Vice President, Faculty Mentor Strategy

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Job Profile Summary

The Vice President of Faculty Mentor Strategy at Western Governors University is instrumental in fostering a collaborative culture and strategic partnerships across the university to enhance mentoring systems.

This role is primarily focused on facilitating the design and implementation of mentoring practices through extensive collaboration with academic leadership, faculty mentors, and external experts.

Reporting directly to the Chief Academic Officer and Provost, the Vice President acts as a strategic advisor and catalyst, supporting the integration and optimization of mentorship programs.

The goal is to leverage shared knowledge and innovative approaches to promote academic, and professional growth of students, thereby advancing equitable student outcomes in alignment with WGU's strategic objectives.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Strategic Collaboration and Integration :
• Facilitate deep engagement with mentor leaders across WGU's Schools of Health, Education, Technology, and Business to promote consistent mentorship practices and alignment with overall academic strategies.
• Innovation in Mentoring Practices :
• Work cross-disciplinary with school leadership to design and pilot innovative mentoring practices, pulling in expertise from various academic and operational departments to ensure initiatives are both holistic and contextually adapted to diverse student needs.
• Engage academic and industry experts in iterative processes to refine mentoring approaches, making data-driven decisions that enhance the effectiveness and scalability of mentorship across the university.
• Operational Support and Consultative Guidance :
• Provide consultative support to each school's mentor leadership, assisting them in optimizing mentor-student interactions and the deployment of support resources.

Facilitate the sharing of best practices across schools to foster operational excellence.

• Coordinate with operational teams to develop and refine infrastructures that support mentoring activities, ensuring they are responsive to the dynamic needs of both mentors and students.
• Metrics Development and Continuous Evaluation :
• Work in partnership with institutional research teams and school leaders to develop and refine metrics that assess the impact of mentoring programs.

Ensure these metrics are used to drive continuous improvement and are aligned with the academic objectives of each school.

• Lead a collaborative review of program outcomes, engaging stakeholders from across the university to ensure mentoring strategies are informed by robust data and lead to actionable insights.
• Leadership by Influence and Team Development :
• Foster a culture of leadership through, influence, guiding, and mentoring team leaders within each school to develop their strategic planning and implementation skills.

Emphasize the development of soft skills such as communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

• Oversee the development of training programs that enhance the capabilities of mentor leaders across the university, ensuring they are equipped to handle the challenges of a dynamic academic environment.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Thought Leadership :
• Represent WGU in external forums, bringing insights back to the university and disseminating successful practices outward, enhancing the university's reputation as a leader in innovative education strategies.
• Build robust networks with external educational and professional bodies to leverage external innovations and thinking, integrating these into WGU's mentorship programs.
• Technology and Process Innovation :
• Collaborate with IT departments and academic leaders to identify and implement new technologies that support effective mentoring.

Ensure these technologies are seamlessly integrated into the daily operations of each school, enhancing the mentor and student experience.

• Guide cross-functional teams through the evaluation and adaptation of technological tools, ensuring they meet the specific needs of different academic programs and contribute to streamlined operations.
• Financial Management and Resource Allocation :
• Develop collaborative budgeting processes with finance and school leaders to ensure mentoring programs are well-funded and resources are judiciously allocated according to strategic priorities.
• Facilitate discussions around resource allocation, ensuring transparency and alignment with the strategic objectives of the university and the specific needs of each school.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Deep Expertise in Mentoring and Coaching : Possess a profound understanding of mentoring and coaching practices within the higher education context, capable of leveraging this knowledge to enhance faculty development and student success.
• Industry Knowledge : Well-versed in the dynamics of higher education institutions with specific experience in building and managing substantial faculty teams to drive educational innovation.
• Strategic Influence and Executive Presence : Demonstrated ability to engage and influence top management, faculty, and external stakeholders through excellent communication and persuasive leadership skills.
• Communication Excellence : Outstanding oral and written communication skills, adept at crafting clear and compelling messages for a variety of audiences.
• Analytical and Innovation Skills : Strong capability to analyze complex datasets, identify trends, and use this information to drive innovative practices and strategic decision-making.
• Leadership in Matrixed Environments : Proven effectiveness in navigating complex organizational structures, fostering collaboration across diverse teams to achieve strategic goals.
• Cross-functional Coordination : Excellent organizational skills with the ability to lead and synchronize activities and outcomes across various departments and teams.
• Relationship Building : Exceptional ability to cultivate relationships and exert influence at all organizational levels, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect.
• Development and Coaching : Skilled in mentoring and developing team members, enhancing their professional growth, and aligning their efforts with organizational objectives.
• Remote Team Management : Experience in leading remote teams, ensuring high performance and adherence to values of excellence, integrity, and respect.
• Technological Collaboration : Experience collaborating with technology teams to spearhead the adoption of new technologies that align with role-specific needs.
• Adaptability : Agile in adapting to change, capable of managing shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Financial and Analytical Acumen : Proficient in budget management and financial analysis with a strong ability to interpret and utilize data to inform strategic decisions.
• Quantitative Reasoning : Strong quantitative skills, able to utilize logical reasoning and data analysis to support decision-making and problem-solving.

Job Qualifications :

Minimum Qualifications :

• Master's degree from an accredited institution.
• 10+ years of related experience, with at least 8 years of management experience, typically in large, complex institutions.

Maximum Qualifications :

Doctorate degree in related field.

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WGU will accept applications for this position until 06 / 11 / 2024

How to apply : apply online

Full-time Regular Positions (FT classification, standard working hours 40)

• This is a full-time, regular position that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare;
• health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages;

legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and paid vacation, holidays, sick time, and parental leave.

The University is an equal opportunity employer.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.