Executive Director of Academic & Ministry Strategic Innovations

Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Stewardship
  • Provide strategic leadership for the SI portfolio ensuring initiatives are mission-aligned theologically sound and appropriately sequenced
  • Determine which ideas advance to pilots which initiatives scale and which pause or concludeprotecting the Seminary from initiative overload
  • Ensure VIA Journeys and future initiatives align with institutional priorities grant commitments and long-term sustainability
    
    
• Governance Discernment & Guardrails
  • Establish and steward governance frameworks that clarify decision rights ethical boundaries and accountability
  • Provide theological and institutional oversight for innovation involving digital platforms technology or emerging tools
  • Ensure innovation proceeds at a pace that balances learning trust and impact
    
    
• VIA Journeys Strategic Oversight
  • Serve as a senior Seminary leader responsible for the strategic alignment of VIA Journeys
  • Partner with external consultants funders and ecosystem leaders to ensure coherence and credibility
  • Use insights from pilots research and evaluation to inform future phases and decisions
    
    
• Institutional & Ecosystem Alignment
  • Collaborate with Seminary leadership faculty Marketing Advancement and external partners to integrate innovation across the institution
  • Represent Wesley Seminary in high-level ministry academic and innovation contexts
    
    
• Team Leadership
  • Provide leadership and direction to SI staff including the Program Director and operational roles
  • Create clarity between strategic leadership and execution enabling staff to operate with focus and accountability
    
    
• Supervisory Responsibility
  • Supervises any part-time or full-time SI personnel

Qualifications:According to Indiana Wesleyan University employment policy all employees must possess a strong Christian commitment and adhere to the standards outlined in the IWU Community Lifestyle Statement.

Education

• Masters degree required (doctorate preferred) in theology ministry leadership education or related field

Experience

• Five to ten (5-10) years of significant leadership and entrepreneurial experience in the church higher education or a start-up business is preferred

Required Skills

• Demonstrated senior leadership experience overseeing complex multi-stakeholder initiatives
• Proven ability to lead through discernment governance and strategic clarity rather than direct control
• Strong systems thinking and institutional judgment
• Experience in stewarding grants partnerships or innovation portfolios
• Experience working at the intersection of academia ministry and organizational innovation
• Ability to guide emerging initiatives from early concept through commercialization and sustainability without mission drift

IWU Kingdom Diversity Statement

IWU in covenant with Gods reconciling work and in accordance with the Biblical principles of our historic Wesleyan tradition commits to build a community that reflects Kingdom diversity. We will foster an intentional environment for living teaching and learning which exhibits honor respect and dignity. Acknowledging visible or invisible differences our community authentically values each members earthly and eternal worth. We refute ignorance and isolation and embrace deliberate and courageous engagement that exhibits Christs commandment to love all humankind.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

As a religious educational institution operating under the auspices of The Wesleyan Church Indiana Wesleyan University is permitted and reserves the right to prefer employees on the basis of religion (42 U.S.C. Sections 2000e-1 and 2000e-2).

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities duties and skills required for the position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.