Vice Provost of Academic Strategy and Effectiveness

University of Colorado System; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Colorado Anschutz in Aurora, CO seeks a Vice Provost of Academic Strategy and Effectiveness to lead the Provost’s office, set priorities, and guide academic strategy across campuses. The role emphasizes data‑driven decision making, strategic assessments, and cross‑functional collaboration to advance faculty excellence and student-centered outcomes.

As a senior member of the leadership team, you will mentor emerging leaders, coordinate shared governance, and represent the campus

Qualifications

• Doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution or equivalent.
• 10+ years of senior administrative and executive leadership at a research university or health sciences campus.
• Experience leading institution-wide or multi-unit initiatives with policy development and cross-unit collaboration.
• Ability to translate complex data into strategic insights for governance and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop vision for the office and translate priorities into multi-year plans with measurable outcomes.
• Lead cross-departmental projects with clear goals, deliverables, and accountability.
• Prepare briefing materials and decision-support analyses for leadership and governance bodies.
• Monitor progress with project management systems and track KPIs for initiatives.
• Advise Provost on opportunities/risks from emerging trends in health sciences and higher education.
• Foster leadership development and mentoring for faculty and emerging leaders.
• Represent the Provost with external partners and coordinate strategic partnerships.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Data-informed decision making

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Doctorate or terminal degree

Job description

University of Colorado Anschutz

Department: Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs

Job Title: Vice Provost of Academic Strategy and Effectiveness

Position #: 00848642 – Requisition #:40343

Job Summary:

The Vice Provost of Academic Strategy and Effectiveness serves as akey member of the Provost's leadership team, providing executiveleadership and strategic direction to set institutional priorities,guide academic strategy, and ensure effective implementation insupport of academic excellence and operational effectiveness. Thisrole functions as a strategic leader with delegated authority toadvance institutional priorities, lead cross-campus initiatives andrepresent the Provost with internal and externalconstituencies.

The core of this role is to diagnose and address complexinstitutional challenges that span departments and units byconducting strategic assessments, implementing strategicpriorities, and analyzing emerging trends in health sciences,healthcare, and higher education. The Vice Provost acts as acatalyst for organizational health, strengthens campus culturethrough leadership development and mentoring for emerging academicleaders through coordinated and collaborative faculty developmentefforts. By facilitating cross-functional teams and buildingpartnerships across academic and administrative units, theincumbent works to reduce institutional silos and foster a cultureof collaboration and innovation. A critical dimension of this workis the advancement of academic excellence through the lens offaculty success. Recognizing faculty as the primary drivers ofinstitutional quality, the Vice Provost provides vision forprofessional growth programs at all career stages, ensuring thatacademic policies and personnel processes support astudent-centered culture.

The position requires a high level of analytical judgment andfluency in data‑informed decision‑making. The Vice Provostsynthesizes complex quantitative and qualitative data into clear,actionable strategic insights that inform executivedecision‑making, guide academic planning, and supportaccountability for institutional outcomes. In parallel, the ViceProvost serves as a primary liaison to external stakeholders,including professional associations and community partners,leveraging these relationships to inform strategy, aligninitiatives, and elevate the visibility, reputation, and impact ofthe CU Anschutz health sciences campus.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy Development and Implementation (40%)

• Partner with the Provost to develop vision for the office andtranslate priorities into actionable, multi-year planningframeworks and measurable outcomes.
• Lead and coordinate cross-departmental and cross-collegeprojects requiring shared ownership, ensuring clear goals,deliverables, and accountability structures.
• Prepare briefing materials, strategy documents,decision-support analyses, and executive summaries for leadershipand governance bodies.
• Establish project management and tracking systems to monitorprogress on academic and operational initiatives.
• Analyze emerging trends in health sciences education,healthcare, and higher education to advise the Provost oninstitutional opportunities and risks.
• Develop data-driven approaches to optimize the alignment ofresources with the campus academic and research mission.
• Facilitate change management strategies to minimize disruptionand maximize buy-in during institutional transformations.
• Conduct strategic assessments and analysis to identify andresolve complex challenges facing the campus.

Organizational Health and Team Support (20%)

• Strengthen organizational culture through the development ofleadership development and mentoring opportunities for faculty andemerging leaders.
• Convene and facilitate cross-functional teams to addressmulti-disciplinary challenges and reduce institutional silos.
• Provide leadership and direction to administrative units,fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, andexcellence.
• Coordinate onboarding, orientation, and leadership transitionsupport for new administrative and academic leaders.
• Design and facilitate retreats and workshops to improve teamcollaboration, decision-making, and morale across the office.

Faculty Development (20%)

• Provide vision and leadership for faculty success initiatives,recognizing faculty as the primary drivers of teaching, research,and clinical excellence.
• Evaluate the opportunities for mentoring and programming forfaculty at all career stages, including new faculty orientation andleadership institutes.
• Collaborate with campus units to identify and support internaland external opportunities for faculty professional growth.
• Support the development of programs for various faculty tracks,including tenure-track, tenured, and non-tenure trackinstructors.
• Build strong relationships between faculty, staff, andleadership to foster a student-centered culture and effectiveteaching environment.

Communications and Reporting (10%)

• Translate complex data into actionable insights and executivesummaries for the Provost and leadership teams.
• Develop and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) anddashboards to monitor progress on strategic initiatives.
• Create speeches, presentations, talking points, andhigh-quality reports for internal and external audiences on behalfof the Provost.
• Design feedback mechanisms, such as listening sessions oradvisory groups, to ensure two-way communication between leadershipand the campus community.

Partnerships and External Relations (10%)

• Cultivate and manage relationships with external partners,including healthcare systems, professional associations, andcommunity organizations.
• Represent the Provost at meetings, events, and on variousboards to advocate for the campus's interests and health sciencesenterprise.
• Coordinate with advancement and development teams to alignphilanthropic opportunities with strategic priorities.
• Support and track progress on external partnership agreements,such as MOUs and shared clinical or research initiatives.

Supervision Received:

Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer

Supervision Exercised:

This role has been designed withfuture organizational growth in mind. Over time, the incumbent mayassume responsibility for additional teams or functions as part of the planned evolution of the position.

Work Location:

Onsite – this role is expected to work onsite and is located in Aurora, CO

Why Join Us:

The Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs is at the center of shaping academic strategy,advancing faculty success, and driving institutional effectivenessat CU Anschutz. This office works across schools, departments, andadministrative units to align priorities, strengthen collaboration,and support a high performing academic and health sciencesenterprise. As part of a small, high-impact leadership team, youwill engage directly with senior campus leaders and play a key rolein advancing initiatives that influence the entireinstitution.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday,vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers anexcellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your grosspay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
  • Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
  • Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
  • Holiday Days: 15/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on allCU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution orequivalent combination of advanced education and senior executiveexperience in a related field.
• 10 or more years of progressively responsible senioradministrative and executive leadership experience within aresearch-intensive university, academic health center or comparablecomplex organization (e.g., roles such as Associate/Assistant ViceChancellor, Associate/Assistant Vice President, Vice Chancellor,Provost, Dean or Department Chair of a large complex academic unit,as well as executive roles such as Chief Operating Officer, Chiefof Staff or equivalent positions with board organizational scopeand responsibility.)
• Strategic leadership in higher education, demonstrated byleading institution‑wide or multi‑unit initiatives involving policydevelopment, cross‑unit collaboration, and measurable improvementsin academic or administrative performance.
• Experience working within shared governance, demonstrated byeffective collaboration with faculty governance bodies, seniorleadership, and internal or external stakeholders to advancecampus‑wide initiatives or institutional priorities.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time ofhire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current employee of the University of Colorado.
• Proven record of successfully leading innovation andlarge-scale strategic initiatives that result in measurableacademic excellence or operational efficiency.
• Demonstrated experience leading large, multidisciplinary teamsat a research and medical campus.
• Financial leadership, demonstrated through oversight of largeor complex budgets, strategic allocation of resources, andachievement of measurable outcomes such as improved sustainability,efficiencies, or reinvestment in academic priorities.
• Experience translating complex quantitative information,such as enrollment trends and student lifecycle, into actionableinsights using data visualization and forecasting.
• Experience designing mentoring programs or teaching developmentfor faculty at all career stages.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership coaching, facilitatingshared governance, and implementing change managementstrategies.

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the UnitedStates without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide workvisa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position nowor in the future.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Familiarity with health sciences, clinical operations, andmedical education.
• Demonstrated excellence in strategic planning, projectmanagement, and change management.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to drivedecision-making and improve institutional performance.
• Exceptional oral, written, and interpersonal communicationskills.
• Proven ability to build collaborative partnerships acrossdiverse internal and external stakeholder groups.
• Deep commitment to inclusive excellence in all organizationalinitiatives.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicantswith disabilities throughout the employment application process. Torequest an accommodation pursuant to the Americans withDisabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADACoordinator at [e-mail].

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz is dedicated to ensuring a safeand secure environment for our faculty, staff, students andvisitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct backgroundinvestigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19virus and other vaccine preventable diseases . If you work, visit, or volunteerin healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliatedhospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will berequired to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillancepolicies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, orvolunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certainresearch areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, youmust enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program .