Vice President and Dean - School of Business

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

Job Description

The Vice President and Dean of the School of Business is an academic and operational leader dedicated to enhancing educational outcomes and student success across a diverse, competency-based portfolio. In collaboration with WGU’s cross-functional teams, this role holds end-to-end responsibility for the creation, expansion, and ownership of market-relevant programs, cultivating industry partnerships, and implementing strategies that drive student progress, retention, completion, and career success. Success in this role will be defined by the ability to design, build, and scale programs that align with student and industry needs, driving both educational and employment outcomes.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

P&L Ownership: Manage budget and financial performance, ensuring program growth and efficiency.
Student Success & Retention: Maintain a strong outcomes orientation, using data-driven insights to improve program quality and enhance student engagement.
Program Development & Market Relevance: Lead the creation of competency-based programs that respond to industry demands and maximize student career outcomes.
Strategic Partnerships: Develop and sustain partnerships with employers and industry leaders to enhance program visibility and connect students with career opportunities.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Drive collaboration with WGU’s shared service teams to support program goals and leverage diverse expertise.
Adaptability & Problem-Solving: Thrive in dynamic, matrixed environments, using strategic thinking to address challenges and optimize program impact.
Organizational Learning: Foster a culture of continuous improvement, using data and experimentation to refine program delivery and outcomes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Student-Centered Approach: Deep understanding of student learning needs, with a focus on designing supportive, market-aligned educational experiences.
Industry Leadership: Recognized expertise in relevant industry trends and educational advancements, positioning you as a credible voice in external partnerships.
Strategic Influence & Collaboration: Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, influence decisions, and build strong internal and external relationships.
Change Leadership: Embraces innovation and drives transformation to keep pace with industry and educational advancements.
Data-Driven Decision-Making: Skilled in using data to guide program improvements, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Executive Communication: Communicates effectively across all levels, using clear and impactful storytelling to engage stakeholders and present ideas persuasively.

Minimum Qualifications:
Master’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited institution.
Ten (10) years of relevant experience, with five (5) years in senior leadership roles involving program design, team management, and scaling educational initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:
Doctorate in a relevant field.
Extensive experience in higher education, online program development, or rapidly evolving organizational contexts.
Proven success in leading change and structuring complex, dynamic programs.
Physical Requirements:
Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally.

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.