Academic Initiatives Strategist

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
 

Grade: Professional 309

Pay Range: $80,300.00 - $120,400.00

Job Description

The Academic Initiatives Strategist at WGU is a pivotal role within the General Education Academic Portfolio (GEAP) team dedicated to transforming the General Education experience for students. The strategist manages and executes academic projects and initiatives while also developing innovative solutions to drive continuous improvement and advance the General Education academic portfolio. They lead change management efforts to ensure successful implementation of strategic plans, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Collaboration and communication are key aspects of this role, as the strategist works closely with cross-functional teams and senior leaders to align strategic priorities, share best practices, and drive collective success. With exemplary innovation skills and commitment to excellence, this role will drive the development of creative strategies and innovative solutions that support WGU’s key results and make a meaningful impact on the future of the learning. 

 

Job Duties

• Develops and proposes new academic initiatives and programs.

• Manages specific high-impact initiatives.

• Implements innovative solutions to advance academic initiatives.

• Supports change management efforts for cross-functional implementation.

• Analyzes data and gathers insights into program and student performance. Evaluates program effectiveness and suggest refinements. Contributes to efforts supporting access and completion for underserved populations. Uses data analysis to inform decision-making and strategy refinement.

• Engages with internal stakeholders across departments. Participates in external partnerships to support initiative goals. Coordinates cross-departmental efforts to enhance student success.

• Researches current trends in the learn-and-work ecosystem. Develops expertise in areas such as student pathways, skills-based practices, and digital credentialing. Contributes to the university's knowledge base on innovative academic practices.

• Prepares comprehensive reports and presentations on academic strategies and outcomes. Communicates project status and results to relevant stakeholders.

• Identifies and researches potential grant opportunities. Contributes significantly to grant proposal writing and development. Assists in managing awarded grants, including budget oversight and reporting.

• Provides mentorship to inspire and develop colleagues.

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field

• 4 years of experience focused on change management, curriculum design, and project management in higher education, education technology, or related field.

• Experience leading strategic projects within higher education or a similar environment

• Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in a related field

• 2 years