Academic Initiatives Strategist

Western Governors University; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 83,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Governors University in Utah (Salt Lake City) seeks an Academic Initiatives Strategist to shape and execute initiatives that enhance student outcomes and support workforce readiness.

You will partner across departments and with external partners to design programs, evaluate impact, manage grants, and communicate findings. A Bachelor's degree and 4 years in higher education or edtech are preferred; travel up to 20% is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• 4 years of relevant, progressive experience in higher education, education technology, or related field.
• Equivalent relevant experience substituting education degree requirements is allowed.

Responsibilities

• Develops and proposes new academic initiatives.
• Manages high-impact initiatives and analyzes outcomes.
• Implements innovative solutions to advance academic initiatives.
• Supports change management across departments.
• Analyzes data and gathers insights into program and student performance.
• Evaluates program effectiveness and suggests refinements.
• Contributes to access and completion for underserved populations.
• Uses data to inform decision-making and strategy.

Skills

Higher education trends

Project management

Data analysis

Digital credentialing

Grant writing

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication skills

Program evaluation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Master's Degree in a related field

Tools

Project management software

Data analysis tools

Job description

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country - and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future - consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Professional 309 Pay Range: $82,700.00 - $124,000.00

Job Description

The Academic Initiatives Strategist plays a key role in developing and implementing academic initiatives at the University that create opportunities for students and support the university's Key Results. This position collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the successful execution of academic strategic initiatives. The role is instrumental in analyzing, designing, and implementing solutions that improve student outcomes and contribute to the learn-and-work ecosystem.

Job Duties

• Develops and proposes new academic initiatives and programs.
• Manages specific high-impact initiatives.
• Implements innovative solutions to advance academic initiatives.
• Supports change management efforts for cross-functional implementation.
• Analyzes data and gathers insights into program and student performance.
• Evaluates program effectiveness and suggest refinements.
• Contributes to efforts supporting access and completion for underserved populations.
• Uses data analysis to inform decision-making and strategy refinement.
• Engages with internal stakeholders across departments.
• Participates in external partnerships to support initiative goals.
• Coordinates cross-departmental efforts to enhance student success.
• Researches current trends in the learn-and-work ecosystem.
• Develops expertise in areas such as student pathways, skills-based practices, and digital credentialing.
• Contributes to the university's knowledge base on innovative academic practices.
• Prepares comprehensive reports and presentations on academic strategies and outcomes.
• Communicates project status and results to relevant stakeholders.
• Identifies and researches potential grant opportunities.
• Contributes significantly to grant proposal writing and development.
• Assists in managing awarded grants, including budget oversight and reporting.
• Provides mentorship to inspire and develop colleagues.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

KSAs

• Solid understanding of current trends and challenges in higher education, particularly related to student success and career pathways
• Knowledge of project management methodologies and best practices in academic settings
• Understanding of data analysis techniques and their application in evaluating academic programs
• Familiarity with innovative educational practices, including skills-based learning and digital credentialing
• Knowledge of grant writing processes and funding opportunities in higher education
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and derive actionable insights
• Proficient project management skills, including planning, execution, and monitoring of academic initiatives
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, to convey ideas and results to various stakeholders
• Collaborative skills to work effectively across departments and with external partners
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in data analysis tools and project management software
• Ability to develop and propose new academic initiatives aligned with institutional goals
• Capability to evaluate program effectiveness and suggest evidence-based improvements
• Ability to contribute to strategic planning efforts and implement innovative solutions
• Capacity to manage stakeholder relationships and facilitate cross-departmental cooperation
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Capability to translate strategic directions into actionable plans and measurable outcomes
• Ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to a positive team culture
• Capacity to balance multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail
• Ability to think creatively and propose solutions to complex academic challenges
• Capability to support change management efforts and promote adoption of new initiatives

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field
• 4 years of relevant, progressive experience in higher education, education technology, or related field.
• Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in a related field
• 2 years of skills implementation experience.

Job Description Disclaimer:

This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require. This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

Additional Information Disclaimer:

The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.

Accommodations:

Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail].

Equal Employment Opportunity:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law. In 1997, a coalition of 19 U.S. governors founded Western Governors University with a singular vision: to make higher education more accessible by offering full degree programs online. Starting small, we quickly expanded. Today, we’re one of the largest accredited online universities in the U.S.

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