Sr. Assistant Commissioner for Academic & Technical Education

University of Utah

Salt Lake City (UT)

Hybrid

USD 170,000 - 180,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Job summary

University of Utah is seeking a Senior Assistant Commissioner to provide strategic leadership for statewide initiatives that strengthen collaboration, instructional quality, and long-term program planning across higher education institutions in Utah.

The role partners with provosts, deans, and faculty leaders to identify opportunities, align missions, and drive innovation in academic and technical programs while respecting institutional autonomy.

Qualifications

Master's degree or equivalent work experience in a related field is required.
12 years of 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.

Responsibilities

Lead statewide efforts that strengthen horizontal alignment across degree-granting and technical education institutions.
Conduct strategic reviews of programs and portfolios to evaluate quality, workforce relevance, and sustainability.
Identify opportunities to strengthen institutional missions through collaboration and shared delivery models.
Analyze trends in higher education, workforce needs, technology, and instructional innovation to inform planning.
Develop strategic recommendations for program priorities and development.
Support implementation of Board priorities related to collaboration, learner mobility, and program excellence.
Develop relationships with Faculty Senate leadership and other governance bodies.
Advise on emerging faculty issues and opportunities for collaboration.
Support statewide discussions and lead initiatives on faculty development and instructional innovation.
Engage with chief academic officers and deans to foster institutional engagement.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Autonomy

Collaboration

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Job description

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.
System-level higher education experience.
Experience with statewide program planning.
National involvement in higher education-oriented professional organizations.
Demonstrated success leading program innovation and organizational change.

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