Institutional Strategist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Assistant Vice President for Strategy & Institutional Engagement
Job no: 560916
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: Bakersfield
Categories: MPP, Administrative, At-Will, Full Time, On-site (work in-person at business location)
CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Administrator III
UNION CODE: M80
FT/PT: Full-time
PAY PLAN: 12-month
WORKPLACE TYPE: On-site (work in-person at business location)
ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: $13,416 - $15,000

• However, offer amount will be commensurate with candidate's experience, education, skills, and training.

CSU CLASSIFICATION SALARY RANGE: $6,891 - $22,119
PAY BASIS: Monthly
BENEFITS: CSUB offers a best-in-class benefit package for eligible employees that includes an array of medical plans, choice of dental plans, vision coverage, retirement participation in CalPERS, CSU tuition waiver, up to 24 vacation days per year, sick leave with unlimited accrual, 15 paid holidays per year and more! See our benefits website for additional information.
CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO APPLY: Open to all qualified applicants
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT: FOR PRIORITY CONSIDERATION, applications must be received by September 25, 2026; however, the position will remain open until filled.
POSITION PURPOSE: Reporting directly to the President for strategic direction, with a dotted line to the President's Chief of Staff for operational activities, the Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Strategy & Institutional Engagement provides executive-level leadership, strategic planning, and organizational oversight for high-priority institutional initiatives that advance the University's mission, strategic plan, and long-term priorities. The AVP serves as a principal advisor to senior leadership and acts independently within broad organizational guidelines to lead complex, cross-divisional initiatives with campus-wide impact.
The AVP is responsible for ensuring enterprise strategy across multiple campus initiatives, developing and implementing institution-wide policies and frameworks, leading organizational change efforts, and facilitating collaboration among executive leaders, campus stakeholders, the Chancellor's Office, and external partners. The position serves as a key catalyst for institutional effectiveness, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Operating with broad independence and significant executive responsibility, the Assistant Vice President provides leadership for initiatives that advance the University's mission, vision, and long-term strategic priorities.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Planning & Leadership

1. Lead the development and ongoing refinement of institutional strategies, priorities, and initiatives across multiple divisions, colleges, and administrative units that advance the University's mission, strategic plan, and executive leadership objectives.
2. Collaborate with executive leadership to establish governance structures, implementation plans, and accountability frameworks to support successful execution of institutional priorities and ensure alignment with CSU system policies, Chancellor's Office directives, accreditation requirements, and applicable regulations.
3. Lead multidisciplinary teams and facilitate collaboration among executive leadership, administrators, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders to advance strategic objectives.
4. Align strategic initiatives across divisions to ensure integration of institutional priorities, policies, programs, and operational objectives.
5. Serve as the central point of coordination for campus-wide initiatives requiring executive sponsorship and cross-functional participation.
6. Participate in the development, interpretation, implementation, and administration of campus-wide policies, procedures, and strategic initiatives.

Executive Advising & Assessment

1. Serve as a principal advisor to executive leadership on strategic opportunities, institutional challenges, emerging issues, and long-term organizational priorities.
2. Partner with Institutional Research and other data-focused units to evaluate internal and external trends affecting higher education and assess institutional performance.
3. Develop and maintain institutional performance measures, key performance indicators, dashboards, and reporting structures used to evaluate strategic plan progress and organizational effectiveness.
4. Establish assessment methodologies to evaluate initiative outcomes, program effectiveness, and achievement of strategic objectives.
5. Prepare executive briefings, reports, and presentations to support cabinet-level decision making and strategic planning discussions.
6. Provide executive leadership with data-informed analyses and recommendations to support evidence-based decision making.
7. Monitor achievement of strategic objectives and recommend policy, operational, or resource adjustments to improve organizational performance.
8. Promote a culture of accountability, assessment, and continuous organizational improvement through performance monitoring and evaluation practices.

