APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, reporting to the Interim Vice Provost for Educational Equity, provides visionary, strategic, and operational leadership to manage a dynamic portfolio of work in support of the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity’s strategic goals. This position supervises professional staff responsible for grant administration, marketing and communications, bias reporting administration, and professional development. The position serves as the primary liaison to the unit’s Information Technology strategic partner to ensure alignment of systems and services with the Office's evolving needs. The role ensures high-quality service delivery, cross-functional communication and collaboration, and strategic alignment across all supervised functions. The ideal candidate is a collaborative and solutions-oriented leader with strong project management skills and a deep commitment to equity, integrity, and institutional excellence. 

Work activities include:

Leadership and Strategic Alignment 

• Provide overall direction and oversight for the unit’s operational and strategic initiatives to advance organizational goals. 

• Lead a team of professionals across four key domains: grant administration, marketing/communications, bias response, and professional development. 

• Serve as the unit’s primary liaison to the IT strategic partner, collaborating to align technology tools, data systems, and digital infrastructure with the unit’s functional priorities. 

• Ensure all areas align with the Office’s mission and the University’s broader strategic objectives. 

• Represent the Office on key committees and task forces; serve as a thought partner to senior leadership. 

Program and Operations Oversight 

• Supervise the design and i