ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

In Higher Ed Jobs (NOW HIRING)

HireEducation

This is a full-cycle, quota-carrying role for a sharp, motivated closer with deep knowledge of the higher ed space and a passion for mission-driven work. If you have... * 5+ years of experience in ...

HireEducation

Requirements: * 3+ years of full-cycle B2B sales experience in higher education technology or ... Experience selling consultative, longer-cycle SaaS or technology solutions into higher ed, ideally ...

Inside Higher Ed

Account Executive - Hybrid

Washington, DC · Hybrid

$65K/yr

Inside Higher Ed is owned by Times Higher Education (THE), the world's most authoritative source of ... The Account Executive will play a critical role in achieving our revenue objectives and expanding ...

New

Workday

OR · On-site

Many of us previously worked in Higher Ed, and we understand the realities of shared governance, academic calendars, and public or public-adjacent organizations. We also value creating sustainable ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

People also search for

All JobsIn Higher Ed Jobs

In Higher Ed information

See salary details

$13

$21

$33

How much do in higher ed jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for in higher ed in the United States is $21.64, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $23.80 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in higher education roles, and why are they important?

To thrive in higher education roles, a strong background in your academic discipline, advanced degrees (typically a master's or doctorate), and experience in teaching or academic administration are essential. Familiarity with learning management systems (such as Canvas or Blackboard), data analysis software, and accreditation standards is often required. Outstanding communication, mentorship, and organizational skills help individuals stand out by fostering student engagement and effective collaboration with colleagues. These skills and qualifications are crucial for delivering quality education, supporting student success, and advancing institutional goals.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in higher education administration?

Professionals in higher education administration often navigate challenges such as balancing the diverse needs of students, faculty, and staff while ensuring compliance with institutional policies and external regulations. They may also face tight deadlines during enrollment periods and must adapt to evolving technologies and educational trends. Collaboration across departments is frequent, requiring strong communication and problem-solving skills to effectively support the institution's mission and goals.

What are jobs in higher education?

Jobs in higher education refer to the wide range of positions at colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions. These roles include faculty positions such as professors and lecturers, as well as administrative roles like admissions officers, academic advisors, financial aid specialists, and university presidents. Higher education jobs may also involve research, student affairs, IT support, and campus operations. The diversity of roles supports both the academic mission and the daily functioning of educational institutions.

What is the difference between In Higher Ed vs Academic Advisor?

AspectIn Higher EdAcademic Advisor
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree often required; master's preferredBachelor's degree typically required; master's advantageous
Work EnvironmentColleges and universitiesAcademic departments, student services offices
Employer & Industry UsageHigher education institutionsEducational institutions, colleges, universities
Common Search & ComparisonIn Higher Ed vs Academic Advisor

In Higher Ed generally refers to roles within the broader higher education sector, including faculty, administration, and support staff. An Academic Advisor is a specific role within Higher Ed focused on guiding students academically. While both roles operate within colleges and universities, In Higher Ed encompasses a wide range of positions, whereas Academic Advisor is specialized in student support and course planning.

More about In Higher Ed jobs
What cities are hiring for In Higher Ed jobs? Cities with the most In Higher Ed job openings:
What states have the most In Higher Ed jobs? States with the most job openings for In Higher Ed jobs include:
What job categories do people searching In Higher Ed jobs look for? The top searched job categories for In Higher Ed jobs are:
In Higher Ed jobs near you
Infographic showing various In Higher Ed job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $45,018 per year, or $21.6 per hour.
Principal Technology Strategist

Principal Technology Strategist

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, UT • On-site

$157K - $243.40K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Western Governors University rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 41 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

50th of 532 rated colleges and universities

Job description

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Grade: Technical 411Pay Range: $157,000.00 - $243,400.00

Job Description

The Principal Technology Strategist is an expert in higher education technology systems and processes, with deep expertise in higher-ed technology ecosystems and the higher-ed processes that are use them. This individual understands how complex higher-ed platforms, including learning management systems (LMS), student information systems (SIS), customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and other higher-ed systems are used by students and staff across the higher education technology landscape. The role is responsible for identifying and understanding issues across WGU higher-ed systems that currently prevent or limit the scalability, flexibility, and innovation that WGU leadership need to innovate and serve students better. This individual works directly for the VP of University Technology and partners with architecture, engineering, product management, business process leaders, and university leadership to design flexible, scalable, secure, and future-state solutions. This is a highly influential role requiring deep higher-ed tech fluency as well as strong domain expertise in higher education operations and online learning ecosystems.

Primary Responsibilities

Enterprise & Systems Architecture

  • Lead end-to-end analysis of complex higher education technology ecosystems, including LMS, SIS, CRM, and other higher-ed technology ecosystem platforms
  • Identify architectural gaps, integration challenges, technical debt, and scalability constraints across higher-ed systems
  • Define target-state architectures that support modern online learning environments
  • Serve as a thought leader and trusted advisor to executive leadership, translating market trends and learner insights into actionable strategy.

Higher Education Technology Domain Expertise

  • Serve as SME and consultant to product management, engineering, and academic leaders
  • Understand academic workflows including course lifecycle management, enrollment, grading, assessments, curriculum design, and credentialing
  • Partner with academic technology and institutional leadership to align technology capabilities with teaching, learning, and student success outcomes
  • Evaluate SIS, LMS, and CRM extensibility, interoperability, and integration with third-party education tools (e.g., proctoring, content authoring, video platforms, analytics tools)

Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Partner with Enterprise Architecture, Engineering, Product, Academic Affairs, Institutional Research, and IT leadership
  • Translate institutional and academic needs into scalable technical architectures and roadmaps
  • Influence strategic multi-year higher-ed platform modernization strategies
  • Provide technical advisory support to senior leadership on platform decisions and vendor evaluations
  • Represent WGU at industry sector meetings, advisory boards, and strategic partnership discussions.

Modernization & Innovation

  • Evaluate and recommend emerging higher-ed technologies
  • Identify opportunities to improve student experience, faculty experience, and operational efficiency through technology
  • Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Higher Education Systems Expertise (LMS, SIS, Academic Technology Ecosystems)
  • Enterprise Architecture & Systems Thinking
  • Digital Learning & Student Experience Design
  • Strategic Technical Leadership
  • Cross-Functional Influence & Stakeholder Management
  • Translating Academic Needs into Technical Solutions

Education

  • Master's degree from an accredited institution.

Experience

  • 15+ years of experience in education technology, digital transformation, or strategic program leadership.
  • Deep fluency in higher education markets, particularly online, non-credit, and competency-based programs.
  • Deep domain expertise in higher education technology ecosystems, including LMS and SIS platforms
  • Demonstrated success managing complex portfolios of technology initiatives within or alongside higher education institutions.
  • Exceptional communication, facilitation, and stakeholder alignment skills across technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Strong understanding of higher education workflows: admissions, enrollment, course delivery, grading, advising, and credentialing
  • Proven ability to build and lead high-performing, cross-functional teams and initiatives.
  • Strong background in vendor management, partnership strategy, and cross-functional leadership.
  • Experience with AI-powered tools and automations in an educational or enterprise context.

Preferred Qualifications

  • PhD or Doctoral Degree
  • Industry recognition, publications, or thought leadership in ed-tech or higher education transformation.
  • Familiarity with Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI), IMS Global standards, or similar education interoperability frameworks
  • Background in instructional technology, academic technology, or educational data systems

Physical Requirements:

  • Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
  • Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Working Condition:

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.

What Western Governors University employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply