Job Description

Starting salary within the salary range will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.
The anticipated starting salary will be $180,000-$220,000

OSU-Cascades is seeking a Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position.

The Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives will assist and advise the Chancellor and Dean by providing research, planning, and direction for major strategic initiatives and projects that formally engage external partners (private sector and governmental) as assigned. This position is critical because of the need for OSU-Cascades to be effectively engaged in supporting economic development in Central Oregon and building opportunities for faculty and staff to work with those external partners. The position will provide a trusted partner for private sector and governmental entities in Central Oregon and Oregon to engage with and will work collaboratively with academic and administrative leadership at OSU-Cascades.

OSU-Cascades, located in Bend, Oregon, is the newest campus of Oregon State University. The campus currently enrolls more than 1,200 students in bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree programs. The campus has ambitious enrollment goals to reach 3,000 students and is engaged in building a culturally diverse and community-centric educational and research environment. The Senior Advisor will be instrumental in identifying strategies for development of the OSU-Cascades campus, including the Innovation District and successful partnerships with public and private entities.

Responsibilities

70%. Strategic project planning and execution involving external partners.

The Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives will assist and advise the Chancellor and Dean, in partnership with the operations, construction, and business teams, by providing research, planning, and direction for major strategic initiatives and projects that formally engage external partners (private sector and governmental) as assigned. This position is critical because of the need for OSU-Cascades to be effectively engaged in supporting economic development in Central Oregon and building opportunities for faculty and staff to work with those external partners. The initial focus of the position will be:

Plan programs for the Innovation District as an economic development endeavor that successfully attracts investment in, and co-location of, businesses and start-ups focused on product development, translational research, innovative enterprise and added value to OSU-Cascades students while ensuring the Innovation District and campus is inviting to and utilized by the community including:

Work with OSU leadership and business, capital, and operations staff to attract prospective clients and develop relationships which lead to economic development opportunities locating in the Innovation District.
Establish and maintain relationships within and outside the region to generate qualified prospects and assist with client handling.
Align the goals with OSU’s statewide innovation ecosystem.
Identify and pursue anchor tenants for the Innovation District with clear financial models for initial and subsequent development, in collaboration with university financial, facilities, and operations staff.
Develop, with OSU-Cascades and OSU staff, a financially feasible development and operating strategy including operations, contracting, and successive phases.
Support the Capital Planning and Construction team in private/public tenant and development partner solicitation for the Innovation District and the OSU-Cascades campus.
Identify and pursue potential funding for the development and expansion of the Innovation District through government, non-profit and private sector sources.

Coordinate OSU’s participation in the state-funded Innovation Hub (or its equivalent) including identifying the role for the OSU-Cascades Co-Lab or its successor.

Identify metrics to be used to assess the progress and impact of the Innovation District.

Coordinate and participate in sales trips, trade shows, conventions, and seminars relevant to the development of the Innovation District.

Work with marketing and communications to communicate with Central Oregon about the Innovation District and to identify a vision for community assets that might be appropriately integrated with the OSU-Cascades campus.

Work in collaboration with OSU’s Provost Office to:

Align with statewide innovation and enterprise assets and programming.
Position the Innovation District as a key part of OSU’s innovation strategy.
Foster collaborations with college, school, and department leaders to identify programs that would benefit from partnerships in the Innovation District.

20%. Leadership Planning and Engagement

The Senior Advisor serves as a member of the Chancellor and Dean’s senior leadership team and works closely with relevant academic and administrative leaders and external stakeholders in visioning, planning, and executing major external-facing projects and initiatives. Works closely with leadership in capital planning and facilities and academic programs in aligning strategic initiatives with external partners with OSU-Cascades vision and mission.

10% Duties as Assigned by the Chancellor and Dean

Minimum Qualifications

At least 5 years of experience leading strategic development initiatives for public and/or private sector projects.
Demonstrated experience in planning and executing multi-year, high-value public/private partnerships with multiple stakeholders.
Demonstrated effectiveness in partnering with private sector businesses, public agencies, and elected officials.
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline
Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity
Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to foster collaboration and trust; ability to inspire others to high levels of performance.
This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional experience leading strategic development and initiatives for public and/or private sector projects.
Familiarity with the private and public sector environment in Central Oregon, as well as Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
Experience leading collaborative teams with indirect supervision or authority.
Experience with successful business innovation or startup projects.
Knowledge of site selection factors for potential corporate partners, including real estate and labor requirements, as well as incentive programs.
Demonstrated ability working with or in a higher education institution.
Experience with business development or sales.
Experience fostering partnerships between industry and academic researchers.