Program Director, Strategic Initiatives

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The University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) is a private, nonprofit affiliate of the University of Massachusetts. Accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), the university offers undergraduate, graduate, credential, and certificate programs designed to be relevant to more than 90 career paths. UMass Global has ranked consistently among the best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

The Project Director, Strategic Initiatives is a proactive and solutions-oriented leader who manages complex, cross-functional initiatives that support the university’s strategic plan. The role requires an innovative thinker who anticipates challenges, identifies creative solutions, and accelerates decision-making to keep initiatives on track. The role requires knowledge of academic and operational processes in non-traditional higher education universities to bring major initiatives to go-live. The position translates executive priorities into actionable workflows, secures institutional buy-in across academic and operational units, and drives timely completion of major initiatives.

This is a full-time position with an initial 2-year term.

#UMASSGLOBAL

TYPE OF SUPERVISION:

Receive general direction from the Vice Chancellor, Institutional Effectiveness & Chief Strategy Officer.

General Direction — indicates that the incumbent receives guidance in terms of broad goals and overall objectives and is responsible for establishing the methods to attain them. Generally, the incumbent is in charge of an area of work; and typically formulates policy for this area but does not necessarily have final authority for approving policy.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Strategic Initiative Leadership & Project Management

• Manage complex, institution-wide strategic initiatives requiring cross-unit coordination and accelerated timelines.
• Develop comprehensive project plans, charters, timelines, workflows, and accountability structures.
• Manage and coordinate leaders across academic and operational divisions, ensuring alignment of priorities, information flow, and timely decision-making.
• Synthesize feedback and operational details from multiple units and translate them into clear, actionable recommendations, as appropriate.
• Anticipate barriers, propose innovative solutions, and maintain momentum toward “go-live.”

Cross-Functional Coordination & Institutional Alignment

• Serve as a connector across university divisions, academic schools, governance bodies, and executive leadership to ensure alignment and clarity.
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings and working groups, guiding leaders toward consensus and unified institutional direction.
• Gather, analyze, and integrate input from unit leaders to produce concise summaries and recommended courses of action
• Engage stakeholders early to secure institutional buy-in and ensure transparent communication of all decisions and timelines.

Strategic Communication & Executive Decision Translation

• Translate complex executive decisions into actionable, well-structured workflows for cross-functional teams.
• Prepare recommendations for the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Effectiveness and Chief Strategy Officer and other senior leaders as appropriate based on synthesized input from multiple divisions and diverse perspectives, highlighting options, impacts, and readiness considerations.
• Provide concise executive-level briefings, reports, and presentations.
• Maintain proactive, clear communication with all levels of the university to ensure shared understanding of timelines, deliverables, and decisions.

Regulatory, Accreditation, & Non-Traditional Education Expertise

• Apply, research, and rapidly learn unfamiliar regulatory or accreditation requirements as needed, ensuring accurate interpretation and integration into project plans
• Ensure project plans incorporate federal regulations, accreditation standards, and governance requirements.
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs, Financial Aid, Enrollment, Registrar, and Student Success to align compliance and operational requirements.
• Translate regulatory and accreditation requirements into clear action steps for team leads and unit leaders.
• Perform other duties, as assigned

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS: