Director-Strategic Initiatives

Director- Strategic Initiatives
Harold Washington College

At Harold Washington College, employees contribute to the success of our students while enjoying competitive compensation and outstanding benefits packages. Build your future at City Colleges of Chicago and ensure more students complete their curricula - college-ready, career-ready and prepared to pursue their life's goals. We are currently seeking a full-time Director of Strategic Initiatives to join our team. Are you a people-person with a talent for quickly solving problems and achieving results? Do you have a desire to work in a welcoming environment making college a reality for a large, diverse student population? If so, this is the opportunity for you!

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Reporting to the President, the Director of Strategic Initiatives is responsible for implementing initiatives and executing projects aimed at promoting and supporting a college's vision, mission, and strategic plans. Working in collaboration with the President and senior college leaders, the Director of Strategic Initiatives provides leadership, administrative direction, and oversight of a college's initiatives in areas to include academic programs, enrollment, accreditation, strategic planning, and other areas of operation. As a project manager, the position effectively manages the life cycle of major projects, including acquiring resources and coordinating the efforts of college-wide teams, district personnel and third-party contractors or consultants in order to deliver projects according to plan. Performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Maintain grant compliance and reporting, including outcome measurements, taking responsibility for meeting high standards of effectiveness, timeliness, and completeness, including:
  • Monitoring and maintaining funder and investor reporting schedules and requirements;
  • Tracking progress toward organizational and programmatic outcomes and goals;
  • Drafting compelling progress reports and targeted program updates to funders that fully capture programmatic success;
  • Assembling all necessary supporting materials and documents including budget reports, outcome measurements, success stories, etc.; submit reports to funders and investors.
• Directs and manages projects and initiatives assigned by the President from idea through implementation.
• Aligns college's strategic plan with the established strategic plan for the district and collaborates with district personnel to ensure alignment between district initiatives and college projects.
• Defines project or initiative scope, goals and deliverables that support business goals in collaboration with senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Identifies opportunities to improve student success and business process implementation.
• Proposes new projects, builds sponsorship, gains resource commitments and drives project results. Leads teams to drive operational, organizational, and financial improvement projects.
• Estimates the resources and participants needed to achieve project goals.
• Drafts and submits budget proposals, RFP's or other necessary documents and recommends subsequent budget changes where necessary.
• Where required, negotiates with other department managers for the acquisition of required personnel from within the organization.
• Identifies, codifies, and disseminates internal and external best practices.
• Determines and assesses the need for additional staff and/or consultants and makes the appropriate recruitments through the Office of Human Resources, if necessary, during the project cycle.
• Sets and continually manages project expectations with team members and other stakeholders. Provides consulting, training and coaching support to employees to empower them to solve problems and implement solutions independently.
• Tracks project milestones and deliverables
• Develops and delivers project proposals, charters, progress reports, requirements documentation and presentations
• Proactively manages changes in project scope, identifies potential crises, and devises contingency plans.
• Works with stakeholders and the district office to define project success criteria and disseminates them to the stakeholders throughout the project life cycle.
• Builds and grows business relationships vital to the success of the project.
• Conducts post-project reviews and creates a recommendations report in order to identify successful and unsuccessful project elements.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Three years of work experience in strategic consulting, strategy department and/or turnaround departments
• Experience working in a higher education environment desirable
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with process change and optimization
• Demonstrated ability to advise and influence leaders throughout the organization on performance improvement opportunities in areas of academics, finance, and operations
• Knowledge of institutional research methodologies and complex statistical analysis
• Knowledge of survey design and administration
• Knowledge of best practices of outcomes assessment to monitor institutional effectiveness and continuous improvement
• Knowledge of institutional effectiveness processes
• Knowledge/familiarity with federal and state grant processes preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Strong project management skills
• Strong attention to details
• Familiarity with reading and creating budget spreadsheets preferred.
• Ability to guide and motivate others toward goal achievement
• Ability to work within a culturally diverse environment
• Ability to cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with key stakeholders
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends
• Ability to travel in and out of District may be required
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within 6 months of hire.

We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Thank you for your interest in City Colleges of Chicago.

Harold Washington College, located at 30 East Lake Street in Chicago's Loop, is a student-centered institution that empowers all members of its community through accessible and affordable academic advancement, career development and personal enrichment. At HWC, employees contribute to the success of our students while enjoying competitive compensation and outstanding benefits packages. Build your future at City Colleges of Chicago and ensure more students complete their curricula - college-ready, career-ready and prepared to pursue their life's goals. This is an exciting time in the history of City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), District 508, the largest community college system in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation.