Executive Director of Innovation & Strategy

Arizona Western College•Yuma, AZ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Arizona Western College is seeking a bold, entrepreneurial leader to serve as the Executive Director of Innovation & Strategy. This role involves shaping the future of higher education, workforce development, and regional opportunities. The ideal candidate will be a connector, innovator, and strategic thinker capable of transforming ideas into actionable initiatives. This position offers the opportunity to build significant partnerships, champion innovation, and create impactful programs for students, employers, and the community.

Requirements

Master's degree or higher
Five years progressively responsible experience in higher education, workforce or economic development, business or industry engagement, innovation, grants, strategic partnerships, program development, project management, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, learning management systems, program incubation, market or labor-market analysis, revenue development. major event leadership, or related areas.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives from concept through implementation and evaluation.
Demonstrated experience developing external partnerships and securing or developing grants, sponsorships, contracts, or other resources.
Demonstrated experience leading effective teams.
Applicants may Indicate any additional language proficiencies in their application materials, including English/Spanish, as relevant to the position.
An equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved may be considered.
Arizona Driver's License or Equivalent

Responsibilities

Serves Students.
Leads the identification, development, incubation, launch, and scaling of innovative academic, workforce, non-credit, and employer-responsive programs and services.
Partners with deans, associate deans, faculty, and other subject matter experts to assess feasibility, align concepts with academic standards and workforce needs, develop business cases and implementation models, establish implementation plans, and support successful transitions from pilot to sustainable operation with academic leaders retain responsibility for curriculum, accreditation, and program quality within their respective portfolios.
Support and participate in strategic planning initiatives and perform other duties as assigned.