Assistant Director – da Vinci Center

Benefits of working at VCU

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

Job Code 10911Y Recruitment Pool VCU Employees Only Posting Number req7313 Unit University College Department da Vinci Center for Innovation Department Website Link https://davincicenter.vcu.edu/ Location VCU Address 1229 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220 USA Duties & Responsibilities

Summary And Position Overview

The VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation is a nationally recognized hub for cross-disciplinary collaboration and experiential learning. We bring together students and faculty from across the university to solve real-world problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. From health innovation to social impact ventures, our programs are designed to cultivate the next generation of changemakers.

The Assistant Director at the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation plays a pivotal leadership role in advancing the university’s cross-disciplinary innovation ecosystem. This position is responsible for the strategic design, implementation, and management of programs that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and community impact—particularly in health, education, and technology sectors. The Assistant Director will lead efforts to develop inclusive and scalable initiatives that support workforce development, lifelong learning, and health and social innovation.

Ideal candidates will be strategic thinkers and skilled collaborators with a background in innovation facilitation, program design, and partnership development. This role requires a high degree of autonomy, vision, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Assistant Director include, but are not limited to:

Program Strategy & Development

  • Lead the creation and expansion of programs aligned with health innovation, workforce development, and lifelong learning.
  • Design and deliver accessible tools, workshops, and curricula that promote inclusive innovation practices.
  • Scale and sustain strategic initiatives in alignment with university-wide goals.

Partnerships & Ecosystem Building

  • Cultivate and manage partnerships with stakeholders across healthcare, education, industry, and community sectors.
  • Facilitate cross-functional collaboration among students, faculty, staff, and external partners.
  • Represent the da Vinci Center at conferences, forums, and community events to enhance visibility and engagement.

Program Management & Operations

  • Oversee the operations of multiple innovation programs, including Shift Health, ensuring quality and impact.
  • Supervise a growing team of three or more full-time staff and lead cross-functional project teams.
  • Manage program budgets, track spending, and ensure compliance with university and sponsor policies.
  • Resolve operational challenges independently and efficiently.

Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

  • Design and implement program evaluation frameworks to measure outcomes and inform improvements.
  • Use data and stakeholder feedback to refine program offerings and enhance learner and partner experiences.
  • Contribute to institutional learning by sharing insights, metrics, and best practices.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in related field, or an equivalent combination of education of experience.
  • Demonstrated knowledge in innovation strategy, design thinking, or entrepreneurship.
  • Experience managing complex projects and leading interdisciplinary teams.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Experience in academic program administration or supporting cross-unit academic initiatives.
  • Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of relevant professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education of experience.

FLSA University Employee Job FTE 1 Exemption Status Exempt Restricted Position No E-Class UF – University Employee FT Job Category University Employee ORP Eligible Yes Salary Range Up to $85,000 Compensation Type Salaried Target Hire Date 5/16/2025 Contact Information for Candidates

Lloyd Young

Documents Needed to Apply Resume/CV

#LI-DNI

GatedTalent consolidates jobs from a variety of sources. Users of the “Talentis” and “FileFinder” executive search CRMs are able to publish jobs to the site with links from inside their core business apps. These are supplemented by jobs added by our own researchers and those provided by a third party job aggregation service. Please note that GatedTalent staff are not directly involved in the recruiting process.

Recruiting Brief

You don't have credit card details available. You will be redirected to update payment method page. Click OK to continue.