Director of Strategic Initiatives and Projects (URI Online)
University of Rhode Island
Posting Details Position Information Posting Number SF01945 Job Title Director of Strategic Initiatives and Projects (URI Online) Position Number 109799 FTE 1.00 FLSA Exempt Position Type Professional Staff Union Non-Union Non-Classified Staff Pay Grade Level Grade Level: 16 Pay Grade Range Salary Hiring Range: $115,000 - $130,000 Status Calendar Year, Full-time, Permanent Department Information Department Provost Initiatives Contact(s) Please note: Job applications must be submitted directly online only at: (https://jobs.uri.edu)
Contact Phone/Extension Contact Email Physical Demands Campus Location Kingston Grant Funded No Extension Contingency Notes Job Description Summary The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by February 8, 2025. Applications received after February 8, 2025 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.
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About URI:
The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
BASIC FUNCTION:
Reporting to the Executive Director for URI Online, provide leadership for large-scale, complex initiatives that advance URI Online’s mission and growth. Drive the successful planning, execution, and assessment of key strategic projects while ensuring alignment with institutional goals. Serve as a trusted partner with leadership to translate strategic vision into actionable plans, leading cross-functional teams to implement transformative initiatives that enhance online education and student success. Provide deep project management expertise along with internal engagement strategies and consultation regarding unique resources, opportunities, and project roadmaps for expansion of strategic initiatives. Unite teams to achieve common goals through pioneering project management best practices, exemplifying a data driven approach, and effectively communicating information to a broad range of audiences across functions.
Duties and Responsibilities ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Design, enhance and lead a set of diversified projects that further the short- and long-term goals of URI Online.
Establish goals, action plans, and develop and track success metrics for URI Online operations and initiatives that are consistent with the unit and University strategic plans.
Direct the work of teams. Exercise effective communication and project management best practices to ensure organization of planning, timelines, information sharing, project goals, and achievement of success factors.
Monitor and measure project progress and identify when a course change or corrective action is necessary.
Ensure accountability for team member contributions.
Develop collaborative working relationships with a variety of departments and facilitates cross-departmental collaboration and partnership.
Enable strategic dialogues with senior-level stakeholders, articulate forward thinking concepts, visions, and action plans.
Maintain fiscal and contractual responsibilities. Oversee project budgets and identify areas for cost saving and efficiency.
Develop and execute comprehensive internal communication strategies across academic and administrative departments, creating compelling content while ensuring consistent messaging that aligns with the university’s mission and values and resonates with diverse internal audiences.
Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, from faculty and researchers to administrative staff and senior leadership, acting as a trusted communications advisor and facilitator of two-way dialogue. This involves ensuring regular retreats, town halls, feedback sessions, and creating channels for staff to voice concerns and ideas.
Lead staff engagement initiatives that foster a collaborative university culture, including developing recognition programs, organizing cross-departmental events, and measuring engagement through surveys and metrics; identify trends and recommend improvements to enhance workplace satisfaction and retention.
Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements. Participate in decisions that may have program-wide impact, affect staff in non-program areas, and bind the organization financially or legally.
Ensure programmatic commitments, University policies and procedures, financial standards and legal requirements are met and managed for compliance in coordination with Assistant Director, URI Online.
Develop situational knowledge to formulate clear processes that are both within and outside of the scope of subject matter expertise. Navigate uncertainty with poise, demonstrate attention to urgency, and make quick decisions with accuracy.
Lead teams to conduct feedback research and present data findings that inform future decisions. Educate teams on best practices for gathering and interpreting data, implementing surveys, and working with focus groups.
Keep abreast of trends and innovative practices in the University flexible education sphere. Develop internal and external networks, seek professional educational resources, and facilitate resource and knowledge sharing among staff.
Supervise and mentor Project Manager(s) and provide frequent direction, set priorities, review work, and provide constructive feedback.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Perform other duties relevant to the office as required.
LICENSES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT:
Personal computers, printers; word processing, database management and spreadsheet software.
Required Qualifications REQUIRED:
1. Master’s degree in business, higher education administration, project management, or related field with a minimum of three years of project/program management experience OR, Bachelor’s degree in business, higher education administration, project management, or related field with a minimum of seven years of project/program management experience.
2. Demonstrated leadership experience in change management.
3. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
4. Demonstrated ability to analyze, summarize, and clearly present data to internal and external stakeholders.
5. Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.
6. Demonstrated ability to anticipate unique project issues and establish plans to remedy them in a timely and efficient manner.
7. Demonstrated organizational skills, issue resolution skills, and attention to detail.
8. Demonstrated ability to multitask and prioritize in a deadline-driven environment.
9. Demonstrated strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
10. Demonstrated proficiency in written communication skills.
11. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations.
12. Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Preferred Qualifications PREFERRED:
1. Demonstrated experience with program assessment.
2. Demonstrated experience in higher education or a non-profit organization (including experience managing projects to implementation).
3. Demonstrated experience with data analysis and presentation.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
Environmental Conditions The incumbent is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Posting Date 01/30/2025 Closing Date Special Instructions to Applicants Please attach the following 3 (PDF) documents to your online Employment Application:
(#1) Cover letter.
(#2) Resume.
(#3) Other Document – References – the names and contact information of three professional references. (Note: this document is required even though references may be listed on the application).
Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/14682 Applicant Documents Required Documents Cover Letter/Letter of Application Resume Other Document - References Optional Documents Supplemental Questions
Contact Phone/Extension Contact Email Physical Demands Campus Location Kingston Grant Funded No Extension Contingency Notes Job Description Summary The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by February 8, 2025. Applications received after February 8, 2025 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
About URI:
The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
BASIC FUNCTION:
Reporting to the Executive Director for URI Online, provide leadership for large-scale, complex initiatives that advance URI Online’s mission and growth. Drive the successful planning, execution, and assessment of key strategic projects while ensuring alignment with institutional goals. Serve as a trusted partner with leadership to translate strategic vision into actionable plans, leading cross-functional teams to implement transformative initiatives that enhance online education and student success. Provide deep project management expertise along with internal engagement strategies and consultation regarding unique resources, opportunities, and project roadmaps for expansion of strategic initiatives. Unite teams to achieve common goals through pioneering project management best practices, exemplifying a data driven approach, and effectively communicating information to a broad range of audiences across functions.
Duties and Responsibilities ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Design, enhance and lead a set of diversified projects that further the short- and long-term goals of URI Online.
Establish goals, action plans, and develop and track success metrics for URI Online operations and initiatives that are consistent with the unit and University strategic plans.
Direct the work of teams. Exercise effective communication and project management best practices to ensure organization of planning, timelines, information sharing, project goals, and achievement of success factors.
Monitor and measure project progress and identify when a course change or corrective action is necessary.
Ensure accountability for team member contributions.
Develop collaborative working relationships with a variety of departments and facilitates cross-departmental collaboration and partnership.
Enable strategic dialogues with senior-level stakeholders, articulate forward thinking concepts, visions, and action plans.
Maintain fiscal and contractual responsibilities. Oversee project budgets and identify areas for cost saving and efficiency.
Develop and execute comprehensive internal communication strategies across academic and administrative departments, creating compelling content while ensuring consistent messaging that aligns with the university’s mission and values and resonates with diverse internal audiences.
Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, from faculty and researchers to administrative staff and senior leadership, acting as a trusted communications advisor and facilitator of two-way dialogue. This involves ensuring regular retreats, town halls, feedback sessions, and creating channels for staff to voice concerns and ideas.
Lead staff engagement initiatives that foster a collaborative university culture, including developing recognition programs, organizing cross-departmental events, and measuring engagement through surveys and metrics; identify trends and recommend improvements to enhance workplace satisfaction and retention.
Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements. Participate in decisions that may have program-wide impact, affect staff in non-program areas, and bind the organization financially or legally.
Ensure programmatic commitments, University policies and procedures, financial standards and legal requirements are met and managed for compliance in coordination with Assistant Director, URI Online.
Develop situational knowledge to formulate clear processes that are both within and outside of the scope of subject matter expertise. Navigate uncertainty with poise, demonstrate attention to urgency, and make quick decisions with accuracy.
Lead teams to conduct feedback research and present data findings that inform future decisions. Educate teams on best practices for gathering and interpreting data, implementing surveys, and working with focus groups.
Keep abreast of trends and innovative practices in the University flexible education sphere. Develop internal and external networks, seek professional educational resources, and facilitate resource and knowledge sharing among staff.
Supervise and mentor Project Manager(s) and provide frequent direction, set priorities, review work, and provide constructive feedback.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Perform other duties relevant to the office as required.
LICENSES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT:
Personal computers, printers; word processing, database management and spreadsheet software.
Required Qualifications REQUIRED:
1. Master’s degree in business, higher education administration, project management, or related field with a minimum of three years of project/program management experience OR, Bachelor’s degree in business, higher education administration, project management, or related field with a minimum of seven years of project/program management experience.
2. Demonstrated leadership experience in change management.
3. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
4. Demonstrated ability to analyze, summarize, and clearly present data to internal and external stakeholders.
5. Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.
6. Demonstrated ability to anticipate unique project issues and establish plans to remedy them in a timely and efficient manner.
7. Demonstrated organizational skills, issue resolution skills, and attention to detail.
8. Demonstrated ability to multitask and prioritize in a deadline-driven environment.
9. Demonstrated strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
10. Demonstrated proficiency in written communication skills.
11. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations.
12. Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Preferred Qualifications PREFERRED:
1. Demonstrated experience with program assessment.
2. Demonstrated experience in higher education or a non-profit organization (including experience managing projects to implementation).
3. Demonstrated experience with data analysis and presentation.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
Environmental Conditions The incumbent is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Posting Date 01/30/2025 Closing Date Special Instructions to Applicants Please attach the following 3 (PDF) documents to your online Employment Application:
(#1) Cover letter.
(#2) Resume.
(#3) Other Document – References – the names and contact information of three professional references. (Note: this document is required even though references may be listed on the application).
Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/14682 Applicant Documents Required Documents Cover Letter/Letter of Application Resume Other Document - References Optional Documents Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* Do you have a Master’s degree in business, higher education administration, project management, or related field with a minimum of three years of project/program management experience OR, Bachelor’s degree in business, higher education administration, project management, or related field with a minimum of seven years of project/program management experience? Yes No * Do you have demonstrated leadership experience in change management? Yes No * Do you have demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders? Yes No * Do you have demonstrated ability to analyze, summarize, and clearly present data to internal and external stakeholders? Yes No * Do you have demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations? Yes No How did you hear about this employment opportunity? Public Job Posting Internal Job Posting Agency Referral Advertisement/Publication Personal Referral Website Other
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