Sr. Assistant Commissioner for Academic & Technical
Education
Job Summary
The Senior Assistant Commissioner serves as a senior advisor to the
Associate Commissioner for Academic and Technical Education and
provides strategic leadership for statewide initiatives that
strengthen institutional collaboration, instructional quality,
faculty engagement, and long-term program planning across the Utah
System of Higher Education.
Working collaboratively with provosts, deans, faculty leaders, and
administrators, the Senior Assistant Commissioner helps identify
emerging programmatic opportunities, facilitates
cross-institutional collaboration, and develops strategies that
strengthen program excellence while respecting the unique mission
of each institution.
Unlike operational positions responsible for committee coordination
and policy implementation, this role focuses on strategic
relationships, academic and technical program innovation,
institutional alignment, and long-range planning.
Responsibilities
System Strategy, Alignment, and Program Governance
- Lead statewide efforts that strengthen horizontal alignment
across USHE degree-granting and technical education institutions
through curricular alignment, faculty collaboration, transfer
pathways, and program quality.
Conduct strategic reviews of academic and technical education
programs and institutional portfolios to evaluate quality,
workforce relevance, student demand, mission alignment, and
long-term sustainability.
Identify opportunities to strengthen institutional missions
through collaboration, specialization, shared delivery models, and
innovative program offerings.
Analyze emerging trends in higher education, workforce needs,
technology, artificial intelligence, research, and instructional
innovation to inform statewide program planning.
Develop strategic recommendations for the Associate
Commissioner and Utah Board of Higher Education regarding program
priorities and development.
Support implementation of Board priorities related to
institutional collaboration, learner mobility, and program
excellence.
Faculty Leadership, Shared Governance, and Program
Innovation
- Develop strong relationships with Faculty Senate leadership and
other faculty governance organizations.
- Advise the Associate Commissioner regarding emerging faculty
issues, institutional concerns, and opportunities for
collaboration.
- Support statewide discussions and lead initiatives related to
faculty development, shared governance, interdisciplinary
collaboration, academic freedom, workload, tenure, instructional
excellence, and program innovation.
Institutional Engagement and Collaboration
- Support relationships with chief academic and instructional
officers, vice provosts, deans, faculty leaders, and administrators
across Utah's public colleges and universities.
- Build collaborative partnerships that strengthen communication
between institutions and the Office of the Commissioner.
- Facilitate conversations that build consensus around complex
issues while respecting institutional missions and autonomy.
- Support institutional efforts related to accreditation,
continuous improvement, student learning, and evidence-based
educational practices.
- Other duties as assigned.
DISCLAIMEROCHE has reviewed this job description
to ensure that essential functions and primary duties have been
included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations
and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is
not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all
functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional
functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed
appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of
employment, and OCHE reserves the right to change this job
description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as
OCHE may deem appropriate.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Experience:
- Master's degree or equivalent work experience in a related
field required (one year of education can be substituted for one
year of related work experience).
- 12 years' professional experience in a related field.
- Progressive leadership experience as a program director,
department chair, dean, associate provost, provost, or equivalent
in a higher education institution.
- Experience building collaborative relationships across multiple
institutions.
- Demonstrated success leading institution-wide programmatic
initiatives.
- Familiarity with technical education programs and workforce
development.
- Strong understanding of shared governance, accreditation,
curriculum, faculty affairs, and program quality.
Skills & Abilities:
- Leadership and executive competency, including emotional
intelligence, vulnerability, situational awareness, and
accountability.
- Interpersonal and communication skills, including eloquence,
empathy, diplomacy, trustworthiness, and wit.
- Thinking and problem-solving skills, including cognitive
flexibility, sense-making, and resilience.
- Work ethic and motivation, including initiative, candor,
learning agility, and humility.
- Autonomy and collaboration, including an ability to work
independently and as a member of team.
Preferences
- Terminal degree strongly preferred.
- Experience in collaborating with leaders and faculty at
research universities, regional universities, community colleges,
and technical colleges.
- System-level higher education experience.
- Experience with statewide program planning.
- National involvement in higher education-oriented professional
organizations.
- Demonstrated success leading program innovation and
organizational change.
Special Instructions
Requisition Number: PRN46142B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: 8am – 5pm, Monday thru Friday,
Hybrid.
Department: 01379 - USHE Commissioner
Location: Office of the Commissioner - Downtown SLC
Pay Rate Range: $170,000 - $180,000 - Depending on
experience
Close Date: 10/01/2026
Open Until Filled:
To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/9806962"">https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/208906
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