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Working Title:

Vice President of Strategic Initiatives

Institution:

Minnesota State College Southeast

Classification Title:

MnSCU Administrator 7

Bargaining Unit / Union:

220: Minnesota State Administrator's Plan

City:

Red WingMSSE - Winona Campus

FLSA:

Job Exempt

Full Time / Part Time:

Full time

Employment Condition:

Unclassified - Unlimited Academic

Salary Range:

$100,328.00 - $160,965.00

Job Description

Reporting to the President and serving as a partner to the senior leadership team, the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives is the college’s advisor to the President on economic development and opportunities to build institutional capacity and momentum. The incumbent is responsible for leading, implementing, managing, and assessing initiatives that are integral to the mission and strategic forward-movement of the college. This position is responsible for the leadership of projects of key institutional importance, including strategic planning, Minnesota State system initiatives, marketing and communications, workforce education, and institutional advancement. Advancement responsibilities encompass the oversight of grants administration and development of strategic revenue-generating initiatives that support the college’s core mission and priorities. This is a leadership position that will interface with all internal and external stakeholders. Priority Application Deadline: November 3, 2025.

This position serves as an external connection to the college for businesses, economic development organizations, industry associations, nonprofit organizations, other universities and colleges, secondary schools (K-12), and local, state, and federal government agencies and related non-governmental organizations, and other constituencies. The position is charged with elevating Southeast’s presence and engagement in local, regional, national, and international communities. Helping to fulfill the organization's vision, mission, and goals, the position is charged with developing supportive broad-based, multi-sector, bi-partisan networks, and partnerships in support of Minnesota State College Southeast.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND RESULTS

Partner with the President to support community partnership development on behalf of the college, with a specific focus on emerging relationships.

Serve as the President’s representative to create and maintain strategic alliances with businesses, economic development entities, industry associations, corporations, nonprofit organizations, labor unions, other universities and colleges, secondary schools, local, state, and federal government agencies, and other constituencies.

Represent the college within the business community and with organizations having civic, labor, and economic development agendas, such as chambers of commerce, economic development councils, Minnesota job skills partnership, and the Minnesota Workforce Centers.

Represent Southeast at local, regional, national, and international events and meetings to increase organizational visibility, presence, and contributions.

Lead and support cross-functional projects, programs, and campaigns by identifying goals, determining the scope of projects, and working in concert with Southeast’s leadership team to establish schedules and allocate resources.

Oversee college foundation efforts, including fundraising, campaigns, alumni relations, and donor management functions.

Provide executive oversight of strategic revenue-generating plans developed by the Executive Director of Foundation and Development, ensuring alignment with the college’s mission-critical needs. Review and assess annual foundation goals including prospect discovery, donor engagement strategies, and proposal development.

Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director of Foundation and Development in engaging the foundation board of directors, offering guidance on the planning and development of initiatives, fundraising campaigns, scholarship programs, and diversified revenue strategies.

Support and advise the Executive Director of Foundation and Development in the recruitment, orientation, and development of the foundation board of directors, ensuring alignment with governance best practices and institutional priorities.

Provide high-level oversight of foundation operations through the supervision of the Executive Director of Foundation and Development. Ensure strategic alignment in areas such as campaign planning, donor relations, alumni engagement, project execution, and all other foundation responsibilities.

Collaborate with the President, Vice President of Finance and Administration, and Executive Director of Foundation and Development to guide the strategic growth of the foundation portfolio, including investments, campaigns, annual giving, and grant development.

Review and approve capital equipment requests prepared by the Executive Director of Foundation and Development. Ensure expenditures align with college policies and strategic priorities.

Oversee compliance with all regulatory requirements for grant-funded projects. Ensure collaboration with the Vice President of Finance and Administration in monitoring reporting and accountability standards. Oversee and monitor the submission of interim and final reports.

Provide strategic oversight and revenue accountability of the Workforce Education department.

Provide executive leadership and strategic oversight to the Workforce Education department, ensuring its programs and initiatives generate sustainable revenue in support of the college’s mission and meet the workforce education needs of the community.

Provide strategic oversight and guidance to the Director of Workforce Education in the development and delivery of high-impact professional (noncredit and credit) workforce education programs.

Guide the Workforce Education department in the development and implementation of a strategic business plan focused on Return on Investment (ROI), customer value, and measurable success. Mentor the Director of Workforce Education in the use of data analytics to measure departments’ effectiveness, analyze market trends, track competitor strategies, create systems and tools to support sales processes, monitor progress toward Key Performance Indicators, and scale other high-impact practices.

