Senior Director, Program Strategy & Innovation

Department
 

UCPE Leadership Administration

About the Department
 

Our mission is to create pathways for people who see education as fundamental to the pursuit of professional growth. We develop innovative learning approaches that meet student and company needs while upholding the University of Chicago’s distinct brand of academic excellence. Our core philosophy—the Chicago Approach—values intellectual curiosity, encourages risk-taking, and rewards those with the ambition to take their ideas from good to great.

Job Summary
 

The Senior Director, Program Strategy & Innovation at UCPE will provide vision and strategic leadership to create high quality, impactful new professional programs and to ensure the ongoing relevance of existing programs.

Responsibilities

• Oversees a team of instructional designers and program managers who develop and manage a growing portfolio of non-degree programs and who are committed to excellence in service and quality.
• Leads custom and corporate program partnerships.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for online program management partners and ensures the quality and success of all partner programs.
• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders on the development and launch of new programs.
• Applies learning theories, and knowledge of learning technologies and environments to the design of high quality workplace relevant learning experiences and assessments across varied delivery modalities.
• Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates assess programs, policies, operational needs, program development, and administration of existing and future programs.
• Ensures that programs developed maximize broad access for adult learners, industry relevance, learning, and financial sustainability.
• Engages in the planning, development, and implementation of partnerships with OPMs and other learning partners to expand the program types and learning experiences available to UChicago students.
• Manages managers and professional staff. Manages the development, scheduling, and implementation of programs and related communications. Will also evaluate the effectiveness of programs and revise curricula as needed.
• Manages and maintains contact with partner organizations. Also engages in activities that promote programs, including speaking at professional and alumni gatherings, writing articles, and presenting papers.
• Develops and maintains program budgets, analyzes financial performance and implements corrective action when appropriate.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Experience as an instructional designer, ideally collaborating with University faculty.
• 3-5 years of experience managing a team.
• Experience developing and assessing the effectiveness of online courses.

Preferred Competencies

• Effective project and program management and transparent communication.
• Work effectively with team members, staff, and faculty of UChicago.
• Cultivate a learning environment that challenges tradition and inspires innovation.
• Proactively build strategic partnerships that champion value of performing as one University.
• Maintain optimistic outlook, display confidence, and creatively marshal resources to achieve results amidst difficult circumstances.
• Relentlessly pursue program and operational excellence and optimization.
• Foster an environment where team members are highly motivated and committed to achieve unit strategies.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Academic Affairs

Role Impact
 

People Manager

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.