Director of Planning and Strategy

Colby College; Benton (ME); Vor Ort; USD 94.000 - 110.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Colby College in Maine seeks a Director of Planning and Strategy to advance institutional priorities and partner with senior leadership to drive cross-functional projects from concept to execution. Reporting to the Vice President of Planning and Strategy, the director will conduct research, prepare high-quality materials, and lead external funding efforts with foundation and government partners.

This role requires independent work, collaboration, and strong influence across college units; the

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, higher education administration, project or program management, institutional strategy, external funding development, consulting, public policy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex projects or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and organizational units.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research and analysis and translating findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience developing high-level written materials, presentations, proposals, or executive communications.

Aufgaben

• Lead College-wide strategic initiatives with stakeholders, work plans, timelines and deliverables, driving projects to completion.
• Serve as a strategic partner to senior leadership, providing analysis and recommendations to advance priorities.
• Conduct research, benchmarking, analysis and planning studies to inform priorities and support decision making.
• Lead development and pursuit of external funding opportunities, coordinating input and timelines with partners.
• Draft, edit, design and curate reports and executive materials for the President, senior leadership and Board.

Kenntnisse

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Executive communication

Project management

Collaboration and influence

Discretion and professionalism

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree

Jobbeschreibung

Job Description

Department: Vice President of Planning and Strategy

Pay Rate Type: Salary

Job Summary: The Director of Planning and Strategy advances the institution'sstrategic priorities and supports the Office of the President. Reporting to the Vice President of Planning and Strategy, theDirector partners closely with the Vice President and Chief ofStaff, the President, senior leaders, and colleagues across theCollege to lead complex, cross-functional projects andinstitutional planning processes. The Director helps translate institutional priorities into action,moving initiatives from concept through execution. This includesconducting research and complex analyses; developing high-qualitywritten and visual materials to support institutional planning anddecision-making; and leading the development and pursuit ofexternal funding opportunities, including foundation and governmentsupport, for core College priorities. The position requires theability to work independently, navigate complex institutionalissues, and lead through collaboration and influence acrossmultiple areas of the College. The hiring range for this position is: $94,000 - $110,000.

Essential Functions

To be successful in this position, an individual should be able toperform the essential duties and bring the education, experience,knowledge, skills, and abilities that support the role. This listof duties is intended to be representative rather than exhaustive,and additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Strategic Planning and Institutional Initiatives

• In consultation with the President, Vice President of Planningand Strategy, Vice President and Chief of Staff, lead College-widestrategic initiatives, including developing work plans,coordinating stakeholders, establishing timelines and deliverables,tracking progress, and helping drive projects through tocompletion.

• Serve as a strategic partner to senior leadership oninitiatives and projects, providing analysis, recommendations, andregular updates to help advance institutional priorities.
• Conduct research, benchmarking, analysis, and planning studiesto inform institutional priorities, evaluate opportunities, andsupport decision making.

External Funding Development and Institutional Research

• Lead the development and pursuit of external fundingopportunities, including foundation and government support, inpartnership with Advancement, the Office of Sponsored Programs& Scholarship, the President and senior leadership, and otherstakeholders.
• Research and assess external funding opportunities, developproposals and supporting materials, coordinate internal input,support relationships with external funding partners, and managerelated timelines and follow up.

Executive Communications and Collaboration

• Draft, edit, design, and curate reports, presentations,briefing materials, decision documents, and other written andvisual materials for the President, senior leadership, and Board ofTrustees.
• Facilitate and participate in meetings, committees, andplanning processes; represent the Office of the President and othersenior leadership on assigned matters at campus meetings and withexternal organizations and agencies.
• Develop and maintain productive and effective workingrelationships with faculty, staff, students, alumni, externalpartners, and other members of the College community.

Position Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education andrelevant professional experience.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience instrategic planning, higher education administration, project orprogram management, institutional strategy, external fundingdevelopment, consulting, public policy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex projects or initiativesinvolving multiple stakeholders and organizational units.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research and analysis andtranslating findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience developing high level written materials,presentations, proposals, or executive communications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree preferred.
• Experience working in higher education or another complex,mission driven organization.
• Experience developing successful foundation, government, orother external funding proposals.
• Experience supporting senior executives, governing boards, orinstitutional strategic planning processes.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical, and problem solvingskills.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and executivecommunication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives throughcollaboration and influence rather than direct authority.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with theability to manage multiple high priority initiativessimultaneously.
• Ability to synthesize complex information and communicate clearrecommendations to senior level audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to buildeffective relationships across organizational levels and functionalareas.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of discretion, judgment,diplomacy, and professionalism when handling sensitiveinstitutional matters.

Physical/Mental Demands

• To perform this role effectively, an employee is expected tohandle employee information, documents, and sensitive matters withcare, professionalism, and respect for privacy.
• This position involves working with a variety of timelines,including some that require quick turnaround and responsiveness tourgent needs.
• In this role, the employee will interact with members of thepublic and others in a variety of situations and conversations.Presenting oneself in a professional, respectful, and thoughtfulmanner at all times is an important part of the role.
• This position includes regular movement throughout officespaces, hallways, meeting rooms, and other campus locations.
• Daily work will involve extended use of a computer, includingkeyboard and mouse
• Physical requirements differ by position. In general, mostroles involve lifting up to 10 pounds regularly, with somepositions requiring occasional lifting of up to 35 pounds.
• Vision requirements for this position include the ability tosee clearly at close and far distances and to adjust focus asneeded.
• The work environment is dynamic and engaging, often involvingmultiple tasks and projects that require shifting focus and strongorganizational skills..
• The noise level is generally moderate; however, there may beoccasional moments of louder sounds depending on campusactivity.

Colby College supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and iscommitted to providing reasonable accommodations to enableindividuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions ofthe position.