Change Management

1. Lead change management efforts associated with major institutional initiatives and organizational transformation activities.
2. Develop stakeholder engagement, communication, and implementation strategies that support successful organizational change and adoption.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of strategic initiatives and organizational change efforts and advise executive leadership regarding organizational readiness, stakeholder impacts, and change management strategies.
4. Monitor implementation progress, identify organizational barriers, and implement corrective actions necessary to achieve established goals and timelines.
5. Lead efforts to identify operational efficiencies, process improvements, and organizational innovations that enhance institutional effectiveness.

External Relations & Organizational Change

1. Serve as a principal representative of the University in CSU systemwide initiatives, statewide collaborations, and external partnerships related to strategic priorities.
2. Represent executive leadership in meetings, committees, task forces, and collaborative initiatives involving governmental agencies, external organizations, and professional associations.
3. Coordinate institutional participation in Chancellor's Office initiatives and other systemwide strategic programs.
4. Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with external partners, educational institutions, community organizations, governmental agencies, and professional associations.
5. Identify and support opportunities for strategic partnerships, external funding, and collaborative initiatives that advance campus priorities which include workforce development, economic development, educational opportunity, research, and community engagement.
6. Support the development and implementation of collaborative initiatives that strengthen institutional partnerships and advance strategic goals.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE - Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education administration, strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, institutional research, public administration, project management or closely related field. Experience should also include leading complex, cross-functional initiatives with significant organizational impact.
LICENSES - Possession of a valid driver's license or the ability to obtain by date of hire.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES (SKA's) -

• Regular and reliable attendance is required.
• Comprehensive knowledge of strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and change management principles, including the ability to develop, implement, and evaluate institution-wide strategies, initiatives, and operational frameworks.
• Comprehensive knowledge of higher education administration, shared governance, accreditation requirements, and applicable CSU policies, procedures, and organizational structures.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex organizational, operational, and policy issues; evaluate alternatives; and develop data-informed recommendations that support executive decision making and institutional priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate large-scale, cross-functional initiatives involving multiple divisions, stakeholder groups, and competing priorities while ensuring accountability for results.
• Exceptional interpersonal, facilitation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish collaborative partnerships, build consensus, and influence outcomes among executive leaders, faculty, staff, external organizations, and governmental entities.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences through executive-level presentations, reports, policy recommendations, and strategic communications involving complex and sensitive matters.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, political acumen, and discretion in managing highly sensitive, confidential, and institutionally significant issues with broad organizational impact.
• Ability to think strategically and apply a systems perspective when evaluating institutional priorities, organizational challenges, and emerging opportunities; recognizing interdependencies across functions and developing integrated solutions that advance campus goals.
• Ability to work effectively in dynamic and evolving environments; establish direction in the absence of complete information; prioritize competing demands; and drive implementation of strategic initiatives through successful completion.
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of high level and sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts and problems.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to interpret, communicate and apply policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent computer skills and competence with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, on-line systems, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.
• Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure.
• Must be willing to travel and attend training programs off-site for occasional professional development.
• Must be able to work occasional holidays and adjust working hours to meet special jobs. May be called back periodically to perform work as needed on an emergency basis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree or doctorate in Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or related field.
• Experience within the California State University system or other large public university.
• Knowledge of shared governance, accreditation processes, and higher education policy environments.
• Experience representing an organization before executive, governmental, or external stakeholder groups.
• Familiarity with strategic frameworks (OKRs, KPIs, balanced scorecards)
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment possessing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: LIGHT WORK - involves mainly sitting, up to 25% standing or walking; lifting medium weight objects limited to 25 pounds.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: N/A
SPECIAL CONDITIONS:
SCREENING: Only those applicants possessing experience most directly related to the immediate needs of the office will be invited to appear before a Qualifications Appraisal Board for the purpose of appraising training, experience, and interest in the position.
BACKGROUND CHECK: Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.
Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last seven years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant's current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
SENSITIVE