Executive Director for AI and Emerging Technologies

Pierce College District; Lakewood (WA); On-site; USD 133,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Pierce College District in Lakewood, WA, seeks an Executive Director for AI and Emerging Technologies to lead district-wide, equity-driven AI strategy, governance, and responsible innovation across academics, administration, and operations.

Reporting to the Chancellor, the Executive Director partners with the executive team to drive policy development, governance, and cross-functional initiatives that strengthen student success, workforce readiness, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the integration of AI and emerging technologies across Pierce College, establishing a governance framework and responsible practices.
• Develop and execute a multi-year equity-driven AI strategy aligned with the college's mission and goals.
• Identify opportunities for AI to transform teaching, workforce readiness, and administrative processes.
• Monitor trends, risks, and regulatory developments and advise executive leadership on implications.
• Partner with IT, faculty, and leadership to implement AI solutions and incorporate them into curricula and operations.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA, FERPA, and other regulatory standards through governance, policy, and training.
• Represent Pierce College in regional and national conversations on AI and emerging technologies.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Innovation

Governance & ethics

Partnership building

Organizational development

Data analytics

Risk management

Job description

Please Note: The salary range for this position is $133,454.00 - $165,115.00 annually. The salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications and related experience. Typically, new hires start no higher than $139,015.00/year, based on Pierce College's Administrative/Exempt Compensation Plan.

The mission of Pierce College is to create quality educational opportunities for a diverse community of learners to thrive in an evolving world. The Pierce College District is committed to being an anti-racist institution; to truly be anti-racist we must work deliberately to eliminate barriers that have prevented the most promising and capable students from entering and thriving in college.

Pierce College District seeks a strategic and innovative leader to serve as Executive Director for AI and Emerging Technologies. This executive position provides strategic vision, leadership, and operational oversight to position Pierce College as a leader in the responsible, ethical, equitable, and innovative use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. As Pierce College continues to build institutional capacity for the effective use of artificial intelligence, the Executive Director will help establish a strong foundation for responsible innovation while preparing the College for future technological advancements. The Executive Director is both a strategist and a practitioner, helping the District move from exploration and policy development to implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of AI-enabled solutions.

Reporting to the Chancellor, the Executive Director for AI and Emerging Technologies leads the development and activation of a district-wide, equity-driven strategy, including the identification, evaluation, deployment, and optimization of solutions that support Pierce College’s diverse community of learners and employees.

In partnership with the Executive Team, Dean Team, shared governance bodies, and institutional committees, the Executive Director provides strategic leadership and execution to integrate artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across the College's academic, administrative, and operational functions. This senior leader advances initiatives that enhance student success, educational innovation, workforce readiness, employee effectiveness, and operational efficiency across the institution.

The Executive Director serves as the District’s primary convener and coordinator for AI and emerging technology initiatives, bringing together stakeholders across divisions, departments, and employee groups to develop shared understanding, identify high-impact opportunities, and advance solutions that improve learning, decision-making, services, and operations. A key aspect of the role is establishing governance structures, frameworks, policies, and practices that support the responsible, ethical, and equitable adoption of AI and emerging technologies in alignment with institutional values, strategic priorities, and regulatory requirements.

Working collaboratively through a matrix of faculty, staff, subject matter experts, and institutional resources, the Executive Director advances strategic initiatives and drives implementation across the District. As both a visionary and a practitioner, this leader helps Pierce College navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, from collaboratively developing policy and governance structures to implementing practical solutions that strengthen outcomes for students and employees. The Executive Director ensures innovation advances the District’s mission, supports equitable outcomes, and prepares students and employees for the future of work.

About the District

Pierce College is a high-performing, mission-driven, data-informed, student-focused district committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. For nearly 60 years, Pierce College has developed a national reputation for academic excellence and support services to ensure student success. The district is proud of the many awards and recognitions it has received. Pierce College is an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction and was the 2017 recipient of their prestigious Leah Meyer Austin Award, given for measurable improvements in student outcomes.

Named as a Top 5 Finalist and a Rising Star for the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Pierce College Fort Steilacoom was recognized for exceptional achievements in student learning, certificate and degree completion while in community college and after transferring to a four-year institution, employment and earnings rates after graduation, and access for and success of minority and low-income students. Pierce College District was named as a Top 10 finalist for the 2021 Aspen Prize and a Top 25 for 2023. Pierce is also one of 30 original AACC Guided Pathways colleges and one of first five College Spark Washington pathways colleges. We have bold goals to have all students on a career pathway to increase completion rates for all students and to close achievement gaps by 2027.

Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom

Located on a beautiful 140-acre site adjacent to a 340-acre community recreational park and Waughop Lake. Want a feel for our District, take a peek with aerial campus views.

Pierce College at Puyallup

Located on an expansive site with 125-acres of wooded land including modern facilities and beautiful hideaways.

Pierce College at JBLM

Located at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord military sites, serving many of our military and active duty families serving our country.

Our colleges enjoy a strong presence in the communities in which they serve and participate in numerous partnerships with business, community, government, and educational organizations.

The Executive Director for AI and Emerging Technologies will be responsible for the following, but not limited to:

Leads the integration of AI and other emerging technologies at Pierce College, including developing and driving Pierce College’s AI strategy and roadmap, establishing a governance framework, guardrails for compliance, policies, processes, and best practices for responsible use and adoption of tools, processes and/or technological enhancements across the enterprise.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a multi-year equity-driven AI strategy aligned with the institution’s mission and goals.
• Identify opportunities for AI to transform teaching, learning, workforce preparedness, and administrative processes.
• Monitor emerging trends, opportunities, risks, and regulatory developments related to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies and advise executive leadership on strategic implications for the District.

Innovation & Integration

• Lead initiatives to embed AI tools and practices into academic programs, student services, and operational workflows in all areas of the institution.
• Partner with Employee Learning and Development and faculty to incorporate AI into curricula and pedagogy.

Governance & Ethics

• Lead development of policies and frameworks for ethical, responsible, and equitable use of AI, in collaboration with shared governance structures.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and accreditation standards related to AI technologies.

Strategic Partnerships & Engagement

• Work closely with IT, leadership, shared governance bodies, and external partners to implement AI solutions.
• Represent Pierce College in regional, state, and national conversations related to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
• Develop strategic partnerships with educational institutions, industry leaders, workforce organizations, governmental agencies, and technology providers.
• Position Pierce College as a thought leader in the responsible and equitable adoption of AI in higher education.

Organizational Development & Capacity Building

• Lead equity-informed institutional change efforts related to AI and emerging technology adoption.
• Build organizational readiness through communication, training, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement strategies.
• Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, and responsible technology use.
• Establish structures and processes that encourage cross-functional collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the scaling of effective practices across the institution

Data & Analytics

• Provide strategic leadership for the appropriate use of AI-driven analytics to support student outcomes, operational efficiency, and institutional decision-making.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Provide leadership and oversight to ensure AI implementations comply with applicable equity, ethical, regulatory, privacy, and institutional requirements, including HIPAA and FERPA.
• Address AI fairness, bias, transparency, and security concerns.
• Coordinate with legal, compliance, and information security teams on AI-related risks.
• Develop