Advise and support the Director of Workforce Education in budget planning, set annual financial performance expectations, monitor outcomes and provide guidance to achieving revenue targets. Monitor financial sustainability and revenue growth strategies to ensure alignment with the college’s long-term objectives.

Support the Workforce Education department in efforts to deepen partnerships with employers across priority sectors, emphasizing demand-driven design and industry-aligned solutions.

Provide executive-level oversight of workforce education external communications. Ensure messaging and collateral materials effectively convey the college’s value proposition to business and industry partners.

Oversee the work of the Director of Apprenticeships and Dual Training through the Director of Workforce Education, ensuring programmatic alignment, performance accountability, and strategic integration across workforce initiatives.

Provide Strategic Oversight of the Marketing and Communications department

Provide executive-level oversight of the college’s marketing and communications strategy through the Executive Director of Communications and External Relations.

Ensure that all public relations, media buying, social media, web presence, marketing, design, and communications efforts align with institutional priorities and effectively promote the college’s mission and brand.

Oversee the work of the Executive Director of Communications and External Relations and other marketing and communications staff. Provide strategic guidance to ensure cohesive brand management, messaging, marketing strategy, and public engagement.

Support and develop the partnership between the Associate Dean of Enrollment Management, College Institutional Effectiveness Officer, and Executive Director of Communications and External Relations to develop and execute marketing and communication strategies that support enrollment growth.

Serve as a spokesperson for the college, representing the institution with print, radio, and television media as appropriate, and supporting the Executive Director in managing media relations.

Provide strategic oversight of the college’s brand standards and ensure their consistent implementation across all platforms and materials, in collaboration with the Executive Director.

Guide the Executive Director in the development of marketing materials and campaigns that effectively engage diverse audiences, including prospective students (dual enrollment, graduating, and adult learners), community members, and business and industry partners.

**Lead strategic initiatives and institutional efforts key to the college’s growth.** Lead, facilitate, and assess the college’s annual workplan process in close collaboration with the College Institutional Effectiveness Officer and other key stakeholders across the college and community. Partner with Cabinet members to support the development of key planning processes across all functional areas of the college, such as the facilities comprehensive plan, equity and inclusion plan, academic plan, and other plans requiring substantial community input and involvement. Partner with Cabinet members to support system initiatives that require broad participation and in-depth processes, such as Equity 2030.

Provide planning, project management and leadership for short-term institutional projects and activities at the President’s direction, including but not limited to Convocation and President’s Advisory Council meetings. Actively participate as a member of the President’s Cabinet to the advancement of the organizational vision, mission, and goals.

Salary Range: $100,328.00-$140,569.00

Minimum Qualifications

+ Bachelor’s degree

+ 5–7 years higher education leadership experience

+ Demonstrated track record of identifying and engaging public and private sector strategic partners (individual or institutional) for the purpose of building and implementing effective collaborative initiatives

+ Demonstrated experience with project management

+ Development and fundraising experience with proven record of success

+ Supervisory experience with direct-report staff

+ Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and present to groups, verbally and in writing

+ Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships across a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including high profile individuals and diverse campus constituencies

+ Ability to travel frequently within the scope of the position

Preferred Qualification

+ Master’s degree in higher education or related field

+ 3 or more years of C-Suite experience in higher education

+ Demonstrated experience, knowledge, and skill in issues of equity and inclusion

+ A track record of success in fundraising and resource acquisition, including grant solicitation and management, work with foundations, private funding sources, and strategic partners

+ Experience using data-driven evidence and proven practices to analyze problems/issues and identify solutions

+ Demonstrated ability to work independently to successfully design, build, and execute projects and initiatives from idea through inception, with broad involvement from diverse constituencies

Work Shift: Monday-Friday

Telework: Telework available up to 1 day per week, subject to departmental needs.

About

Minnesota State College Southeast is an open-access, public, not-for-profit comprehensive technical and community college. Our campuses are located in the historic river towns of Red Wing and Winona, set sixty miles apart along the Mississippi. The two campuses have distinctive characteristics but are one college in structure, policies, procedures, and mission. Both campuses offer small class sizes, state-of-the-art facilities, and an environment that is friendly and supportive.

Benefits Information:

At Minnesota State, we have a GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Our generous benefits include 11 paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Time, six weeks of Paid Parental Leave, low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500), a Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options, pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, as well as professional development and a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents, etc. We promote the health and well-being of our employees and take work/life balance seriously.

Desired Start Date:

12-15-2025

Position End Date:

Open Date:

10-06-2025

Close Date:

Posting Contact Name:

Alecia Carol Spagnoletti

Posting Contact Email:

[email protected]