Associate Director, California Strategic Initiatives

Job Profile: Administrative Operations Manager 3 Job Family: Administrative Operations Time Type: Full time Max Pay – Depends on experience: $125,000.00 USD Annual Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and seven (7) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field including two (2) years managerial experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved. Job Description: Do you have experience in higher education partnerships, academic operations, or regional strategy leadership? Have a passion to expand access to bachelor’s degrees, improve transfer outcomes, and strengthen student success pipelines? Enjoy frequent travel to California? Then this Associate Director, California Strategic Initiatives opportunity may be right for you! EdPlus at ASU is a dynamic unit of Arizona State University focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models to increase student success and reduce barriers to achievement in higher education. We advance the economic, social, cultural, and overall health of the local, national, and international communities served by ASU. Want to know more about working at EdPlus? Click here! We are seeking an experienced and passionate Associate Director, California Strategic Initiatives to join our team. As a critical leader, you will be responsible for guiding ASU’s statewide engagement strategy with California Community Colleges (CCCs). The CCCs system educates more than 2 million learners and is central to California’s workforce and economic development. As ASU expands its partnerships across the CCC system, you will serve as the day-to-day initiative lead and the face of ASU in California. You will build and maintain trusted relationships with college and district leaders; facilitate implementation efforts on the ground; and ensure that all partnership activities are aligned with ASU’s mission to expand access to bachelor’s degrees, improve transfer outcomes, and strengthen student success pipelines. This position is externally visible and travel-intensive, with regular in-state presence required for relationship-building, site visits, design sessions, convenings, and partner planning. The role balances operational coordination with strategic influence and works across teams to embed the California initiative into ASU’s broader academic portfolio strategy. Essential Duties: Serve as the primary point of contact and relationship lead for California Community College partners, district leaders, and system stakeholders. Travel frequently to California to represent ASU, host meetings, support local implementation, and deepen engagement with each partner campus and district. Lead day-to-day execution of ASU’s California roadmap, including CCC opt-ins, advising integration, scholarship workflows, and articulation alignment. Manage the statewide initiative timeline and ensure all key deliverables, milestones, and success metrics are met. Coordinate cross-functional teams—including Enrollment, Transfer Strategy, Partnership Operations, Student Services, and Academic Portfolio Management—to drive seamless implementation. Manage CCC-dedicated staff, including Portfolio Managers and Coordinators; provide direction, coaching, and oversight of regional activation efforts. Present regularly to internal and external audiences on California initiative progress, strategy, and opportunities. Continuously evaluate performance data, partner feedback, and statewide needs to evolve ASU’s approach and identify opportunities for scaling impact. Act as a trusted representative of ASU in convenings focused on transfer equity, college completion, and the economic and educational future of the state. Assume or coordinate other duties or projects as assigned or directed. NOTE: This is not a fully remote position. Must be able to reliably commute to Scottsdale Arizona. Desired Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred. Evidence of 6–8 years of experience in higher education partnerships, academic operations, or regional strategy leadership. Demonstrated experience working with or within California Community Colleges or large-scale regional education systems. Proven ability to manage staff, lead through influence, and drive partner-centered outcomes at scale. Demonstrated commitment to improving transfer access, closing degree gaps, and designing for economic mobility. Demonstrated willingness and ability to travel frequently throughout California (~25-40% of time) for site visits, executive meetings, and stakeholder engagement. NOTE: Please answer the following questions in your cover letter: Do you have the ability and willingness to travel ~ 25-40% of the time throughout California? Describe your ability to manage staff, lead through influence, and drive partner-centered outcomes at scale. Salary & Benefits: $95,000 - $125,000 per year, DOE ASU offers a total compensation package that includes valuable employee benefits. Click here to explore options. Healthcare Financial Security Retirement Family Resources Tuition Reduction (Eligible ASU Employee, their dependents and spouse.) Discounts Working Environment: Your desk will be in the beautiful, cutting-edge, and collaborative workspace at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center. The Center houses a business community that links technology, research, education, and entrepreneurship to position ASU and Greater Phoenix as global leaders in the knowledge economy. EdPlus at ASU supports flexible work options, ranging from alternate work schedules to hybrid remote work schedules, subject to approvals per ASU policy. (This is NOT a fully remote position.) Applicant must be eligible to work in the United States. EdPlus at ASU will not be a sponsor for this position. Department Statement: EdPlus defines itself through a culture of curiosity, risk-taking and refusing to accept the status quo. As a central enterprise unit for ASU focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models to increase student success and reduce barriers to achievement in higher education, our commitments support the University charter. ASU is a national service university and aspires to accelerate positive social outcomes through the seamless integration of cutting-edge technological innovation and scalability. EdPlus employees are valued, respected, and encouraged to be their unique selves. We know that our ability to deliver high-quality services and educational experiences is strengthened by our culture. Our innovative approach drives outcomes through serving learners, achieving milestones, striving for excellence, solving problems, embracing urgency, and being bold. EdPlus at ASU Driving Requirement: Driving is not required for this position. Location: Off-Campus: Scottsdale Funding: No Federal Funding Instructions to Apply: Current Employees and Students should apply directly within Workday using the Jobs Hub. Use this link and log in using SSO: https://www.myworkday.com/asu/d/inst/1$9925/9925$8921.htmld To be considered, your application must include all of the following attachments: Cover letter Resume/CV Note: Multiple documents can be submitted into the attachment box. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Please include all employment information in month/year format (e.g., 6/88 to 8/94), job title, job duties and name of employer for each position. Resume should clearly illustrate how prior knowledge and experience meets the Minimum and Desired qualifications of this position. NOTE: GA and Intern positions are counted as .5 for job experience (ie. 1 year equals 6 months experience equivalency). Only electronic applications are accepted for this position. Need help finding the right job? We can recommend jobs specifically for you! Create a custom Job Alert by selecting criteria that suit your career interests. ASU Statement: Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions inclusive excellence, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe. ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. Notice of Availability of the ASU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456. Relocation Assistance – For information about schools, housing child resources, neighborhoods, hospitals, community events, and taxes, visit https://cfo.asu.edu/az-resources. Employment Verification Statement: ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Background Check Statement: ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check. Fingerprint Check Statement: This position is considered safety/security sensitive and will include a fingerprint check. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the fingerprint check. Notice: If you are a Current Employee or Contingent Worker, please log into Workday to search for and apply to jobs using the Jobs Hub. Your application, if submitted using this portal, cannot be moved forward. About Arizona State University Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the country’s most innovative school, Arizona State University is where students and faculty work with NASA to develop, advance and lead innovations in space exploration.