprise, comprehensive academic portfolio, institutional resources, and ambitious vision create a powerful environment in which the Honors Program can continue to innovate.

Compensation and Benefits

The University of Florida offers a competitive salary commensurate with similar positions and includes a full benefits package.

Our Commitment

The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the U.S. The University of Florida is a public institution and is subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.

Expected Salary

Commensurate based on experience and education.

Required Qualifications

Hold a terminal degree, Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate, and bring at least 10 years of faculty experience, including sustained achievement in teaching, scholarly or creative activity, and professional engagement within their discipline.

Preferred

The successful candidate will also bring demonstrated administrative experience in higher education and possess the following preferred knowledge, skills and abilities:

• A deep commitment to undergraduate education and an understanding of the academic, developmental, and experiential needs of high-achieving students.
• The ability to articulate and execute a compelling strategic vision for the future of honors education.
• A record of innovation in honors education, undergraduate student success, experiential learning, or related areas.
• Demonstrated administrative experience overseeing academic programs, operations, policies, resources, and budgets within a complex higher education environment, with the ability to align operational decision with programmatic priorities and institutional goals.
• Successful experience supervising, developing, and inspiring employees while creating a positive and high-performing workplace.
• The ability to build meaningful partnerships across colleges, academic units, and administrative functions and with external stakeholders, including cultivating relationships that support fundraising and resource development opportunities aligned with programmatic priorities.
• Knowledge of national trends, emerging practices, and opportunities in honors education.
• A commitment to meaningful assessment, evidence-informed decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• Outstanding communication, relationship-building, and consensus-building skills, with the judgement and organizational acumen to navigate a large, complex research university.
• A strong commitment to creating an environment in which students from varied backgrounds can thrive and achieve their full potential.

Above all, the next Director should be energized by the possibility of working with outstanding students and talented colleagues to shape the future of honors education at a leading public research university.

Health Assessment Required

No