Executive Director of Innovation & Strategy

Arizona Western College; Yuma (AZ); On-site; USD 72,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid holidays

Tuition-free classes for employees and

Dependents

Job summary

Arizona Western College is seeking a bold, entrepreneurial leader to advance innovation and strategy across the college and region. The role focuses on turning ideas into action, building partnerships with deans, faculty, employers, and community leaders, and driving programs that benefit students and local employers.

The Executive Director will lead strategic planning, manage cross-functional initiatives, and foster external partnerships and grants.

Qualifications

• Five years progressively responsible experience in higher education, workforce or economic development.
• Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience developing external partnerships and securing grants, sponsorships, contracts, or other resources.
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered.
• Applicants may indicate language proficiencies (e.g., English/Spanish).

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, incubate, launch, and scale innovative programs and services.
• Support strategic planning initiatives and perform other duties as assigned.
• Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from concept through implementation and evaluation.
• Develop external partnerships and secure resources and sponsorships.

Skills

Strategic planning

Partnership development

Project management

Innovation

Leadership

Job description

Executive Director of Innovation & Strategy

Executive Director of Innovation & Strategy

What’s next for higher education, workforce, and our region? Help us build it.

Arizona Western College is looking for a bold, entrepreneurial leader who sees opportunity where others see challenges—and knows how to turn ideas into action. This is a chance to think big, build meaningful partnerships, champion innovation, and create opportunities that make a difference for students, employers, and our communities.

If you’re a connector, innovator, and strategic thinker ready to make a lasting impact, we invite you to join us and help shape what’s next for AWC and the communities we serve. Bring your ideas. Bring your vision. Help us build what’s next.

Typical Duties:

• Serves Students.Leads the identification, development, incubation, launch, and scaling of innovative academic, workforce, non-credit, and employer-responsive programs and services. Partners with deans, associate deans, faculty, and other subject matter experts to assess feasibility, align concepts with academic standards and workforce needs, develop business cases and implementation models, establish implementation plans, and support successful transitions from pilot to sustainable operation with academic leaders retain responsibility for curriculum, accreditation, and program quality within their respective portfolios.
• Support and participate in strategic planning initiatives and perform other duties as assigned.
• Five years progressively responsible experience in higher education, workforce or economic development, business or industry engagement, innovation, grants, strategic partnerships, program development, project management, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, learning management systems, program incubation, market or labor-market analysis, revenue development. major event leadership, or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives from concept through implementation and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience developing external partnerships and securing or developing grants, sponsorships, contracts, or other resources.
• Demonstrated experience leading effective teams.
• Applicants may Indicate any additional language proficiencies in their application materials, including English/Spanish, as relevant to the position.
• An equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved may be considered.
  

Additional Eligibility Requirements:

• Arizona Driver's License or Equivalent

Salary: $71,700- $76,002 per year, depending on experience.

Notes:

• Exempt

Why Work at AWC? At Arizona Western College, we are committed to providing a rewarding work environment:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid holidays
• Tuition-free classes for full-time employees and dependents
• Innovative and student-focused institution - learn more !

FIRST REVIEW DATE: The first review of applications date begin on October 19, 2026. Applications submitted after the first review date may not be considered for the position. This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

• The statements in this posting describe the general nature, level, and type of work performed by the individual(s) assigned to this classification and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, demands, and skills required of personnel so classified.
• The institution and its designated representatives reserve the right to add, delete, or modify any and/or all provisions of this description at any time as needed without notice.

ADDRESS INQUIRIES TO: Arizona Western College
Human Resources
Phone: [phone] / FAX: [phone] / TTY: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER