Executive Director Strategic Innovation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Executive Director of Innovation is a visionary leader responsible for advancing innovation, leading strategic institutional initiatives, and accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies that improve teaching, learning, operations, and community engagement across Forsyth Technical Community College.
Reporting to the Chief Officer of Innovation and the Future of Work, this position serves as a strategic partner, project leader, educator, and change agent, helping the College identify, prioritize, and successfully implement initiatives that prepare the institution for the future of work.
The Executive Director is a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

This position provides enterprise leadership for the planning, coordination, and implementation of institution-wide innovation initiatives, with artificial intelligence serving as a primary strategic focus.
The Executive Director collaborates with academic and administrative leaders to identify opportunities for process improvement, operational excellence, and transformational change through emerging technologies, innovative practices, and effective project management.

The Executive Director develops and delivers professional development programs, creates scalable learning resources, and partners with departments to build organizational capacity for innovation. Working closely with the Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence ( CTLE ), Human Resources, Information Technology, and institutional leaders, this position applies project management, change management, and continuous improvement methodologies to ensure successful implementation, adoption, and measurable outcomes for strategic initiatives.

Through visionary leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to ethical and responsible innovation, the Executive Director helps position Forsyth Technical Community College as a recognized leader in preparing students, employees, and the institution for the evolving future of work.

Minimum Qualifications

You must possess the following:

• Associate’s Degree
• Five or more years of experience in higher education, workforce development, instructional technology, or organizational change management.
• Extensive knowledge of generative AI tools and their applications in instructional and/or operational contexts.
• Experience developing and delivering professional development programs for adult learners.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and working across academic and administrative units.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including ability to present complex technical conceptsto non-technical audiences.

Degrees and hours must be from a college accredited by a United States Department of Education

accepted accrediting agency such as SACSCOC

Preferred Qualifications

We would prefer you also possess:

• Master’s in a relevant field.
• Experience at a community college or open-access institution.
• Experience presenting at state, regional, or national conferences.
• Certification in AI, project management, or change management.
• Experience in preparing and delivering quarterly reports to executive management
• Experience in Design Thinking, Project and Change Management

• Lead Strategic Innovation and Project Portfolio Management
• Provide enterprise leadership for the planning, prioritization, governance, and implementation of strategic innovation initiatives that advance the College’s Vision 2030 and Future of Work priorities.
• Develop project charters, implementation roadmaps, timelines, resource plans, and success metrics for institution-wide initiatives.
• Establish project governance, monitor progress, manage risks, and ensure strategic initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with institutional objectives.
• Facilitate cross-functional project teams, executive steering committees, and stakeholder engagement throughout the project lifecycle.
• Apply project management and organizational change management methodologies to support successful implementation and long-term adoption of new initiatives.
• Lead Institutional AI Implementation
  • Develop and execute strategies that accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across academic and administrative units.
  • Identify opportunities where AI can improve productivity, student success, employee effectiveness, and institutional performance.
  • Serve as the college’s primary implementation leader for AI initiatives under the direction of the Chief Officer of Innovation and the Future of Work.
  • Support the creation and disbursement of AI Literacy
• Develop a Culture of Innovation
  • Foster a college-wide culture that embraces innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement.
  • Inspire employees to identify opportunities for innovation and support them in moving ideas from concept to implementation.
  • Promote ethical, responsible, and human-centered use of artificial intelligence.
• Design and Deliver AI Education
  • Develop and facilitate engaging workshops, seminars, and professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, students, and community partners.
  • Create online training modules, recorded sessions, and resource libraries to expand access to AI education.
  • Work collaboratively with CTLE , Human Resources, and academic leadership to integrate AI learning into professional development.
• Serve as an Internal Innovation Consultant
  • Partner with departments to analyze existing workflows and identify opportunities for AI-enabled process improvements.
  • Facilitate innovation sessions, design-thinking workshops, and solution development activities.
  • Recommend practical AI tools and implementation strategies aligned with departmental goals.
• Benchmark and Measure Impact
  • Assess current business and academic processes prior to implementation.
  • Develop key performance indicators to measure improvements in efficiency, quality, customer service, student outcomes, and employee productivity.
  • Prepare reports demonstrating the return on investment of AI and innovation initiatives on a quarterly basis.
• Research Emerging Technologies
  • Monitor developments in artificial intelligence, higher education innovation, workforce trends, and educational technology.
  • Benchmark leading colleges, universities, and industries to identify emerging best practices.
  • Recommend new technologies and pilot projects aligned with the college’s strategic priorities.
  • Coordinate with the Strategic Management team, identifying signals that will lead to disruption.
• Manage multiple innovation projects simultaneously.
• Facilitate cross-functional implementation teams.
• Ensure projects remain aligned with Vision 2030 and institutional priorities.
• Represent the College
  • Present at local, state, and national conferences.
  • Build partnerships with industry, government, educational organizations, and technology companies.
  • Position Forsyth Technical Community College as a national leader in AI implementation and innovation.
  • Member of Forsyth Tech’s AI Council

• Increase AI adoption across academic and administrative departments.
• Number of employees and students trained in AI competencies.
• Documented time or cost savings from AI implementations.
• Improvement in student success or employee productivity through AI-enabled solutions.
• Number of innovation projects successfully implemented.
• Development of an institutional AI resource library, on-demand training
• National presentations, publications, or recognitions.
• Employee engagement related to a culture of innovation.
• New partnerships with AI and technology organizations.
• Advancement of Forsyth Tech’s reputation as a national model for responsible AI implementation.

At Forsyth Tech, we cultivate a culture of belonging where every member—students, staff, and faculty—is valued, respected, accepted, and encouraged to be their true and authentic self and to share the voice of their unique characteristics and experiences.

Physical Demands

Physical Demands: (Standard)

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

• The employee will need to regularly operate and use computers, phones, and other electronic equipment.
• The employee will frequently communicate and must be able to exchange accurate information with others.
• The employee may need to move around their office and/or campus to attend meetings/ classes and to access files, machinery, or other job-related tools.
• The employee may need to lift and/or move equipment, tools, or paperwork up to 25 pounds.
• The employee may need to position themselves by reaching, stooping, kneeling, or crouching in order to adjust or collect equipment and/or supplies.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and in outside weather conditions and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Encounters low to moderate noise levels in the work environment.

Open Date 09/03/2026

Close Date 09/18/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• Do you have an Associate's degree or higher?
  • Yes
  • No
• Do you have five or more years of expereince in higher education, workforce development, instructional technology, or organizational change management?
  • Yes
  • No
• Do you have extensive knowledge of generative AI tools and their applications in instructional and/or operationalcontexts?
  • Yes
  • No