Vice President Academic Innovations & Pathways

Core Education; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational reform organization is seeking a Vice President for Academic Innovations & Pathways to transform higher education through strategic academic models and AI integration. The role involves shaping institution-wide strategies, leading transformation initiatives, and collaborating directly with college leadership. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in higher education, with a focus on program economics and governance. This executive position offers an opportunity to significantly influence the future of academic delivery nationwide.

Qualifications

• 12+ years progressive leadership in higher education, including roles like Provost or VPAA.
• Demonstrated experience leading academic transformation initiatives.
• Proven ability to navigate academic governance and faculty structures.

Responsibilities

• Shape institution-wide academic strategies aligning mission and market demand.
• Integrate AI tools into program and course design.
• Lead curriculum redesign aligned with workforce trends and learner expectations.

Skills

Leadership in higher education

AI-enabled learning

Academic governance

Project leadership

Communication skills

Education

Terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D.)

Job description

Vice President Academic Innovations & Pathways

Direct message the job poster from Core Education

Core Education is a Public Benefit Corporation partnering with 75+ colleges and universities to transform their business models for long-term sustainability and growth. We embed with institutions as an operating partner, integrating strategy, finance, technology, and leadership to create modern, resilient systems for higher education.

The Opportunity

Higher education is experiencing accelerated change driven by shifting learner expectations, evolving workforce needs, and the rapid introduction of AI into every dimension of learning. Institutions need leaders who can move beyond traditional program development toward agile, market-responsive academic models.

As VP for Academic Innovation and Pathways, you'll guide institutions through this transformation, designing academic systems that are strategically positioned and operationally viable. You'll bring clarity to choices about program mix, instructional models, governance structures, and pathway development—connecting academic strategy directly to enrollment outcomes, workforce alignment, and institutional identity.

The rise of AI-enabled learning creates both complexity and opportunity. You'll help institutions harness these capabilities responsibly, building learning architectures that are modular, flexible, and responsive to student needs while guiding faculty through AI-informed instructional practices.

This role combines provost-level judgment with a builder's mindset. You'll work directly with presidents, provosts, deans, and faculty across diverse institutions, moving beyond incremental improvements toward comprehensive academic renewal.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Enterprise Strategy

• Shape institution-wide academic strategies aligning mission, market demand, AI-enabled learning, and financial sustainability
• Build modern academic architectures integrating program mix, governance, policies, and operating rhythms
• Advise presidents and provosts on long-term academic positioning and differentiation
• Lead comprehensive portfolio evaluations using market data, instructional economics, and student demand signals
• Identify programs to grow, redesign, or sunset to improve relevance and financial performance
• Establish frameworks for regular portfolio refresh and optimization
• Design high-demand learning pathways: stackable credentials, dual-enrollment, transfer pathways, degree-completion, and workforce routes
• Build modular, AI-informed pathways expanding access for traditional, adult, and non-traditional learners
• Integrate pathways with enrollment, student success, and workforce strategies

AI-Enabled Learning

• Integrate AI tools and intelligent learning systems into program and course design
• Guide adoption of adaptive learning, multimodal content, automated assessment, and AI-augmented teaching
• Build faculty readiness and governance for responsible AI use
• Lead curriculum redesign aligned with workforce trends and learner expectations
• Support general-education redesign, competency-based models, and experiential learning expansion
• Develop templates and frameworks to accelerate program creation

Governance & Faculty Models

• Modernize academic governance, program approval processes, workload models, and policies
• Update faculty handbooks and academic standards to support innovation
• Ensure governance enables agility, quality, and institutional alignment
• Lead market research identifying emerging fields, high-opportunity credentials, and competitive gaps
• Provide data-informed insights driving academic decision-making
• Translate insights into actionable program recommendations
• Guide institutions from diagnostic to design to execution
• Ensure smooth adoption across academic units

Qualifications

• Terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D.) strongly preferred
• 12+ years progressive leadership in higher education (Provost, VPAA, Dean, AVP for Academic Innovation)
• Demonstrated experience leading academic transformation initiatives
• Proven ability to navigate academic governance, faculty structures, and accreditation
• Deep understanding of program economics, market demand, and instructional models
• Experience with AI-enabled learning, adaptive systems, competency-based education, and hybrid/online modalities
• Success designing academic pathways: stackable credentials, dual enrollment, transfer pathways, workforce-aligned programs
• Experience modernizing faculty handbooks, policies, and governance structures
• Ability to operate in both advisory and hands-on modes
• Exceptional project leadership and communication skills
• High emotional intelligence and political acumen

Core Attributes

• Systems Thinker: Designs solutions that move institutions as unified systems, not silos
• Builder's Mindset: Creates new frameworks and structures from scratch
• Bold & Future-Oriented: Comfortable challenging legacy norms and leading AI-enabled transformation
• Collaborative + Influential: Aligns diverse groups around shared academic strategy
• High Agility: Moves from vision to execution with speed and clarity

Why Join Core

This is a rare opportunity to build the future operating system for higher education. Work at the front edge of academic innovation—redefining how learning is designed, delivered, and scaled using AI-native models.

Partner directly with Presidents, Provosts, and Boards, shaping institutional strategy at the highest levels. Your work will influence how colleges rebuild academic models around AI-powered pathways and delivery systems.

If you want to work in a mission-driven, high-velocity environment where innovation becomes real and your work shapes the academic backbone of institutions nationwide, this is your opportunity.

Seniority level

Executive

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Administrative, Management, and Consulting

Industries

Education Administration Programs, Business Consulting and Services, and Higher Education