Announcement

Details

Open Date
09/04/2026

Requisition Number
PRN46142B

Job Title
OCHE Sr. Assistant Commissioner

Working Title
Sr. Assistant Commissioner for Academic & Technical Education

Career Progression Track
I

Track Level

FLSA Code
Executive

Patient Sensitive Job Code?
No

Standard Hours per Week
40

Full Time or Part Time?
Full Time

Shift
Day

Work Schedule Summary

8am - 5pm, Monday thru Friday, Hybrid.

VP Area
President

Department
01379 - USHE Commissioner

Location
Office of the Commissioner - Downtown SLC

City
Salt Lake City, UT

Type of Recruitment
External Posting

Pay Rate Range
$170,000 - $180,000 - Depending on experience

Close Date
10/01/2026

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)
09/15/2026

Job Summary

The Senior Assistant Commissioner serves as a senior advisor to the Associate Commissioner for Academic and Technical Education and provides strategic leadership for statewide initiatives that strengthen institutional collaboration, instructional quality, faculty engagement, and long-term program planning across the Utah System of Higher Education.

Working collaboratively with provosts, deans, faculty leaders, and administrators, the Senior Assistant Commissioner helps identify emerging programmatic opportunities, facilitates cross-institutional collaboration, and develops strategies that strengthen program excellence while respecting the unique mission of each institution.

Unlike operational positions responsible for committee coordination and policy implementation, this role focuses on strategic relationships, academic and technical program innovation, institutional alignment, and long-range planning.

Responsibilities

System Strategy, Alignment, and Program Governance

• Lead statewide efforts that strengthen horizontal alignment across USHE degree-granting and technical education institutions through curricular alignment, faculty collaboration, transfer pathways, and program quality.
• Conduct strategic reviews of academic and technical education programs and institutional portfolios to evaluate quality, workforce relevance, student demand, mission alignment, and long-term sustainability.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen institutional missions through collaboration, specialization, shared delivery models, and innovative program offerings.
• Analyze emerging trends in higher education, workforce needs, technology, artificial intelligence, research, and instructional innovation to inform statewide program planning.
• Develop strategic recommendations for the Associate Commissioner and Utah Board of Higher Education regarding program priorities and development.
• Support implementation of Board priorities related to institutional collaboration, learner mobility, and program excellence.

Faculty Leadership, Shared Governance, and Program Innovation

• Develop strong relationships with Faculty Senate leadership and other faculty governance organizations.
• Advise the Associate Commissioner regarding emerging faculty issues, institutional concerns, and opportunities for collaboration.
• Support statewide discussions and lead initiatives related to faculty development, shared governance, interdisciplinary collaboration, academic freedom, workload, tenure, instructional excellence, and program innovation.

Institutional Engagement and Collaboration

• Support relationships with chief academic and instructional officers, vice provosts, deans, faculty leaders, and administrators across Utah's public colleges and universities.
• Build collaborative partnerships that strengthen communication between institutions and the Office of the Commissioner.
• Facilitate conversations that build consensus around complex issues while respecting institutional missions and autonomy.
• Support institutional efforts related to accreditation, continuous improvement, student learning, and evidence-based educational practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

DISCLAIMER

OCHE has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and primary duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and OCHE reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as OCHE may deem appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Master's degree or equivalent work experience in a related field required (one year of education can be substituted for one year of related work experience).
• 12 years' professional experience in a related field.
• Progressive leadership experience as a program director, department chair, dean, associate provost, provost, or equivalent in a higher education institution.
• Experience building collaborative relationships across multiple institutions.
• Demonstrated success leading institution-wide programmatic initiatives.
• Familiarity with technical education programs and workforce development.
• Strong understanding of shared governance, accreditation, curriculum, faculty affairs, and program quality.

Skills & Abilities:

• Leadership and executive competency, including emotional intelligence, vulnerability, situational awareness, and accountability.
• Interpersonal and communication skills, including eloquence, empathy, diplomacy, trustworthiness, and wit.
• Thinking and problem-solving skills, including cognitive flexibility, sense-making, and resilience.
• Work ethic and motivation, including initiative, candor, learning agility, and humility.
• Autonomy and collaboration, including an ability to work independently and as a member of team.

Preferences

• Terminal degree strongly preferred.
• Experience in collaborating with leaders and faculty at research universities, regional universities, community colleges, and technical colleges.
• System-level higher education experience.
• Experience with statewide program planning.
• National involvement in higher education-oriented professional organizations.
• Demonstrated success leading program innovation and organizational change.

Type
Benefited Staff

Special Instructions Summary

Additional Information