Details
Open Date 12/15/2025
Requisition Number PRN43817B
Job Title OCHE Assistant Commissioner
Working Title Assistant Commissioner of Academic Affairs
Career Progression Track H
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
Typical office hours are 8am - 5pm, Monday - Friday
Hybrid position - 3 days in office.
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 $115,000 - $140,000 DOE
Close Date 01/15/2026
Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)
Job Summary
The Assistant Commissioner of Academic Affairs coordinates and supports academic affairs initiatives in the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education within the Utah System of Higher Education ( USHE ) to improve institutional and program quality, performance, and student outcomes.
Responsibilities
Manage and coordinate the statewide Majors Committees to ensure alignment of curriculum and student learning outcomes within the 36 major academic disciplines across the eight USHE degree-granting institutions.
Update and maintain all committee participant lists.
Work with the academic affairs team, Chief Academic Officers, and General Education Council to establish an annual agenda for committee meetings related to systemwide topics.
Schedule and facilitate meetings of each of the 36 committees each year.
Develop or update and distribute pre-meeting and post-meeting materials for all committees.
Communicate committee outcomes to appropriate stakeholders.
Ensure completion of all individual committee assignments each year.
Keep abreast of national best practices regarding exam equivalencies, prior learning related major courses, and other relevant matters.
Coordinate with other Academic Affairs staff to maintain the USHE Major Guide and the USHE Transfer Credit Guide.
Manage and coordinate the statewide general education Faculty Area Workgroups to ensure appropriate learning outcomes are recommended to the General Education Council.
Update and maintain workgroup participant lists.
Schedule and facilitate regular meetings of the various workgroups.
Develop or update and distribute pre-meeting and post-meeting materials for all workgroups.
Communicate workgroup meeting outcomes to appropriate stakeholders.
Communicate Faculty Area Workgroup outcomes to the General Education Council.
In collaboration with other Academic Affairs staff:
Support program governance across the system, including program planning, approval, and review.
Support other statewide academic groups (General Education Council, PLA Committee, Transfer Council, Council of Chief Academic Officers, etc.)
Contribute to achieving the goals of the Board of Higher Education's strategic plan.
Liaise with other staff within the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.
Engage with appropriate external stakeholders within the Utah secondary and postsecondary agencies and institutions.
Other duties as assigned.
Comments:
Typical office working conditions and hours with occasional meetings/events in the early morning, evenings, or weekends. Frequent local and statewide travel.
Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically required
Nearly Continuously: Office environment.
Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required
Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.
Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.
Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.
Minimum Qualifications
Equivalency Statement: One year of education can be substituted for one year of related work experience.
Qualifications & Education
Master's degree or equivalency. PhD Strongly Preferred.
8 years' experience in a related field, ideally in education leadership with oversight of programs and personnel.
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.
Facilitation skills, including the ability to effectively conduct meetings with large groups of subject-matter experts.
Autonomy and collaboration, including an ability to work independently and as a member of team.
Organizational aptitude, including the ability to manage complex projects and timelines.
High data literacy, including the capacity to identify patterns and trends.
Preferences
Doctoral degree strongly preferred.
Experience as a faculty member at a higher education institution.
Administrative and/or faculty leadership experience in higher education.
Experience working on issues related to curricular alignment, articulation, and transfer in higher education.
Experience developing and/or implementing policy, especially in a higher education @context
Type Benefited Staff
Special Instructions Summary
Additional Information
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS' post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patients.
All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action ( OEO /AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu
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