OCHE Sr. Assistant Commissioner

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 170,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Senior Assistant Commissioner at the University of Utah serves as a senior advisor and provides strategic leadership for statewide initiatives across the Utah System of Higher Education. It focuses on academic and technical program innovation, institutional alignment, and long-range planning.

Collaborating with provosts, deans, and administrators, the role identifies opportunities, fosters cross-institutional collaboration, and develops strategies to strengthen program excellence while

Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Master’s degree or equivalent; 12 years’ professional experience.
• Progressive leadership roles in higher education (director, chair, dean, provost).
• Experience building collaborative relationships across multiple institutions.
• Familiarity with technical education programs and workforce development.
• Strong understanding of shared governance, accreditation, curriculum, faculty affairs, and program quality.
• Leadership and executive skills including emotional intelligence and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead statewide efforts to strengthen horizontal alignment across degree-granting and technical education institutions.
• Conduct strategic reviews of academic and technical education programs for quality and relevance.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen institutional missions through collaboration and shared delivery models.
• Analyze trends in higher education, workforce needs, and instructional innovation to inform planning.
• Develop strategic recommendations for program priorities and development.
• Support Board priorities related to institutional collaboration, learner mobility, and program excellence.

Skills

Leadership and executive competency

Interpersonal and communication skills

Thinking and problem solving

Work ethic and motivation

Autonomy and collaboration

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent work experience

12 years of professional experience

Progressive leadership experience in higher education

Experience building collaborative relationships across institutions

Familiarity with technical education programs

Strong understanding of shared governance and accreditation

Job description

Working Title Sr. Assistant Commissioner for Academic & Technical Education

Career Progression Track I

FLSA Code

FLSA Code Executive

Patient Sensitive Job Code?

Patient Sensitive Job Code? No

Standard Hours per Week 40

Full Time or Part Time?

Full Time or Part Time? Full Time

Shift

Shift Day

Work Schedule Summary

8am – 5pm, Monday thru Friday, Hybrid.

VP Area

VP Area President

Department

Location

Location Office of the Commissioner - Downtown SLC

City

City Salt Lake City, UT

Type of Recruitment

Type of Recruitment External Posting

Pay Rate Range

Pay Rate Range $170,000 - $180,000 - Depending on experience

Close Date

Close Date 10/01/2026

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time) 09/15/2026

Job Summary

The Senior Assistant Commissioner serves as a senior advisor to the Associate Commissioner for Academic and Technical Education and provides strategic leadership for statewide initiatives that strengthen institutional collaboration, instructional quality, faculty engagement, and long-term program planning across the Utah System of Higher Education.

Working collaboratively with provosts, deans, faculty leaders, and administrators, the Senior Assistant Commissioner helps identify emerging programmatic opportunities, facilitates cross-institutional collaboration, and develops strategies that strengthen program excellence while respecting the unique mission of each institution.

Unlike operational positions responsible for committee coordination and policy implementation, this role focuses on strategic relationships, academic and technical program innovation, institutional alignment, and long-range planning.

Responsibilities

System Strategy, Alignment, and Program Governance

• Lead statewide efforts that strengthen horizontal alignment across USHE degree-granting and technical education institutions through curricular alignment, faculty collaboration, transfer pathways, and program quality.
• Conduct strategic reviews of academic and technical education programs and institutional portfolios to evaluate quality, workforce relevance, student demand, mission alignment, and long-term sustainability.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen institutional missions through collaboration, specialization, shared delivery models, and innovative program offerings.
• Analyze emerging trends in higher education, workforce needs, technology, artificial intelligence, research, and instructional innovation to inform statewide program planning.
• Develop strategic recommendations for the Associate Commissioner and Utah Board of Higher Education regarding program priorities and development.
• Support implementation of Board priorities related to institutional collaboration, learner mobility, and program excellence.

Faculty Leadership, Shared Governance, and Program Innovation

• Develop strong relationships with Faculty Senate leadership and other faculty governance organizations.
• Advise the Associate Commissioner regarding emerging faculty issues, institutional concerns, and opportunities for collaboration.
• Support statewide discussions and lead initiatives related to faculty development, shared governance, interdisciplinary collaboration, academic freedom, workload, tenure, instructional excellence, and program innovation.

Institutional Engagement and Collaboration

• Support relationships with chief academic and instructional officers, vice provosts, deans, faculty leaders, and administrators across Utah’s public colleges and universities.
• Build collaborative partnerships that strengthen communication between institutions and the Office of the Commissioner.
• Facilitate conversations that build consensus around complex issues while respecting institutional missions and autonomy.
• Support institutional efforts related to accreditation, continuous improvement, student learning, and evidence-based educational practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

DISCLAIMER

OCHE has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and primary duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee’s ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and OCHE reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as OCHE may deem appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Master’s degree or equivalent work experience in a related field required (one year of education can be substituted for one year of related work experience).
• 12 years’ professional experience in a related field.
• Progressive leadership experience as a program director, department chair, dean, associate provost, provost, or equivalent in a higher education institution.
• Experience building collaborative relationships across multiple institutions.
• Demonstrated success leading institution-wide programmatic initiatives.
• Familiarity with technical education programs and workforce development.
• Strong understanding of shared governance, accreditation, curriculum, faculty affairs, and program quality.

Skills & Abilities:

• Leadership and executive competency, including emotional intelligence, vulnerability, situational awareness, and accountability.
• Interpersonal and communication skills, including eloquence, empathy, diplomacy, trustworthiness, and wit.
• Thinking and problem-solving skills, including cognitive flexibility, sense‑making, and resilience.
• Work ethic and motivation, including initiative, candor, learning agility, and humility.
• Autonomy and collaboration, including an ability to work independently and as a member of team.

Preferences

• Terminal degree strongly preferred.
• Experience in collaborating with leaders and faculty at research universities, regional universities, community colleges, and technical colleges.
• Experience with statewide program planning.
• National involvement in higher education-oriented professional organizations.
• Demonstrated success leading program innovation and organizational change.

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at [phone] for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at [phone] or [phone] or University Human Resource Management at [phone] if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX ( OEO ). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page .
Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu
https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members , a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.

University Human Resource Management
250 East 200 South, Suite 125 Salt Lake City, UT 84111
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