Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives

Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives
Arizona State University
Campus: Tempe
JR119515

End Date: May 2, 2026

Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and five (5) 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 Profile Summary

Manages the intermediate to complex operations of a department within the division. Monitors budget, implements strategic priorities, and prepares reports for senior management.

As Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives within ASU’s Learning Enterprise (LE), this role partners with senior leaders, shaping and positioning high-priority initiatives across the enterprise as they relate to external funding activities. This role is at the center of high-priority initiatives and plays a key role in shaping how ASU’s Learning Enterprise is understood and supported by funding partners for the purpose of advancing impact and growth.

With strong presence, refined communication skills and demonstrated experience in supporting funding partner engagement and collaborating across complex organizations, this role represents ASU in high‑stakes settings, writes strong communications, delivers polished presentations, and ensures every initiative is framed with clarity, confidence, and coherence. The career opportunity is to become a trusted leader who directly and measurably contributes to the advancement of ASU's Charter.

This role is based at ASU’s Tempe campus. A fingerprint background check is a mandatory step in the hiring process.

Position Salary Range: $80,000‑$90,000 per year, DOE

Essential Duties

• Shape and position enterprise initiatives for external funder engagements
• Work directly with senior leaders and initiative leads to shape and define scope, goals, milestones and funding needs.
• Align related funded initiatives across the portfolio to ensure clarity in communication and to avoid duplication.
• Identify risks, misalignment, or missing inputs early and recommend specific corrective actions.
• Frame, draft and edit materials including memos, funder decks, concept and proposal documents, executive updates, and talking points.
• Ensure all materials follow a clear objective and are written for a defined audience. Materials have outcomes clearly identified, follow a logical structure, include milestones, and projections and measurements. All budgets presented to external audiences are aligned on and approved by internal partners.
• Drive external funding readiness
• Align initiatives with funder priorities and investment themes and lead project teams which include development and initiative leads.
• Prepare senior leaders for funder meetings by clarifying key messages, likely questions, and defined asks.
• Oversee development of external reports and updates to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment with commitments.
• Shape and execute established processes for briefing, material review, and cross team coordination related to funder engagement.
• Support senior leadership alignment
• Develop briefing materials for executive meetings, board updates, and external engagements.
• Structure executive discussions with clear objectives, decision points, and follow up actions.
• Document and proactively communicate decisions and translate them into updated initiative plans and supporting materials.
• Maintain consistent messaging across leadership forums and priority initiatives.

Other duties as assigned.

Desired Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in strategy, consulting, executive communications, higher education, nonprofit leadership, or related roles involving complex, cross-functional work.
• Demonstrated experience working closely with senior leaders to shape priorities, prepare high‑stakes materials, or support strategic decision‑making.
• Strong strategic thinker who can connect ideas across initiatives, identify gaps or risks, and translate complexity into clear direction.
• Clear, persuasive writer with experience developing compelling materials for executive or external audiences (e.g., funders, boards, institutional leaders).
• Confident presenter who can represent work thoughtfully in a variety of settings.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity, bringing structure to evolving ideas, and exercising sound judgment to anticipate challenges and propose practical solutions.

Working Environment

• Activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding and manipulating a computer mouse; required to stand for varying lengths of time and walk moderate distances to perform work.
• Frequent bending, reaching, lifting, pushing and pulling up to 25 pounds.
• Regular activities require ability to quickly change priorities, which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts.
• May be required to perform tasks in the field within and/or across University campuses.
• Ability to clearly communicate to perform essential functions.

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.