Vice President of Strategic Initiatives

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 2025           

 FLSA STATUS:  Exempt

HOURS WORKED:  8:00 – 4:30, M-F, some evenings and weekends required              

The Vice President of Strategic Initiatives serves on the President's Cabinet and is responsible for working alongside the President to lead the execution of Crown College's strategic planning initiatives, coordinating the work of executive leadership to achieve strategic objectives and goals, coordinating the execution of strategic events and activities of the Office of the President, pursuing and developing new strategic initiatives for the College, overseeing Crown College and the Office of the President communications, and business/community/government relations.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

The Vice President of Strategic Initiatives reports to the President of the College.

SUPERVISORY FUNCTIONS:

The Vice President of Strategic Initiatives supervises the Director of Communications and may supervise student interns or employees as needed. 

EQUIPMENT/JOB LOCATION:

Work from an office at Crown College. Equipment used includes, but is not limited to, personal computer and required programs, printer, copy machines, and other equipment as the position requires. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:

• Reflect, articulate, and promote the mission, vision, and identity of Crown College.
• Serve on the President's Cabinet, providing wisdom and input in decisions made at the College.
• Work alongside the President to execute the five-year strategic plan and measure the institution's KPIs.
• Manage high-priority projects, programs, and events for the Office of the President to support organizational goals and achieve the mission and strategic vision across multiple divisions. One example is the Christian and Missionary Alliance annual visit.
• Identify and develop strategic partners aligning with Crown and Crown's objectives.
• Negotiate partnership agreements and terms with key stakeholders.
• Build and manage relationships with key contracts at partner organizations.
• Oversee the implementation and execution of partnership initiatives.
• Communicate partnership progress and results to internal Crown stakeholders.
• Partner with the President to develop the agenda and plan for the Board of Trustees' bi-annual meetings. Lead the execution of the details to ensure the meeting's success.
• Working with the Director of Communications as a direct report, develop and manage the President's internal and external communications, developing executive-level communications, including talks, speeches, reports, and presentations that appropriately reflect the President's voice, tone, and goals.
• Oversee the Director of Communications, who partners with other Cabinet leaders in significant communication efforts from their administrative areas and the College.
• Lead business, community, and government relations efforts to positively position the organization for current and future initiatives and activities.
• Represent the President at various civic, community, and professional organization meetings, functions, and events at the local, state, and national levels when delegated to do so.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested; duties may evolve.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

• Committed Christian faith, as demonstrated by integrating their faith into their daily lives. Stand in agreement with the college statement of faith and community covenant.
• Strategic thinking and ability to identify potential partnership opportunities aligned with Crown strategic objectives.
• Proven project management skills to oversee partnership implementation.
• Ability to lead the planning and execution of significant work, projects, and events.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; outstanding oral and written communication skills; strong planning and organizational skills.
• Have an entrepreneurial spirit, receive a big-picture vision for this role, and build it into something essential to Crown's success.
• Other Desired Skills – Analysis; assessment/evaluation; conceptualization and design; judgment; networking; collaboration; problem identification and resolution; project management; research.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree
• At least ten years of directly related administrative leadership experience in a college, university, church, or corporate environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (in addition to the above minimum qualifications):

• Doctoral Degree
• Ten plus years of demonstrated leadership in planning, organizing, and operating in an academic setting.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

•  Sit for extended periods of time.
• To have hand and arm (or equivalent) dexterity adequate to allow for extensive use of a keyboard for data entry.
• To talk and hear with enough proficiency to allow for communicating with co-workers and applicants by phone or in person.
• To have adequate vision to accommodate frequent viewing of computer screens.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds and infrequently lift or move up to 25 pounds.
• The noise level is usually low.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:

Crown College will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or status with regard to public assistance.

(The examples given above are intended only as illustrations of various types of work performed and are not necessarily all-inclusive. This position description is subject to change as the needs of the employer and requirements of the position change. Crown College reserves the right to change and/or eliminate any and all job duties as necessary.