Project Director - Innovation Hub

Project Director

The Education Secretariat is committed to equity and valuing the unique and diverse characteristics and experiences of every member of its workforce. We encourage an authentic workplace where colleagues show up as their full selves, where collaboration, innovation, and connections are key to realizing our mission that all children, youth, and families thrive socially, academically, and economically. We seek teammates who are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, where everyone is valued and engaged. We encourage you to apply and identify your strengths in these areas.

The Massachusetts Public Higher Education System (System) enrolls approximately 260,000 students in credit-bearing programs annually. The System consists of 15 community colleges, 9 state universities, and 5 University of Massachusetts (UMass) campuses. The Board of Higher Education (BHE) has coordination and oversight responsibilities for the entire System, and the BHE together with each respective Board of Trustees, expects all students, faculty, and staff to be held to exacting standards in the performance of their roles and responsibilities.

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (Board or BHE) is the Commonwealths higher education authority with coordinating and regulatory responsibility for all public and private higher education institutions operating in the Commonwealth that are authorized to grant degrees. The BHE is staffed by the Department of Higher Education (DHE), which is run by a Commissioner who serves as the executive and administrative head of the department. Together, the BHE and DHE are the leading voice and advocate for postsecondary education in the Commonwealth. In addition, the BHE and DHEs authority includes administering state financial aid and federal grant programs; managing and responding to consumer complaints; conducting financial assessments of institutions; managing employee relations and benefits for public higher education employees; managing collective bargaining contracts with state university and community colleges employees; and approving degree-granting authority for all public and most private higher education institutions operating within the Commonwealth.

Currently, there are 80 private institutions of higher education operating in the Commonwealth and authorized to grant degrees. The BHE is staffed by its executive agency, the Department of Higher Education (DHE), which is run by Commissioner Ortega. The Department of Higher Education is committed to the Values of Equity, Accountability, Community, Empowerment, Intentionality, and Teamwork, and seeks applicants who value the full diversity of Massachusetts students and who share a sensitivity to and understanding of the academic, socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of the populations served.

We employ a hybrid hoteling work model with a fixed weekly team day schedule. The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education seeks an entrepreneurial Project Director to join our team as a lead on innovation projects through the DHEs Innovation Hub. This role plays a pivotal part in advancing the Departments innovation agenda by managing key projects, fostering collaboration, and driving system-level change initiatives that enhance equity and student success across the Commonwealths public higher education system.