Title: Director of Strategic Initiatives

State Role Title: Prog Admin Manager III

Hiring Range: Commensurate with Experience

Pay Band: 6

Agency: Dept of Ed Central Operations

Location: RICHMOND 306

Agency Website: doe.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Education is looking for a Director of Strategic Initiatives to serve as the primary coordinator of the Agency’s internal strategic plan and steward of the Agency’s long-term vision. Reporting to the Chief of Staff and working closely with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Senior Leadership, this is a high-impact leadership role that is responsible for designing, launching, and managing implementation of a comprehensive four-year strategic plan for the Virginia Department of Education.

The Director of Strategic Initiatives would be expected to:

• Lead the collaborative development of a multi-year strategic roadmap, defining the agency's mission-critical goals and "North Star" objectives.
  
• Analyze stakeholder input and conduct, in partnership with Senior Leadership, additional stakeholder engagement, including with Board of Education, to ensure full buy-in for strategic plan.
  
• Partner with Senior Leadership to establish "Measures of Success" for each initiative with clear owners and associated deliverables, defining clear success criteria through quantitative data and qualitative milestones.
  
• Maintain a rigorous monitoring framework, such as executive dashboards or quarterly reviews, to track organizational progress against the four-year plan.
  
• Act as a high-level facilitator across internal departments to break down silos, align priorities, and ensure cross-functional buy-in.
  
• Identify, document and mitigate risks to project timelines or outcomes and partner with leadership to develop pivot strategies or resource reallocations.
  
• Translate complex data and organizational milestones into clear, actionable progress reports for the Superintendent, Board of Education, and legislative partners.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to work very collaboratively across agency departments and divisions to understand issues, goals, and strategic alignment of various initiatives.
  
• Demonstrated experience collecting and analyzing data in order to help communicate agency priorities, success and challenges to a wide range of audiences.
  

Additional Considerations

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, public administration, business administration, education policy, education leadership, or a related field. A Master’s degree or higher in Public Administration (MPA) Business Administration (MBA), Education Leadership, or Public Policy is preferred.
  
• Prior work experience developing, managing or monitoring strategic plans for large organizations, or similar experience executing high impact plans across complex and diffuse departments / partners.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Pursuant to Sections 2.2-3114 and 2.2-3115 of the Code of Virginia, the position of Deputy Superintendent of Assessment, Performance and School Improvement has been designated to file by the Code of Virginia, an annual “Statement of Economic Interests” form.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

A résumé will be accepted in lieu of a completed state application. Applications submitted via e-mail, postal service, fax or hand-delivered will not be considered. Successful candidates must pass a criminal background check. Commonwealth of Virginia employees may have teleworking options available. Final teleworking agreements will be reviewed and approved upon hire.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview process. For assistance call: (804) 225-2021, [TTY: 786-8389]

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and the VDOE that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. The Virginia Department of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity within its workforce.

Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: N/A

Email: humanresources@doe.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.