Program Director

Servant; Marion (IN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) in Marion, Indiana, seeks a Program Director of VIA Journeys to lead a flagship initiative within the Strategic Innovations unit. The role focuses on turning strategy into reality, driving delivery, experimentation, and learning through pilots, platforms, and participant experiences.

The candidate will bring entrepreneurial leadership, technical fluency, and execution discipline to scale from concept to functioning pilots while partnering with churches,

Qualifications

• Master's degree strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of demonstrated experience launching, scaling, and leading programs, products, platforms, or strategic initiatives from concept through execution.
• Experience launching and leading pilots, with ability to move from idea to implementation.
• Strong project and program management skills across multiple priorities and cross-functional teams.
• Experience coordinating diverse stakeholders, including external partners, and building collaborative relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end launch of VIA Journeys, including pilots, operational workflows, and participant experiences.
• Translate strategic direction into executable plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
• Ensure VIA Journeys moves from concept to active implementation with momentum and clarity.
• Operate with an entrepreneurial mindset—testing assumptions, learning rapidly, and iterating responsibly.
• Design and manage pilots that validate participant value, operational feasibility, and program design.
• Build repeatable processes to support early scaling while preserving quality and trust.

Skills

Leadership

Program Management

Strategic Planning

Stakeholder Engagement

Technical Fluency

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Master's degree

Advanced degree

Tools

SaaS platforms

AI integrations

Data systems

Digital learning platforms

Job description

Get to Know our Client: Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU)

Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is a Christ-centered institution committed to transforming lives through higher education. With a rich history rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, IWU is dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and preparing students for meaningful careers. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, both on-campus and online, empowering students to pursue their calling in various fields, from healthcare and business to the arts and sciences.

Located in Marion, Indiana, with a strong online presence serving a global community, IWU is focused on fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that integrates faith with learning. Their innovative approach to education not only equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary for professional success but also nurtures their spiritual and personal growth.

IWU is passionate about its mission to create transformative leaders who impact the world with a Christ-centered perspective. Whether students are studying in person on the vibrant campus or virtually from around the world, IWU continues to inspire lifelong learning and leadership in a rapidly changing world.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Program Director of VIA Journeys is responsible for launching, piloting, and operationalizing VIA Journeys as a flagship initiative within the Strategic Innovations (SI) unit.

This role exists to ensure that strategy becomes reality. The Program Director brings entrepreneurial leadership, technical fluency, and execution discipline to move VIA Journeys from concept to functioning pilots, platforms, and participant experiences.

The Program Director is empowered by the Executive Director of SI to focus fully on delivery, experimentation, and learning, while operating within clear strategic guardrails.

Duties and Responsibilities

• VIA Journeys Launch & Execution
  
  
  
  • Lead the end-to-end launch of VIA Journeys, including pilots, operational workflows, and participant experiences
  
  
  • Translate strategic direction into executable plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables
  
  
  • Ensure VIA Journeys progresses from idea to active implementation with momentum and clarity
  
  
  
  


• Entrepreneurial & Pilot Leadership
  
  
  
  • Operate with an entrepreneurial mindset—testing assumptions, learning rapidly, and iterating responsibly
  
  
  • Design and manage pilots that validate participant value, operational feasibility, and program design
  
  
  • Build repeatable processes that support early scaling while preserving quality and trust
  
  
  
  


• Technical Fluency & Platform Coordination
  
  
  
  • Serve as the primary program lead coordinating technical and platform-related work
  
  
  • Partner with internal and external technical teams to translate program needs into platform requirements
  
  
  • Support integration with Lantern and other Seminary systems, ensuring usability, reliability, and data integrity
  
  
  
  


• Partner & Participant Engagement
  
  
  
  • Coordinate pilot partners, churches, advisors, and ministry leaders
  
  
  • Build feedback loops with pastors and participants to inform continuous improvement
  
  
  • Ensure participant experience reflects pastoral sensitivity and theological integrity
  
  
  
  


• Learning, Metrics & Reporting
  
  
  
  • Define and track operational, learning, and pilot metrics
  
  
  • Provide clear updates, dashboards, and insights to the Executive Director and Seminary leadership
  
  
  • Ensure lessons learned inform future decisions and phases
  
  
  
  


• Supervisory Responsibility
  
  
  
  • Supervises any part-time or full-time personnel assigned to the VIA Journeys initiative
  
  
  
  

• Master's degree or other advanced degree strongly preferred.


• 10+ years of demonstrated experience launching, scaling, and leading programs, products, platforms, or strategic initiatives from concept through execution.


• Proven ability to operate effectively in ambiguity, build from zero to launch, and drive measurable outcomes.


• Exceptional project and program management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and complex cross-functional initiatives.


• Experience managing and influencing diverse stakeholders, including approximately 30 external partners, while building strong, collaborative relationships.


• Strong technical fluency, with the ability to work effectively alongside developers, digital platforms, data systems, and AI-enabled technologies. Experience leading technology initiatives in partnership with technical experts is required.


• Familiarity with digital learning platforms, SaaS business models, AI integrations, or ecosystem-based initiatives is strongly preferred.


• Entrepreneurial, startup, or innovation-focused experience, with a demonstrated ability to build and scale new initiatives.


• Experience working within ministry organizations, churches, or higher education environments is required; experience spanning both sectors is strongly preferred.


• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across executive leadership, external partners, and cross-functional teams to execute strategic priorities.


• Strong alignment with the organization's Christian mission, including agreement with the Statement of Faith and Community Life expectations.

IWU Kingdom Diversity Statement

IWU, in covenant with God's reconciling work and in accordance with the Biblical principles of our historic Wesleyan tradition, commits to build a community that reflects Kingdom diversity. We will foster an intentional environment for living, teaching and learning, which exhibits honor, respect, and dignity. Acknowledging visible or invisible differences, our community authentically values each member's earthly and eternal worth. We refute ignorance and isolation and embrace deliberate and courageous engagement that exhibits Christ's commandment to love all humankind.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

As a religious educational institution operating under the auspices of The Wesleyan Church, Indiana Wesleyan University is permitted and reserves the right to prefer employees on the basis of religion (42 U.S.C., Sections 2000e-1 and 2000e-2).

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.

According to Indiana Wesleyan University employment policy all employees must possess a strong Christian commitment and adhere to the standards outlined in the IWU Community Lifestyle Statement.

Indiana Wesleyan University is an Equal Opportunity Employer