Senior Director - Strategic Initiatives and Implementation

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

The Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives creates capacity for Continuing Education and Training Services (CE&TS) to grow, modernize, execute strategy, and continually improve. The position leads major cross-functional initiatives, divisional strategic planning and performance-management processes, operational excellence, technology and systems implementations, marketing and market intelligence, customer-experience improvement, internal communication infrastructure, and designated Vice President-sponsored initiatives. This is a leadership role that turns Kirkwood priorities into structured plans and measurable results.

The typical work schedule will be Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm with additional time outside of standard hours may be required on an as needed basis.

UNIVERSAL CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Advocate for Continual Improvement- empowering each other to identify opportunities for excellence.
• Collaborate with Mutual Accountability- working together with a willingness to take ownership and account for our actions.
• Champion Service- anticipating needs and create a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment.
• Perseverance- commitment to excellence even in the face of adversity or delay in achieving success.
• Lead- regardless of title, through positive influence.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead division-wide systems implementations and strategic projects, using effective project-management practices to define scope, timelines, responsibilities, stakeholder engagement, and measures of success.
• Maintain the division strategic roadmap, scorecard/KPI framework, strategic initiative portfolio, and regular performance-review cadence; identify off-track work and drive follow-through.
• Establish and lead CE&TS operational-excellence methodology, including process mapping, root-cause analysis, SOP governance, standardization, continuous improvement, capacity analysis, and measurable efficiency improvement.
• Lead major cross-functional process redesign when improvement requires multiple departments, technology, significant change management, or enterprise-level coordination.
• Lead CE&TS technology and systems initiatives, including AI and automation, vendor/system implementations, and related change management.
• Guide the planning and execution of major cross-functional efforts, establishing the structure, governance, communication, change management, and performance measures needed to achieve successful outcomes.
• Facilitate the CE&TS strategic-planning process in partnership with the Vice President and Senior Leadership Team, translating vision and priorities into measurable goals, initiatives, owners, timelines, and review cycles.
• Help drive divisional priorities by connecting the College’s marketing expertise with CE&TS needs, strengthening alignment and supporting strategies that advance growth and measurable results.
• Partner with Business Operations to develop and strengthen the processes and structures needed to support effective divisional operations and execution of priorities.
• Own the infrastructure and effectiveness of CE&TS internal communication systems and channels.
• Develop business cases and evaluation approaches for major divisional investments to assess potential value, inform decision-making, and measure results.
• Monitor and evaluate employee engagement and workplace culture, partnering with divisional leaders to identify opportunities and develop strategies that strengthen employee experience and support ongoing improvement.
• Partner with each Senior Director to make their department work better tomorrow while ensuring the accountable business or Operations leader remains responsible for making it work today.
• Provide leadership and development to staff, ensuring clear accountability and successful execution of priorities.
• Perform other related work duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

• Lead the department with independent judgment and accountability for strategic execution, measurable improvement, communication, financial stewardship, and major initiative performance.
• Demonstrate strong technology and systems aptitude, maintaining a working knowledge of the systems, platforms, data, and digital tools that support divisional operations; quickly learn and adapt to new technologies and translate business needs into practical solutions.
• Proactively identify and evaluate opportunities to use technology, automation, AI, data, and improved systems and processes to simplify work, improve decision-making, enhance customer and employee experiences, and increase organizational effectiveness.
• Meet or exceed established strategic planning, project milestone, process improvement, technology adoption, marketing, customer experience, and benefit-realization goals.
• Bring appropriate updates and proposed solutions to the Vice President in a timely manner.
• Build a collaborative, high-performing team and strengthen project, improvement, technology, and change capability across CE&TS.
• Use data, customer feedback, financial information, and performance measures to identify priorities, risks, opportunities, and measurable benefits.
• Maintain effective division-wide communication infrastructure and ensure leaders have tools and rhythms that support timely two-way communication.
• Partner across CE&TS so operational excellence supports the accountable business leader rather than creating a parallel operating structure.
• Welcome, value, and nurture people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, as well as support and promote an environment that accepts differences.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the essential job duties/responsibilities and performance expectations of the job, which should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES WITH/WITHOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: Position involves working in an office setting. Occasional (10-33%) standing, pushing, pulling and grasping. Frequent (34-66%) reaching and viewing a computer and other types of close visual work. Constant (67-100%) sitting, walking, repetitive motion, talking and hearing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in business, education, organizational leadership, project management, technology management, communication, engineering, public administration, or related field.
• Minimum five years’ experience leading complex strategic initiatives, operations improvement, organizational change, technology-enabled work, project/program management, or related area.
• Previous successful supervisory or people-leadership experience required.
• Demonstrated experience with strategic planning, project management, performance measurement, process improvement, and cross-functional leadership.
• Strong facilitation, analytical, communication, change-management, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, OR REGISTRATIONS:

Master's degree in a relevant field.

Experience in continuing education, workforce development, higher education, or another complex service organization.

Experience leading enterprise adoption, AI/automation initiatives, or organization-wide change.

Project management, Lean/process improvement, change management, analytics, or related certification/experience.

WHY KIRKWOOD:
Kirkwood Community College prides itself on fostering a diverse workforce and values unique perspectives throughout its campus community. The college is a convenient, innovative, visionary educational leader striving to remain affordable and accessible. With more than 140 majors and programs, Kirkwood boasts 16,000 annual college-credit students while maintaining one of the lowest tuitions in the state. All degree-seeking students are eligible for federal financial aid and the college offers more than $3 million in scholarships each year to students from all walks of life.

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.