NAU aims to be the nation’s preeminent engine of opportunity, vehicle of economic mobility, and driver of social impact by delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond.

• This position is a hybrid position which allows the incumbent to complete their work at both an NAU site, campus, or facility and at a non-centralized site with or without accommodation.
• This position is subject to the availability of funding. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice.
• This position is posted as Delivery Lead, which is a working title. The NAU system title for this position is Business and Educational Partnerships Director.
• Two (2) positions are available and may require more than 40 hours per week and/or work hours outside the normal 8-5 business hours in order to accommodate mandated deadlines. This position has a hybrid option, with the primary location being either Phoenix or Flagstaff. The job may require up to 35% travel to statewide sites and partner locations.

Northern Arizona University’s Office of Economic Mobility and Social Impact (EMSI) is focused on amplifying the postsecondary value of a NAU degree by organizing and strengthening the educational ecosystem of the state by creating the New NAU system. The purpose of creating the New NAU system is to accelerate progress in key cross-divisional, multi-campus efforts geared to broaden participation, increase completion rates, reduce time to degree, improve post-college outcomes, drive upward economic mobility, promote affordability, and ensure that NAU graduates become educated, empowered, and engaged members of their communities, among others. To do this, EMSI strengthens existing programs and partnerships, designs and orchestrates the creation of innovative initiatives, and supports their implementation.

The Arizona Attainment Alliance (A++) is the first of such efforts. A++ represents the beginnings of a new kind of higher education ecosystem that is based on bringing together a complex, large-scale coalition of willing and distinct institutions to address the statewide attainment imperative through collective impact. Together, this group of inaugural participants aims to help dramatically increase college access and attainment throughout the state of Arizona. This will be achieved by strengthening the higher education pipeline and boosting the immediate college-going rate of high school graduates; creating a curated portfolio of high-quality, industry-certified seamless multi-modal academic pathways; co-designing a unified academic and career support ecosystem; and engaging private sector leaders to help harmonize the value of a college-degree with workforce demands.

The Delivery Lead is a key member of EMSI. Tasked with the orchestration of the creation of the New NAU System and A++, in addition to other key strategic EMSI initiatives, the Delivery lead is charged with the day-to-day execution of the work of the Alliance and other key partners. The Delivery Lead will work within NAU and across our network of partners to solve problems, build consensus, and implement policies and programs that impact Arizonans.

Key responsibilities of the Delivery Lead include: building relationships, establishing trust, and exerting influence among diverse stakeholders in the public and private sector; facilitating and coaching partners through effective meetings and workshops that work towards consensus-driven problem solving and solution building; model and analyze data, turning it into actionable insights; write and present clearly; project management and prioritization; breaking down problems and identifying root causes before developing hypotheses and solutions; and navigating an environment that is simultaneously ambiguous and complex while moving coalitions to a focus on shared goals.

Strategic Planning

• Partner with university leadership to implement innovative solutions to department issues.
• Ensures adherence to state laws and ABOR and university policy when interacting with business and educational partners and other stakeholders/constituents.
• Promotes a culture of evidence through a commitment to data-informed decision making that informs current and future efforts.
• Facilitates the strategic integration of university wide and partner efforts to amplify impact.

Implementation and Delivery

• Works with internal and external stakeholders to define aspirations and goals.
• Develops the mechanisms to understand and strengthen implementation capacity.
• Partners with stakeholders to create the infrastructure to monitor and track progress.
• Leverages data to evaluate past and present performance and its drivers and sets targets and trajectories.
• Establishes routines to drive and monitor performance and maintain momentum.
• Builds system capacity and communicates the value of programs and initiatives.
• Organizes work around key strategic priorities for NAU and EMSI.

Data-Informed Decision Making

• Knowledge and familiarity with major public and statewide data sources spanning K-12, higher education, workforce, and demography, and their strengths and limitations.
• Experience with collecting and analyzing loosely structured data sources, including qualitative data.
• Understanding of descriptive and more sophisticated statistical and visualization techniques.
• Ability to review and analyze complex data sets to identify patterns, interpret them, hypothesize about root causes, and suggest actions.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis software, such as R, STATA, and/or SAS.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.

Facilitation and Coordination

• Plans large-scale meetings or engagements in advance with an emphasis on clear learning outcomes, next steps, and mutual accountability.
• Designs engagement opportunities that are inclusive and focused on defining clear aspirations and priorities, understanding existing and needed capacities, and focused on action.
• Active listening and synthesis on complex input from diverse stakeholders.
• Establishes a safe and collaborative environment for sharing.
• Communicates clearly and effectively leveraging evidence across multiple mediums.

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field.
• 5-7 years of related experience.
• 3-5 years of experience managing and facilitation.
• Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

• Master’s degree in relevant field.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of industry trends in business and educational partnerships in higher education.
• Knowledge of publicly available data and potential use cases.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in student development programs and services.
• Demonstrated knowledge of national trends and best practices in fields of higher education strategy and policy, and academic and career success.

Skills

• Project management skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in the facilitation and coaching of large and complex initiatives.
• Conflict resolution and customer service skills.
• Planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills.
• Data analysis and interpretation.
• Implementation and planning.
• Facilitation and Communication.
• Strong organizational skill, with the ability to set priorities, manage multiple demands, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Abilities

• Coordinates team members and allocates tasks.
• Ability to build relationships and coordinate large coalitions.
• Communicates, writes, and presents concisely and effectively.
• Manages relationships and large coalitions.
• Analyzes complex situations and anticipates issues.
• Promotes a diverse, inclusive environment.
• Demonstrated use of data-informed decision-making for enhancing institutional and faculty/staff effectiveness and promoting student success.
• Ability to function with a high degree of autonomy, productivity, and innovation.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements. Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States. Finally, each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Anticipated salary range is $95,809 - $119,761. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

This is a Service Professional (SPF) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program; 22 days of vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified dependents. More information on benefits at NAU is available on the Human Resources benefits website. NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus. Service Professionals are hired on a contract basis, renewable each 6 months according to terms of the Conditions of Professional Service. Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's BCBS Plan). New employees are eligible for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31 days from their start date to enroll in benefits. If a new employee chooses the ASRS retirement option, participation in the Arizona State Retirement System, and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it, will begin on the first of the pay period following 6 months after the new employee's start date. New employees who choose to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), which is an alternative to the ASRS plan for faculty and other appointed staff, will begin to participate on the first day of the pay period following election. Additionally, the long-term disability plan that accompanies the ORP will begin on the first day of the pay period following election.

Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to be completed within the first 30 days.

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

April 10, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the "Submit" button by midnight of the application deadline. If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on the Human Resources website or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

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NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.