Executive Director of Strategic Innovations (SI)

Get to Know our Client: Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU)

Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is a Christ-centered institution committed to transforming lives through higher education. With a rich history rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, IWU is dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and preparing students for meaningful careers. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, both on-campus and online, empowering students to pursue their calling in various fields, from healthcare and business to the arts and sciences.

Located in Marion, Indiana, with a strong online presence serving a global community, IWU is focused on fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that integrates faith with learning. Their innovative approach to education not only equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary for professional success but also nurtures their spiritual and personal growth.

IWU is passionate about its mission to create transformative leaders who impact the world with a Christ-centered perspective. Whether students are studying in person on the vibrant campus or virtually from around the world, IWU continues to inspire lifelong learning and leadership in a rapidly changing world.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Executive Director of Strategic Innovations (SI) provides senior strategic leadership for Wesley Seminary’s innovation portfolio, ensuring that complex initiatives—such as VIA Journeys and 21st Century Church Initiatives—are theologically grounded, well-governed, institutionally aligned, and positioned for long-term impact.

VIA Journeys is a multi-year initiative designed to strengthen ministry leaders through an integrated ecosystem of academic formation, ministry partnerships, digital tools, and research-informed pilot programs. Supported by external funding and cross-sector collaboration, VIA Journeys represents a flagship innovation effort within Wesley Seminary’s broader Strategic Innovations portfolio.

The 21st Century Church Initiative is central to the institution’s strategic plan. This initiative includes formal and non-formal education pathways, Scholar-practitioner institutes, and Lantern (a digital platform where leaders connect, learn, and grow) to journey with and equip Christian leaders with the tools, community, mentorship, renewal, and spiritual formation they need to lead faithfully in today’s complex world.

This role exists to hold the “whole” of innovation: vision, discernment, governance, sequencing, and sustainability. By separating strategic stewardship from day-to-day execution, the Executive Director ensures that initiatives move forward with clarity and integrity—without overloading a single leader or allowing innovation to drift from the Seminary’s mission.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential duties and responsibilities of the position include the following:

• Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Stewardship
• Provide strategic leadership for the SI portfolio, ensuring initiatives are mission-aligned, theologically sound, and appropriately sequenced.
• Determine which ideas advance to pilots, which initiatives scale, and which pause or conclude—protecting the Seminary from initiative overload.
• Ensure VIA Journeys, 21 st Century Church, and future initiatives align with institutional priorities, grant commitments, and long-term sustainability.
• Provide executive oversight of budgets and grant-funded initiatives within the Strategic Innovations portfolio, ensuring responsible stewardship, alignment with grant commitments, and long-term financial sustainability in collaboration with Seminary leadership and Finance.
• Governance, Discernment & Guardrails
• Establish and steward governance frameworks that clarify decision rights, ethical boundaries, and accountability.
• Provide theological and institutional oversight for innovation involving digital platforms, technology, or emerging tools.
• Ensure innovation proceeds at a pace that balances learning, trust, and impact.
• VIA Journeys and 21 st Century Church Strategic Oversight
• Serve as a senior Seminary leader responsible for the strategic alignment of VIA Journeys and 21st Century Church Initiatives.
• Partner with external consultants, funders, and ecosystem leaders to ensure coherence and credibility.
• Use insights from pilots, research, and evaluation to inform future phases and decisions.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements, reporting expectations, and financial guardrails related to VIA Journeys and other externally funded initiatives.
• Institutional & Ecosystem Alignment
• Collaborate with Seminary leadership, faculty, Marketing, Advancement, and external partners to integrate innovation across the institution.
• Represent Wesley Seminary in high-level ministry, academic, and innovation contexts.
• Team Leadership
• Provide leadership and direction to SI staff, including the Program Director and operational roles.
• Create clarity between strategic leadership and execution, enabling staff to operate with focus and accountability.

Reporting & Supervisory Responsibility

The Executive Director reports to the Executive Vice President of Wesley Seminary. They will supervise any part-time or full-time SI personnel.

Requirements

Education

• Master’s degree required (doctorate preferred) in theology, ministry, leadership, education, or related field.

Experience

• 5-10 years of significant leadership and entrepreneurial experience in the church, higher education, or a start-up business is preferred.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated senior leadership experience overseeing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead through discernment, governance, and strategic clarity rather than direct control.
• Strong systems thinking and institutional judgment.
• Experience in stewarding grants, partnerships, or innovation portfolios.
• Experience working at the intersection of academia, ministry, and organizational innovation.
• Ability to guide emerging initiatives from early concept through commercialization and sustainability without mission drift.

IWU Kingdom Diversity Statement

IWU, in covenant with God's reconciling work and in accordance with the Biblical principles of our historic Wesleyan tradition, commits to build a community that reflects Kingdom diversity.  We will foster an intentional environment for living, teaching and learning, which exhibits honor, respect, and dignity.  Acknowledging visible or invisible differences, our community authentically values each member's earthly and eternal worth.  We refute ignorance and isolation and embrace deliberate and courageous engagement that exhibits Christ's commandment to love all humankind.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

As a religious educational institution operating under the auspices of The Wesleyan Church, Indiana Wesleyan University is permitted and reserves the right to prefer employees on the basis of religion (42 U.S.C., Sections 2000e-1 and 2000e-2).

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.

According to Indiana Wesleyan University employment policy all employees must possess a strong Christian commitment and adhere to the standards outlined in the IWU Community Lifestyle Statement.

Indiana Wesleyan University is an Equal Opportunity Employer