Project Director- Innovation Hub

Overview

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education seeks an entrepreneurial Project Director to join our team as a lead on innovation projects through the DHE’s Innovation Hub. This role advances the Department’s innovation agenda by managing key projects, fostering collaboration, and driving system-level change initiatives that enhance equity and student success across the Commonwealth’s public higher education system. Reporting to the Chief Innovation Officer, the Project Director will serve as a key member of a dedicated innovation function within the DHE, coordinating projects, tracking progress, and ensuring successful execution of innovation work. This position requires strong project management, analytical, and entrepreneurial skills with the ability to work quickly and with limited structure. This role supports systems-level and multi-institutional innovations that complement campus-based efforts and promote learner success and equity across the Commonwealth.

Please Note : This position is funded through the DHE’s Innovation Hub Trust Fund through June 15, 2028. Continued employment is contingent upon ongoing grant funding.

Responsibilities / Essential Job Functions

• Project management : Plan, coordinate, and execute assigned innovation projects from initiation to completion. Monitor and report on project progress, resolving issues and adjusting plans as needed.
• Reporting and data : Collect, clean, analyze, and synthesize data from partners for strategic insights and internal and external reporting.
• Relationship building : Develop and maintain strong working relationships with agency staff, campus partners, policymakers, and external partners to accomplish work.
• Communications : Support the development and execution of key innovation deliverables, including strategy and facilitation decks for key partners, pitch decks, policy briefs and backgrounders, grant reports, and board presentations.
• Strategic data analysis : Collaborate with senior leadership and partners around key performance indicators, leveraging public and private data to drive insight into innovation opportunities and focus areas.
• Research : Conduct primary and secondary research in support of the innovation agenda.
• Management : Train, supervise, and mentor full-time staff, interns, research assistants, and others as needed.

Competencies / Skills and Abilities

Qualifications

Preferred Qualification : 5 to 7 years of professional experience across higher education, innovation, policy, strategy / technology consulting, and / or research and evaluation.

To Apply

Interested candidates should include the following with their application :

Reporting and Location

Experience & Substitutions

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or equivalent experience in business administration, public administration, or related fields, or (B) an equivalent combination of required experience and substitutions below.

Salary placement is determined by years of experience and education related to the position per Human Resources Recruiting Guidelines.

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered a suite of employee benefits. We are committed to providing a work experience that supports you and your family.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage applicants who believe they have the necessary skills to thrive to apply.

Official Title : Program Manager V

Job Details

If you have Diversity or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : Ferdousi Faruque – 781-338-6108

Bargaining Unit : M99-Managers (EXE). Confidential : No. Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule : Yes.

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