POSITION DETAILS

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens , LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.
Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020).Please visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

The Director of Strategic Initiatives serves as a key leader in the Office of the Provost, driving academic initiatives that align with institutional priorities and advance LaGuardia’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, especially its Teaching and Learning goals. This role is responsible for facilitating the design, implementation, and ongoing assessment of initiatives that promote student success, with an emphasis on:

• Ensuring students build the competencies, skills, and dispositions needed for success in education and careers;
• Ensuring all students benefit from meaningful academic advising; and
• Increasing transfer rates to four-year institutions.

The Director plays a central role in project management and institutional planning efforts, including tracking progress toward strategic goals, using academic data to inform decision-making, and coordinating cross-campus efforts that improve student outcomes. Reporting to the Provost, the Director will be responsible for the following:

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & INSTITUTIONAL ALIGNMENT

• Collaborate with the Provost to drive strategic initiatives that align with the 2025–2029 Strategic Plan and accreditation requirements.
• Design and execute cross-functional initiatives with a focus on improving retention, degree completion, and transfer outcomes.
• Lead project management efforts related to strategic priorities, including setting timelines, coordinating resources, and tracking milestones and deliverables.
• Promote the use of academic and institutional data to identify barriers to student progression and inform resource allocation.
• Build capacity to grow a culture of continuous improvement and increase institutional use of data in decision-making and resource allocation.
• Serve as a point of contact for department chairs, faculty, and staff seeking guidance, support, or information from the Office of the Provost.
• Ensure that Academic Affairs is strategically leveraging technology to collaborate and communicate effectively internally and in providing support to faculty, staff, and students.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree and eight years’ relevant experience required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree or Ph.D.in higher education administration, public administration, policy, or a related field preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in higher education, with demonstrated success in strategic planning, academic initiatives, or student success programming.
• Deep knowledge of higher education transfer systems and partnership development.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale academic or institutional projects with measurable outcomes.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and track progress against goals.
• Experience with grant writing, budgeting, and resource allocation for academic initiatives.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong data analysis and reporting capabilities; ability to use data for continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with student success frameworks and academic support systems.
• Commitment to equity-driven leadership and the mission of community colleges.
• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively.

• Ensuring students build the competencies, skills, and dispositions needed for success in education and careers;
• Ensuring all students benefit from meaningful academic advising; and
• Increasing transfer rates to four-year institutions