Principled Innovation Fellow

Arizona State University•Tempe, AZ

20d•$75,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

Arizona State University is proud to announce the Principled Innovation Fellowship. The fellowship is available to applicants who have completed any graduate program within the last five years or will be graduating in Spring 2026. The Principled Innovation Fellowship is designed to engage early- and mid-career analysts, communicators, writers, designers, and leaders in creating and advancing big ideas that can transform higher education institutions and enhance the communities they serve in collaboration with internal and external partners. The overall focus of the fellowship is to foster and develop the skills needed to enact institutional and societal change. Positioned within the Office of University Affairs at Arizona State University, Fellows act entrepreneurially across the ASU Public Enterprise, advancing projects in service of the Vice President for Principled Innovation and Impact and the ASU charter. The Vice President for Principled Innovation and Impact guides initiatives that advance human flourishing and civic culture, strengthening the ways we care for one another, our communities, and the common good. At Arizona State University, we believe the most exciting ideas are generated through collaboration, and that true innovation is best sharpened against the creativity of others. Principled Innovation Fellows play an important role in infusing new ideas, new talent, and new passions that enhance our ability to be more creative and better respond to the needs of our university. Principled Innovation Fellows work on diverse projects that promote ASU’s vision of the New American University. The purpose of the fellowship is to give Fellows a unique, professional experience and to learn about the role of higher education. Fellows come from a variety of backgrounds (e.g., business, law, policy, K-12 education, technology). Principled Innovation Fellows spend time gaining a better understanding of university administration, institutional transformation, the role of higher education institutions, and the development of meaningful university-wide, transformational programs. As part of their role, Fellows meet with students, faculty, staff from across the ASU Public Enterprise, and community members to learn more about needs and opportunities within the university and throughout the community. The Principled Innovation Fellowship is a full-time position (40+ hours per week) with a competitive salary of $75,000-$85,000. Additional university benefits include health insurance, vacation and sick leave, paid holidays and reduced tuition. Applicants must be able to commit to the entire duration of the program (24 months). The fellowship will begin on July 20, 2026, and is expected to last 24 months. What Fellows do: Principled Innovation Fellows are very active and manage their time between research, meetings, drafting materials, and other special events and activities. They work with various academic and administrative units throughout the university. Some examples of the projects Fellows work on include, but are not limited to: Collaborating with various internal and external partners to launch innovative programs Preparing strategic memos, completing data analyses, and drafting comprehensive reports for various audiences Designing and facilitating meaningful virtual and in-person convenings on different topics related to higher education NOTE: This is not a remote position. Must be able to reliably commute to Tempe, Arizona.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Nice To Haves

Completed at least a master’s degree.
Experience building and managing relationships across multiple departments/teams.
Experience in work that requires attention to detail and record-keeping.
Experience in prioritizing varied workload and meeting multiple, overlapping deadlines.
Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, including experience translating complex research into actionable insights for diverse audiences.
Ability to apply strategic and creative thinking with data-informed recommendations.
Experience in organization, problem-solving, and managing competing priorities.
Ability to define tasks, document activities, and monitor progress.
Ability to respond appropriately to requests, manage competing timelines, and communicate clearly across channels.
Experience in organizing the work of others and oneself, while establishing priorities.
Experience in program design and development.
Background in managing projects with the ability to communicate with high-level administration and external constituents.
Experience in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
Experience cultivating strategic relationships and partnerships between the university and outside organizations.
Skills in planning, analyzing, and coordinating activities and establishing priorities.
Skills in managing multiple priorities.
Experience working with diverse individuals across various expertise areas to accomplish core goals.
Experience in developing, planning, and coordinating visit programming and events.
Experience in noticing, interpreting, and anticipating concerns and potential team and/or sponsorship conflict and escalating as appropriate.
Experience in problem-solving and critical thinking.
Demonstrated knowledge of available project management applications to effectively and efficiently produce desired results.
Experience with Microsoft Office and Google applications; can effectively demonstrate knowledge of specific applications such as Outlook, PowerPoint, Dropbox, Google Slides, and Google Drive.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans that outline scope, timelines, schedules, key actors, resources, and budget.
Lead and motivate project teams, ensuring all members understand their roles and responsibilities.
Serve as the main point of contact for stakeholders, providing regular updates on project status, risks, and issues.
Ensure that project deliverables meet the required quality standards and are completed on schedule.
Prepare and present project status reports to senior leadership and other stakeholders.
Evaluate project performance and implement improvements for future projects.
Track milestones/deliverables, reset expectations as needed in consideration of project progress/outcomes.
Build, develop, and maintain relationships vital to project success.
Work collaboratively with stakeholders, leadership, and other related staff.
Prepare post-project reports and summaries to ensure timely dissemination of information to all interested parties.
Develop and facilitate related workshops, conferences, and seminars.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the goals of the Office of University Affairs and/or ASU.