Executive Director of Strategic Innovations - Wesley Seminary

Indiana Wesleyan University•Marion, IA

21d•Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Director of Strategic Innovations (SI) provides senior strategic leadership for Wesley Seminary’s innovation portfolio, ensuring that complex initiatives - such as VIA Journeys and 21st Century Church Initiatives - are theologically grounded, well-governed, institutionally aligned, and positioned for long-term impact. VIA Journeys is a multi-year initiative designed to strengthen ministry leaders through an integrated ecosystem of academic formation, ministry partnerships, digital tools, and research-informed pilot programs. Supported by external funding and cross-sector collaboration, VIA Journeys represents a flagship innovation effort within Wesley Seminary’s broader Strategic Innovations portfolio. The 21st Century Church Initiative is central to the institution’s strategic plan. This initiative includes formal and non-formal education pathways, Scholar-practitioner institutes, and Lantern (a digital platform where leaders connect, learn, and grow) to journey with and equip Christian leaders with the tools, community, mentorship, renewal, and spiritual formation they need to lead faithfully in today’s complex world. This role exists to hold the “whole” of innovation: vision, discernment, governance, sequencing, and sustainability. By separating strategic stewardship from day-to-day execution, the Executive Director ensures that initiatives move forward with clarity and integrity—without overloading a single leader or allowing innovation to drift from the Seminary’s mission.

Requirements

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.
Master’s degree required (doctorate preferred) in theology, ministry, leadership, education, or related field
Five to ten (5-10) years of significant leadership and entrepreneurial experience in the church, higher education, or a start-up business is preferred
Demonstrated senior leadership experience overseeing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives
Proven ability to lead through discernment, governance, and strategic clarity rather than direct control
Strong systems thinking and institutional judgment
Experience in stewarding grants, partnerships, or innovation portfolios
Experience working at the intersection of academia, ministry, and organizational innovation
Ability to guide emerging initiatives from early concept through commercialization and sustainability without mission drift

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for the SI portfolio, ensuring initiatives are mission-aligned, theologically sound, and appropriately sequenced
Determine which ideas advance to pilots, which initiatives scale, and which pause or conclude—protecting the Seminary from initiative overload
Ensure VIA Journeys, 21st Century Church, and future initiatives align with institutional priorities, grant commitments, and long-term sustainability
Provide executive oversight of budgets and grant-funded initiatives within the Strategic Innovations portfolio, ensuring responsible stewardship, alignment with grant commitments, and long-term financial sustainability in collaboration with Seminary leadership and Finance
Establish and steward governance frameworks that clarify decision rights, ethical boundaries, and accountability
Provide theological and institutional oversight for innovation involving digital platforms, technology, or emerging tools
Ensure innovation proceeds at a pace that balances learning, trust, and impact
Serve as a senior Seminary leader responsible for the strategic alignment of VIA Journeys and 21st Century Church Initiatives
Partner with external consultants, funders, and ecosystem leaders to ensure coherence and credibility
Use insights from pilots, research, and evaluation to inform future phases and decisions
Ensure compliance with grant requirements, reporting expectations, and financial guardrails related to VIA Journeys and other externally funded initiatives
Collaborate with Seminary leadership, faculty, Marketing, Advancement, and external partners to integrate innovation across the institution
Represent Wesley Seminary in high-level ministry, academic, and innovation contexts
Provide leadership and direction to SI staff, including the Program Director and operational roles
Create clarity between strategic leadership and execution, enabling staff to operate with focus and accountability