The salary range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

Current WGU employees should submit an internal application before 4/9/2024 to be considered.

This position is based in the Salt Lake City, UT office. The role requires the flexibility to work from the Salt Lake City office as needed, according to business demands.

Reporting to the Vice President of Academic Programs and Portfolio Management, the Senior Director for General Education is responsible for developing and executing a bold new vision and strategy for General Education. This leader will develop a new industry-leading General Education program rooted in high-value skills and competencies relevant to the future of work. This role will focus on the Rising Talent population by expanding WGU's market-relevant programs and curricular opportunities that offer more varied onramps to education, widening the pathways to opportunity for all. This individual will lead innovation and strategy in three critical areas: academic product development, industry research and insights, and partnership expansion. This individual is a champion for a new General Education and the future of work for internal and external audiences. This individual applies industry standards and processes to achieve accreditation and licensure requirements. The leader will effectively influence change in a highly matrixed organization while working with leadership and functional managers to ensure business strategy and initiatives are delivered on time and within budget.

This key leadership position supports WGU's key results of 1) Factored Graduate Return, 2) Completion, and 3) Equity in Access and Attainment. This individual sets curricular and support requirements for the General Education program and is accountable for student and program performance outcomes.

The position requires focused leadership on refining, repositioning, and innovating its current products, services, and strategic insights. This role requires strong entrepreneurial drive, flexibility, creativity, a high tolerance for ambiguity and change, and the ability to build excellent working relationships with leaders across multiple schools and university practices. It also requires a unique blend of operational skills, academic credibility, and creativity.

Responsibilities:

General Education Strategy

• Create and execute a new vision and strategy for General Education, aligning with WGU's overall goals and objectives.

• Identify and execute new programs and curricular offerings that support WGU's Rising Talent strategy.

• Create business cases for new and revised program offerings, including defining the program requirements, market viability, priority, and student success outcomes that guide drafting the program concept and proposal.

• Maintain strategic oversight of the program roadmap and implementation plans.

• Set targets on key performance indicators and provide clear and effective leadership to school and cross-functional partners to achieve strategic goals.

• Assume accountability for the overall performance and success of general education curriculum and programs.

• Partner with cross-school and WGU Academy leadership to determine potential new offerings and ensure the existing portfolio maintains the highest quality and relevancy.

• Monitor program performance, recommend improvements based on student feedback, performance, and industry trends, and execute tactical and operational plans for improvement.

• Develop strong relationships with industry professionals and organizations to enhance networking and promote the program's reputation.

• Build and facilitate an industry-leading General Education Council to gather insights on workforce trends to ensure the program remains competitive and innovative.

• Oversee and ensure accreditation, program review, and other important processes for continuously improving the college's activities.

• Develop new policies that strengthen the General Education Program based on university-wide feedback, assessment data, and best practices and are properly implemented.

• Promote WGU's vision for General Education through external engagement and thought leadership, including speeches, articles, interviews, and events.

• Manage the General Education program's budget and fiscal responsibilities and provide guidance and insights to the cross-functional budgetary owners for financial impacts on departments, management, portfolios/programs, faculty, and staff.

• Assume accountability for department and program-level P&Ls.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Organizational Leadership

• Build a highly effective strategy and operations team that ensures program and initiative effectiveness, success, and impact.

• Contribute to advancing WGU's culture and practices, consistent with its brand, differentiation, and desired employee experience.

• Promote a creative culture that fosters industry-leading innovation and organizational impact.

• Create an exciting, dynamic, and sustainable work environment that pulls in and retains top talent.

Required Skills & Competencies:

• Mission-Driven - Demonstrates continuous commitment to creating pathways to opportunity for students and employees.

• Student-Focused - Always keeps students at the center of what we do and why we do it. Makes decisions and guides efforts to improve and expand value for students and employers.

• Strategic Thinking - Applies broad strategic direction with the vision to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities at the scale of the world.

• Thinks Big/Innovation - Formulates a bold vision, thinks toward the future, and inspires results. Fosters creative thinking and brings innovation successfully to market.

• Execution- and Results-Oriented - Exhibits exceptional skill and demonstrated success in delivering and improving results in credential value and student success outcomes. Ensures execution and accountability throughout the team.

• Team and Individual Development - Defines success in terms of the whole team; creates a feeling of belonging; hires and develops mission- and culture-aligned top talent and future WGU leaders.

• Unassailable Integrity - Exemplifies the standards for honesty, teamwork, transparency, and accountability, motivating team members to the highest levels of commitment and personal responsibility.

• Leadership - Inspires, motivates, and wins the confidence of team members, senior leadership, stakeholders, and external partners.

• Earns Trust - Clearly articulates WGU's purpose, mission, vision, goals, and solutions internally and externally. Motivates and inspires others to action. Delivers on commitments.

• Great Judgement - Works well with ambiguity and change in a fast-paced environment; exhibits good instincts and willingness to make tough decisions with incomplete data.

Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree (or equivalent) with 10+ years of demonstrated leadership and success in a comparable position.

Experience:

• Vast experience of over 10+ years in leadership positions.

• 7+ years leading a team of directors and/or managers.

• Diverse experience in general education, program development, skills- and competency-based models, data analytics, student experience, and accreditation requirements.

• Experience in defining and implementing new education programs at scale.

• Experience leading large teams in dynamic and complex organizations.

• Experience working in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment and across multiple stakeholders. Experience presenting to large audiences.

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As an equal opportunity employer, WGU recognizes that our strength lies in our people. We are committed to diversity.