Senior Director Of Strategic Initiatives, Academic Affairs

Title:

Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Academic Affairs

Department:

Office of the Provost

Reports To:

Chief of Staff, Office of Provost

Position Type:

Staff

Position Summary:

As a key member of NJIT's academic leadership team, the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, reporting directly to the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Provost, plays a vital role in advancing NJIT's strategic plan. The Senior Director is responsible for orchestrating the successful implementation of critical projects for the academic enterprise, fostering innovation, and facilitating transformative change. The Senior Director's role requires exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, and the capacity to manage multiple and varied priorities and projects. Effective collaboration with key stakeholders including Vice Provosts, Vice Presidents, College and Faculty Leadership, and Directors in the Office of the Provost is essential. This role serves to ensure seamless communication, alignment, and effective project management across NJIT's academic landscape.

Essential Functions:

• Lead the planning and execution of the implementation of major short- and long-term strategic initiatives for the academic enterprise, including but not limited to student success initiatives, launching new cross-cutting centers, and academic digital transformation and implementation efforts. Ensure alignment with NJIT's overall goals and strategy and optimally utilize resources. Act as a primary strategist in architecting the framework for major projects and initiatives that will drive the university's strategic direction forward.

• Responsible for leading and bringing together diverse groups of university constituents to drive strategic initiatives forward. Collaborate closely with Vice Provosts, Vice Presidents, College and Faculty Leadership, and Directors in the Office of the Provost to ensure seamless integration and execution of initiatives and ensure all stakeholders are aligned with the strategic vision and their roles in implementation. Oversee and collaborate with external consultants as necessary to drive projects forward.

• Develop and implement strategies for effective stakeholder management, ensuring continuous alignment and buy-in from all parties involved.

• Identify potential risks and obstacles to the successful implementation of strategic initiatives and develop mitigation strategies to address them proactively. Regularly assess and reassess risks throughout the project lifecycle to ensure that potential issues are promptly addressed and minimized.

• Research and partner with leadership across campus to implement cutting-edge project management tools and methodologies to enhance efficiency and provide real-time insights into the progress of strategic initiatives.

• Develop and maintain a robust system for project documentation and tracking to ensure transparency and monitor progress. Define and establish relevant KPIs for each strategic initiative to measure progress and success. Work closely with stakeholders to ensure alignment between KPIs and organizational goals. Regularly monitor KPI performance and analyze data to identify trends, areas for improvement, and opportunities for optimization.

• Facilitate effective communication across units, ensuring that all relevant parties are engaged and informed about project developments and decisions.

• Adapt project strategies flexibly in response to evolving organizational needs or external challenges.

• Prepare comprehensive reports detailing the progress and outcomes of strategic initiatives, tailored to various audience types. Deliver engaging presentations to diverse stakeholders, effectively communicating project updates, key findings, and actionable insights.

• Supervise and mentor team members, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous development.

Prerequisite Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, or a related field. Appropriate work history or experiences may substitute for formal education.

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning and project management, or closely related fields.

• A solid record of effective project implementation in complex organizational settings, ideally within the higher education sector.

• At the university's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be exempted where the candidate can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the university, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or related disciplines.

• Extensive experience in higher education administration, especially in a public research university.

• Knowledge of the operational dynamics of both academic and non-academic units in large educational institutions.

• Experience with leading significant digital transformation projects, particularly involving AI technologies and initiatives aimed at enhancing student success.

Bargaining Unit:

Non-Aligned

Range/Band:

9

FLSA:

Exempt

Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants:

The deadline to apply is June 28th.