Director, Strategic Initiatives

NAU is a community devoted to student success and sustained by an unshakable commitment to our shared mission, vision, and values. We—faculty, staff, and administrators—thrive by combining our efforts and working side by side to further NAU’s culture of excellence.

Only complete applications will be considered, and must include a resume, cover letter outlining interest in position and how past experience matches with job requirements, and 3 professional references.

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

The Director, Strategic Initiatives for the Division of Student Affairs provides vision and leadership for outcomes achievement. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, the position provides critical insight, management, and support for new and ongoing initiatives that directly impact students and staff.

Working broadly across the division, the primary foci of the position will change over time based on priorities, major educational and legislative trends and initiatives, and other influences and impacts on higher education and student affairs. This position oversees communications, business analysts/technology development, strategic planning and assessment activities for the division.

Essential Functions

• Oversee the planning, development, and implementation of Student Affairs projects to ensure program goals and objectives are accomplished in accordance with priorities, as well as time and funding limitations.
  • Identify innovative projects through pilot programs and analytics to maximize the use of University enterprise tools.
  • Proactively foresee, plan and lead enhancements, implementations, operations, and support. Lead and own automated operations from data ingestion to data provisioning tools. Build a knowledge base for the Student Affairs data flows and processes.
  • Establish key performance metrics. Measure and evaluate the effectiveness of protocols, programs or deliverables; compare measurement results to standards and take immediate action to close gaps identified.
  • Develop positive working relationships and communicate regularly with key personnel inside and outside the division, as well as vendors for critical technology tools.
• Help shape, articulate, and operationalize division priorities by collaborating on planning, visioning, goal setting, and action planning with directors and program heads.
• Directs the overall recruitment, selection, training, supervision, and evaluation of communications, business analysts/technology development, strategic planning and assessment staff. Create a team culture that promotes high quality service delivery and ensures that service level expectations and agreements are consistently met.
• Prepares, monitors, and maintains oversight of department budgets.
• Provides reports and recommendations on the activities of the department. Compiles reports for presentations to campus and other stakeholders.
• Represent Student Affairs on committees, task forces, and other projects across the university.
• Demonstrate a commitment to NAU and Division of Student Affairs values.

• Master’s degree in higher education administration/student affairs, higher education policy studies, educational leadership, or, closely related field.
• Six years full-time experience working in higher education.
• OR any equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience in higher education strategic planning, data collection, analysis, reporting, and utilization in decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Experience with higher education communication strategies, with a specific understanding of general student development and diverse student needs.
• Experience in higher education business process development, including direct or collaborative work with technology resources.
• Experience in a leadership role that includes staff supervision, development, and mentoring.
• Exceptional project management skills.

• Able to express vision, while executing specific tasks and responsibilities.
• Excellent supervisory skills.
• Excellent planning, project management, and change management skills.
• Able to influence people, tackle problems, trouble shoot, think creatively and resolve conflicts.
• Demonstrated ability to manage large-scale, complex and enterprise projects or programs.
• Exceptional and effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to build, engage, and lead cross-functional teams.
• Ability to bring together resources and build collaborative relationships across the University.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting.

If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees’ right to work in the United States.

Finally, each year the Northern Arizona University Police Department releases an annual security report. The report is a result of the federal law known as the Clery Act and contains policy statements that address the school’s policies, procedures and programs concerning safety and security including policies for responding to emergency situations and sexual offenses. The report contains three years of data for Clery reportable crime statistics for the campus along with the most current year’s Fire Safety Report, which includes policy statements and fire statistics for Flagstaff on-campus student housing.

The report may be viewed at nau.edu/clery or by visiting the NAUPD website. A printed copy of the report is available upon request by contacting the NAU Police Department, Records Department at (928)523-8884 or by visiting the department at Building 98A on the NAU Mountain Campus.

The budgeted salary is $79,741 – $97,346.

Commensurate with experience.

**The starting salary will be determined by the qualifications of the selected applicant balanced with departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

This is a Service Professional (SPF) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program; 22 days of vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified dependents. More information on benefits at NAU is available at https://in.nau.edu/human-resources/eligibility-enrollment/

NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.

Service Professionals are hired on a contract basis, renewable each 6 months according to terms of the Conditions of Professional Service, which may be found at: https://public.azregents.edu/Policy%20Manual/6-303%20Conditions%20of%20Service%20for%20Service%20Professionals.pdf

Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU’s BCBS Plan). New employees are eligible for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31 days from their start date to enroll in benefits. If a new employee chooses the ASRS retirement option, participation in the Arizona State Retirement System, and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it, will begin on the first of the pay period following 6 months after the new employee’s start date. New employees who choose to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), which is an alternative to the ASRS plan for faculty and other appointed staff, will begin to participate on the first day of employment. Additionally, the long-term disability plan that accompanies the ORP will begin on the first day of employment. More information is available at: https://in.nau.edu/human-resources/eligibility-enrollment/

Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to be completed within the first 30 days (https://in.nau.edu/Human-Resources/Required/). If your position includes the supervision of a benefit-eligible employee, we offer the NAU Supervisors Academy for you to complete within your first 2 years.

January 29, 2020 at 11:59pm

To apply for this position, please click on the “Apply” button on this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the “Submit” button by midnight of the application deadline. If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on line at https://in.nau.edu/human-resources/ or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus – on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process please contact the Office of Equity and Access at: 928-523-3312/TDD – 928-523-1006 or PO Box 4083, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

EEO is the Law Poster and Supplements

NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.