Vice President for Innovation and Workforce

Job Description Position Summary Campbellsville University seeks a visionary, entrepreneurial, and collaborative leader to serve as Vice President for Innovation & Workforce Strategy. This executive level position will provide strategic leadership for institutional innovation, workforce development initiatives, certificate and alternative educational programming, employer partnerships, and growth-oriented strategic initiatives. The Vice President will help position the university for long-term sustainability and regional impact by identifying emerging educational opportunities, expanding workforce-ready programs, strengthening employer and community partnerships, and supporting innovative approaches to enrollment growth and educational delivery. The Vice President will provide disciplined leadership in evaluating, prioritizing, and implementing strategic initiatives, ensuring that institutional resources, timing, operational capacity, and mission alignment are carefully considered in decision-making. The role requires ingenuity in planning and design, operational efficiency in execution, and strategic discipline in funding, implementation, and long-term sustainability. This role is designed for a leader who can move ideas into implementation, cultivate strategic partnerships, identify future-focused opportunities, and help the university adapt to the evolving needs of students, employers, and communities. The Vice President serves as a member of the President's Cabinet and reports directly to the President. Primary Areas of Responsibility Institutional Innovation & Strategic Growth Lead university innovation initiatives that strengthen institutional relevance, adaptability, and long-term sustainability. Identify emerging educational, workforce, and community opportunities aligned with the university's mission and regional needs. Evaluate and prioritize new initiatives, projects, and growth opportunities based on strategic alignment, operational readiness, institutional timing, financial sustainability, and mission impact. Support development of new workforce-ready programs, certificates, microcredentials, and alternative educational pathways. Demonstrate ingenuity in the planning, design, and development of innovative educational models, operational strategies, and institutional growth initiatives. Help shape institutional strategy related to nontraditional learners, adult education, and market-responsive programming. Promote a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the university. Work collaboratively across university departments to identify operational efficiencies, eliminate duplication, strengthen resource stewardship, and uncover opportunities for institutional growth and effectiveness. Design and support operational strategies that advance the mission, long-term sustainability, and strategic objectives of the university. Identify and capture operational savings and efficiencies that may be redirected toward strategic institutional priorities and future growth initiatives. Collaborate with university leadership on strategic initiatives and long-range planning efforts. Workforce Development & Employer Partnerships Provide strategic oversight for workforce development initiatives, certificate programs, and career-focused educational offerings. Lead strategic enrollment growth initiatives within workforce development, certificate, and alternative educational programs. Support enrollment growth within workforce and technical education programs including areas such as cosmetology, barbering, welding, HVAC, aesthetics, healthcare-related training, and future workforce-oriented disciplines. Support the design and launch of new workforce-ready programs aligned with emerging labor market demands and regional economic opportunities. Build and strengthen partnerships with local businesses, industries, healthcare organizations, manufacturers, school systems, and community leaders. Develop customized employer training partnerships and workforce upskilling opportunities. Identify regional labor market needs and strategically align university programming, enrollment growth initiatives, and workforce investments with current and future workforce demand. Apply disciplined strategic filtering and operational evaluation processes to ensure workforce initiatives align with institutional priorities, operational capacity, financial sustainability, and market demand. Explore grant opportunities, strategic partnerships, and external funding sources that support workforce initiatives. Represent the university in workforce, economic development, and community partnership discussions. Cross-Institutional Leadership Serve as a collaborative member of the President's Executive Leadership Team/Cabinet and contribute to university-wide strategic planning and decision-making. Lead cross-functional initiatives requiring coordination across academic and operational divisions. Provide leadership in the implementation, communication, measurement, and achievement of institutional strategic plan initiatives. Use data-informed decision making to evaluate program effectiveness, enrollment trends, workforce opportunities, and institutional priorities. Clearly communicate strategic priorities, implementation expectations, and measurable outcomes across university departments and leadership teams. Develop systems and processes for tracking progress toward strategic goals, measuring institutional effectiveness, and identifying next steps for continuous strategic advancement. Lead and facilitate planning discussions related to future institutional priorities, innovation opportunities, and long-range strategic direction. Use data-informed decision making to evaluate program effectiveness, enrollment trends, operational efficiency, workforce opportunities, strategic alignment, and institutional priorities. Collaborate with academic leadership, enrollment management, advancement, and other university divisions to support institutional goals. Advance initiatives consistent with the university's Christian mission and institutional values. Desired Leadership Profile The university seeks a leader who is: entrepreneurial and action-oriented, collaborative and relationship-driven, strategic yet operationally aware, externally engaged and community-minded, innovative while mission-centered, and capable of leading institutional growth with humility and credibility. The successful candidate will possess the ability to build trust across diverse constituencies while moving initiatives from concept to execution. The successful candidate will also demonstrate strong judgment in prioritization, disciplined execution of strategic initiatives, operational awareness, and the ability to balance innovation with responsible stewardship of institutional resources. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree required. Significant leadership experience in higher education, workforce development, continuing education, organizational innovation, economic development, or related fields. Demonstrated success leading growth initiatives, developing new programs, or expanding educational offerings. Experience building partnerships with employers, industries, community organizations, or external stakeholders. Strong understanding of workforce trends, adult learning, and alternative educational pathways. Experience supervising teams and leading through collaboration. Demonstrated ability to think strategically while effectively managing implementation and execution. Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills. Commitment to the mission and values of Campbellsville University. Key Success Indicators Growth in workforce and certificate program enrollment Development of new workforce-ready educational programs Increased employer and community partnerships Expanded customized training initiatives Enhanced institutional innovation and adaptability Successful implementation and measurable progress toward institutional strategic plan goals Development of sustainable operational strategies that support institutional mission and growth Successful prioritization and implementation of high-impact strategic initiatives Increased operational efficiency and effective stewardship of university resources Improved cross-departmental collaboration and institutional alignment Increased external funding or grant opportunities Advancement of the university's mission and regional impact Campbellsville University is a comprehensive, Christian institution that offers non-credit technical programs, along with certificates, associates, undergraduate and graduate programs. The university is dedicated to academic excellence solidly grounded in the liberal arts that fosters personal growth, integrity and professional preparation within a caring environment. The university prepares students as Christian servant leaders for life-long learning, continued scholarship by linking discovery research to knowledge at the doctoral level, and active participation in a diverse, global society.