Senior Director, Strategic Initiative Development

84460BR

Off-Campus: Scottsdale

Sr Director

Job Description

As Sr. Director of Strategic Initiative Development in ASU’s Learning Enterprise you ensure that from inception, learning solutions positively impact individuals and communities that have long been underserved by the existing education system. You are a major contributor to the evolution of equitable learning by taking early ideas across the entire lifelong learning spectrum to executable and fundable concepts. You collaborate closely with subject matter experts to describe how an existing learning solution can be scaled and funded. 

Initially this is an individual contributor role, but through success in your work you will have the chance to hire and manage a team. Areas of impact include foundational learning, career and technical learning, personal, cultural, and civic development. During your tenure, you will become an architect for building innovative tech-enabled lifelong learning systems and significantly contribute to growing ASU’s learner base from 300,000 to over 10 million.

Department Name

Learning Enterprise

Full-Time/Part-Time

Full-Time

VP Code

Learning Enterprise

Grant Funded Position

This is not a grant funded position and is not contingent on future grant funding.

Salary Range

$125,000 – $135,000 per year; DOE

Close Date

30-September-2022

Essential Duties

Your primary responsibilities will include:

Turn early stage ideas into funded and executable concepts 

• You love writing and pitching: In your first year, you will articulate ideas for 12+ opportunities ranging from $1M-100M. You will do so through a variety of documents including decks, short two-pagers, or full grant applications. Your writing is clear, intuitive, and persuasive to executive audiences, funders, and external partners who may have never heard about the subject matter before. You know how to persuade with few words even when communicating complex subject matters. You analyze available quantitative information and existing research to develop projections related to initiative incubation, scaling, and finance. You can’t stop yourself from fixing that one last thing because you know attention to detail reflects substance.
• You will grow productive partnerships with philanthropic, federal, and state, private partners. You work hard to ensure that they see you as a reliable partner. You are not afraid to defend information you have authored in high stakes conversations. You understand funders in education and you are eager to learn how to navigate capital flows across philanthropy, the federal and state systems, venture capital/private equity, and non-traditional providers. If you don’t know the answer you are not afraid to research or reach out to others until you find it.

Co-create concepts through partnerships in a start-up environment

• You will lead collaborative teams across the LE to transform early stage ideas into funded and executable concepts. Your work is project-based and fast-paced. In one moment you research and write about innovative ways to implement college access in a K-12 setting, the next moment you focus on how to create a learner framework for reskilling learners threatened by automation. You will co-create concepts that are aspirational and at the same time grounded in realistic project plans. To co-create concepts, you research new or existing learning solution topics and quickly become an expert in the subject matter at hand. You review existing documents, you find, analyze, and synthesize data. You establish rapport with your colleagues and build relationships easily. You lead, facilitate, and move team-based collaborations forward.
• You actively seek input on early drafts and solicit input from relevant internal and external partners because you know it makes the work better. You are comfortable with robust discussions, providing and receiving constructive criticism, and iterating on drafts. You are comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment. You deliver before the deadline with sufficient time to review 100% of the time. This includes establishing and continually managing expectations with all project partners. You are organized such that juggling multiple projects and their deadlines at once is no problem.
• You know how to productively push through the initial ambiguity that often exists in start-up to scale efforts. You thrive in situations where creativity and thoughtfulness is a must. You try and keep trying until you find the solution to a challenging problem, in many cases a solution without precedent. You are comfortable to operate in an environment where many open questions do not have a definitive answer and where you are the one inventing and implementing processes to scale the work given continuous team growth. The culture of a start-up-to-scale organization energizes you.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field AND ten (10) years of related experience which includes five (5) years of management/supervisory experience; OR, any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience collaborating in complex, cross-functional team environments within a few of the various phases of a start-up to scale organization (3 years)
• Experience working independently as an individual contributor driving own work product
• Experience in writing, pitching, and securing philanthropic grants or raising private capital
• Experience in developing presentations for partner engagement
• Experience in leveraging data to make informed decision
• Experience in multitasking and prioritization to meet project deadlines

Working Environment

• Activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding and manipulating a computer mouse; required to stand for varying lengths of time and walk moderate distances to perform work.
• Frequent bending, reaching, lifting, pushing and pulling up to 25 pounds.
• Regular activities require ability to quickly change priorities, which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts.
• May be required to perform tasks in the field within and/or across University campuses.
• Evidence of effective communicate to perform essential functions.

Department Statement

About the Learning Enterprise

We believe that the rigid and linear design of traditional higher education is neither an effective ladder to social and economic opportunity for all learners nor is it responsive to rapidly evolving workforce needs. ASU has responded to these challenges with the creation of Learning Enterprise (LE). We are guided by the belief that everyone should have universal access to education and opportunity. At every stage of life.

LE re-imagines the role of universities in society and evolves the design of learning offerings. These products (LE’s learning offerings) are academically rigorous, tech-enabled, and outcomes-driven. They are stackable, accessible, and evidence-based — designed to respond to the needs of students and employers with the resources and values of the university.

LE‘s initial focus is on the following areas: foundational skills and mindsets, professional and technical career skills and personal development, cultural and civic learning.

At LE, we share a common set of values that guide our work and collaboration:

Scrappy. We are undaunted by challenges. We remain undeterred by anything that stands in the way of moving our vision forward. If we fall, we get up, over and over again. If it doesn’t exist, we create it. If something doesn’t work, we try something else.

Driven. We always push to be better for ourselves, for each other, and for our students. We are not defeated or guided by the status quo. We see what could be and relentlessly pursue it.

Intentional Architects. We know our attitude towards what we are doing will determine our success. We see the big picture and take deep pride in building every block that makes up our long-term vision. We are motivated by the potential of a transformed future while remaining firmly focused on tending to the tasks in front of us today.

Leading from the heart. We deeply care about people and their well-being. Everyone is unconditionally supported. We believe in human potential and invest in continuous growth.

Candid collaborators. We share ideas and feedback at all levels. We have strong opinions loosely held and intentionally engage in debate. We strive for clarity through direct and honest communication. We know our work is better for it.

ASU Statement

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation’s fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco

Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

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Employment Verification Statement

ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.

Background Check Statement

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.

Instructions to Apply

Application deadline is 3:00PM Arizona time on the date indicated.

Please include all employment information in month/year format (e.g., 6/88 to 8/94), job title, job duties and name of employer for each position.

Resume should clearly illustrate how prior knowledge and experience meets the Minimum and Desired qualifications of this position.

ASU does not pay for travel expenses associated with interviews, unless otherwise indicated.

Only electronic applications are accepted for this position.

IMPORTANT NOTE: What is the meaning of “equivalent combination” in the minimum qualifications? It means one year of higher education or 24 credit hours, is equal to one year of experience. For example, a four year Bachelor’s degree is equal to four years of experience.