Western Governors University
Academic Initiatives Strategist
🇺🇸 Salt Lake City, UT
🕑 Full-Time
💰 $80K - $120K
💻 Project Management
🗓️ June 26th, 2025
Edtech.com's Summary
WGU is hiring an Academic Initiatives Strategist to lead and manage transformative academic projects within the General Education Academic Portfolio. The strategist drives innovation, manages change initiatives, collaborates across departments, and uses data insights to improve academic programs and support student success.
Highlights
- Develop and propose new academic initiatives and manage high-impact projects.
- Implement innovative solutions to advance General Education strategies.
- Lead change management efforts for cross-functional academic initiatives.
- Analyze program and student performance data to guide decision-making.
- Engage with internal stakeholders and external partners to enhance student outcomes.
- Research trends in education such as student pathways, skills-based practices, and digital credentialing.
- Prepare comprehensive reports and presentations on academic strategies and results.
- Identify grant opportunities and support grant writing and management.
- Required: Bachelor's degree and 4 years' experience in change management, curriculum design, and project management within higher education or related fields.
- Preferred: Master's degree and 2 years of skills implementation experience.
- Salary range: $80,300 to $120,400 annually.
Academic Initiatives Strategist Full Description
Academic Initiatives Strategist
Salt Lake City Office
Full time
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
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 of skills implementation experience.
#LIGB1
Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.
Position & Application Details
Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.
Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.
How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.
Additional Information
Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.
Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.
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