Assistant Vice President of Workforce Innovation

Job Summary

The Assistant Vice President for Workforce Innovation provides senior leadership for Old Dominion University’s ( ODU ) revenue-generating workforce education enterprise. Building on the University’s existing Continuing Education foundation, the position is responsible for growing self-sustaining revenue through market-responsive continuing education, customized training, professional education, microcredentials, certificates, non-degree programs, employer-funded education, and degree-connected workforce pathways.

The position leads Workforce Innovation as a financially accountable unit focused on revenue growth, program viability, enrollment conversion, pricing strategy, partner-funded training, operational efficiency, and measurable return on investment. The role ensures that workforce offerings are aligned with market demand, employer and public-sector needs, adult learner demand, and ODU’s academic strengths, while also contributing positively to the University’s financial goals.

The position reports to the Associate Vice President and Chief Growth Marketing Officer and works through established University and Division of Digital Transformation and Technology shared-services processes and platform, including Growth Marketing, Organizational Development, and Digital Innovation. The Assistant Vice President retains primary accountability for revenue generation, pricing, program performance, delivery, and growth of the Workforce Innovation portfolio. The position coordinates with the Senior Associate Vice President for Corporate Partnerships when workforce education opportunities intersect with broader corporate relationships.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in higher education administration, business administration, workforce development, public administration, adult learning, organizational leadership, education, or a related field required or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.

• Considerable knowledge of continuing education, workforce development, customized training, adult learning, employer-funded education, flexible program delivery, revenue-generating education models, pricing strategy, enrollment conversion, workforce credentialing, contract administration, regulatory compliance, state authorization, and risk management processes.
• Ability to evaluate market demand, revenue potential, program cost, enrollment trends, pricing, partner funding, and financial performance to guide program development, growth, redesign, and discontinuation decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to build on existing programs while strengthening revenue generation, market responsiveness, operational effectiveness, academic collaboration, and financial sustainability. Ability to work effectively in a shared-services environment, coordinating with marketing, budget, instructional design, program development, enrollment, legal, procurement, academic, and student support teams.
• Strong leadership, supervision, communication, writing, proposal development, negotiation, sales-oriented problem solving, project management, diplomacy, and relationship-management skills. Ability to convert employer and learner needs into financially viable education and training solutions.
• Considerable knowledge of higher education agreements, regulatory considerations, accreditation expectations, workforce funding, and institutional policies affecting continuing education and workforce education. Ability to lead through organizational change, build internal credibility, exercise sound judgment, and advance ODU’s role as a financially sustainable workforce education provider.
• Significant progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education, continuing education, workforce development, professional education, customized training, corporate education, adult learning, online education, business development, academic administration, or a related area.
• Working experience developing, growing, or managing revenue-generating educational programs, customized training, employer-funded education, professional development offerings, certificates, non-degree programs, or workforce initiatives.
• Working experience with revenue goals, pricing, budgeting, program financial performance, enrollment growth, proposal development, contracts or agreements, and partner-funded training.
• Working experience supervising staff and working collaboratively with academic units, employers, public-sector agencies, nonprofit organizations, workforce partners, vendors, or community partners.

This is a remote position, which will require regular travel to campus. Due to travel requirements, budgetary constraints may limit where the successful candidate can reside. This position is required to complete a Statement of Personal Economic Interest upon hire in accordance with the Code of Virginia.

Preferred Qualifications

Leadership in a self-sustaining or revenue-generating university-based continuing education, professional education, workforce development, corporate learning, online learning, or related unit.

Conditions of Employment

This is a remote position, requiring a traditional 40-hour work week. Computer equipment will be supplied for remote work; high-speed internet is the responsibility of the employee.

• The equipment provided to staff with approved telework agreements enables them to deliver vital services to University faculty, staff, and students from remote locations.
• Many of our operations can and should continue as usual, even when the main physical campus is closed.
• Therefore, all division employees with an approved telework agreement are generally expected to work during official University closures.