Chief Academic & Innovation Officer

This job carries with it the obligation to uphold the Mission of Lone Star College (LSC) in carrying out the duties of the position. A commitment to positive interpersonal behaviors, professional communication, integrity, leadership, stewardship, respect and accountability to LSC students and employees is essential.

Cultural Beliefs

• One LSC
• Student Focused
• Own It
• Foster Belonging
• Cultivate Community
• Choose Learning

The Chronicle of Higher Education's "Great Colleges to Work For" is designed to recognize colleges that have been successful in creating great workplaces and to further research and understanding of the factors, dynamics and influences that have the most impact on organizational culture at higher education institutions.

Lone Star College has been recognized in multiple categories.

Lone Star College-Online

Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 80,000+ students each semester. LSC has been named a 2023 Great Colleges to Work For institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College.

LSC-Online is an independent campus led by a Campus President, committed to academic excellence and student success. LSC-Online provides flexible learning options and skills-based online learning so that students can complete the programs in two years or less.

Location address is 20515 SH 249 (SH 249 and Louetta Road) Houston, Texas 77070.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

The Chief Academic and Innovation Officer (CAIO) is the senior executive responsible for advancing the academic vision, intellectual identity, and innovation agenda of LSC-Online. Reporting directly to the President, the CAIO serves as the institution's primary architect of pedagogical transformation ' leading the design and implementation of emerging instructional models, technology-integrated learning environments, and workforce-aligned academic pathways that position LSC-Online as a national leader among fully online community colleges. The VPAO is accountable for the quality, rigor, and growth of fully online and non-traditional programs, driving student learning outcomes and enrollment success through data-informed leadership and a commitment to academic excellence. The CAIO models innovative, energetic leadership aligned with the Lone Star College mission and the unique demands of a fully online, fast-growing campus.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Serves as LSC-Online's chief architect of academic innovation, providing executive leadership for the identification, design, piloting, and institutional scaling of emerging instructional models, including Competency-Based Education (CBE), Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), HyFlex modalities, AI-enhanced learning environments, and adaptive courseware
2. Leads the implementation of innovative learning models, accelerated education, digitally-enabled education, in a multi-lane/multi-channel format
3. Leads the ongoing development and articulation of LSC-Online's academic identity, ensuring the institution is positioned as a thought leader in fully online community college education at the state and national levels
4. Develops and maintains a multi-year Academic Innovation Roadmap aligned to the LSCS 'Do the Thing & Be the Bridge' strategic plan, THECB Building a Talent Strong Texas, and House Bill 8 workforce outcomes requirements
5. Oversees the LSC-Online HyFlex Center of Excellence initiative, providing executive sponsorship for implementation, faculty development, technical infrastructure, and system-wide knowledge transfer
6. Leads implementation and scaling plans across its full three-phase lifecycle (2025'2030), ensuring institutional readiness, faculty alignment, and student outcome measurement
7. Provides strategic direction for the Office of Instructional Design, Digital Learning, and Academic Technology, ensuring that technology investments are pedagogically grounded and aligned to measurable learning outcomes
8. Champions the adoption and ethical integration of artificial intelligence tools into instructional design, faculty workflows, and student learning environments, establishing institutional policy frameworks that balance innovation with academic integrity
9. Leads the development and implementation of LSC-Online's Open Educational Resources (OER) and zero-cost course material strategy, advancing affordability and access without compromising instructional quality
10. Ensures that digital learning environments, learning management systems, and instructional tools meet accessibility standards, including compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and WCAG 2.1 guidelines
11. Leads the development of industry-aligned academic programs and stackable credentials that respond to Texas regional workforce demands and satisfy the outcomes-based funding metrics established under Texas HB 8
12. Cultivates and manages strategic partnerships with employers, industry associations, and sector-specific workforce boards to ensure that LSC-Online's program portfolio reflects current and emerging labor market needs
13. Oversees prior learning assessment (PLA) strategy and implementation, including credit for industry certifications, apprenticeships, and experiential learning, expanding access to credential completion for adult and working learners
14. Collaborates with the THECB, the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) initiative, and relevant state agencies to position LSC-Online as a preferred provider for workforce development programming
15. Responsible for other reasonable, related duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of teaching and learning theories specific to online, accelerated, competency-based, and non-traditional program models
• Skills in new program development, instructional design evaluation, and application of emerging technology ' including AI-enhanced learning and adaptive learning platforms ' to improve access and outcomes
• Knowledge of alternative credentialing models including micro-credentials, stackable credentials, and prior learning assessment
• Ability to establish and scale new academic operations with a start-up mindset, including developing strategy, building teams, and executing with limited resources
• Ability to anticipate and respond to shifts in higher education policy, workforce demands, and student demographics with innovative, data-informed solutions
• Skills in designing integrated systems and processes that improve operational efficiency and academic quality simultaneously
• Advanced proficiency in data analytics to drive enrollment pipeline development, stop-out recovery, and retention strategy
• Ability to translate data into executive-level reporting and actionable recommendations for institutional stakeholders
• Skills in cross-functional executive leadership, including system-level coordination, accreditor relations, and board-level reporting
• Proven effectiveness in budget ownership, resource allocation, and revenue-generation strategies aligned with institutional growth goals
• Ability to establish direction, set priorities, and lead high-output teams in a demanding, fast-paced environment
• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners while maintaining clear executive accountability and institutional direction.
• Strong initiative, autonomy, and capacity to maintain strategic focus while managing multiple concurrent priorities

PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items, such as papers, books, or small parts; or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

WORK SCHEDULE AND CONDITIONS:

• Equipment used includes, PC workstation running on a LAN in a Microsoft Windows environment, calculator, phone, and other general office equipment
• Interface with internal and external contacts as needed to carry out the functions of the position
• Work is performed in a climate-controlled office with minimal exposure to safety hazards

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree and at least 10 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience must include at least 5 years in a management level position
• Experience must include at least 5 years in multiple areas of Academic Affairs and Academic Operations within an academic environment
• Experience must include at least 3 years in developing courses and programs in an online and/or an accelerated environment
• Experience must include at least 3 years in a project management capacity, leading projects from initiation to closing
• Experience teaching online, adult, or accelerated programs

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Doctoral degree
• At least 5 years of experience as a Dean or other Academic Affairs leader with an understanding of the creation and management of academic programs, or equivalent experience in online or alternative education leadership
• Experience developing and implementing an online learning strategy at a comprehensive college or university
• Demonstrated track record of successful online program development and implementation, start up organizations with strong positive results
• Experience working with online pedagogy, instructional design, and learning management systems
• Experience with SACSCOC accreditation processes, compliance requirements, and quality enhancement planning

Hiring salary range is $130,146 - $149,668

Lone Star College provides a hiring salary range for all posted full-time non-faculty positions. Where your salary offer would fall in that range is determined by your related experience and education. Should you receive an offer of employment from Lone Star College, the resume submitted in the application process will be utilized to calculate your salary offer. The information outlined below will provide the Office of Human Resources everything needed to determine an accurate starting salary.

Your resume should provide a complete picture of your work experience. The resume should include the following information for each position listed:

1. Length of time (specific months and years) of employment
2. If the position was full time or part time
3. If the position was paid or unpaid
4. Level of degree completed including date earned.
5. Unofficial transcript for highest earned degree

Additionally, any certifications listed as required or preferred in the Lone Star College job description should be included in the resume submitted.

By joining our top-notch institution, you will enjoy being a part of an organization that offers a supportive, collegial work environment and excellent work/life balance. This includes a full comprehensive and competitive benefits package, a generous number of paid holidays and vacation days, wellness programs, tuition waiver, professional development opportunities and more.

Go to the Job Search page, click on 'My Activities' at the top of the page. Under My Cover Letters and Attachments you will click on 'Add Attachment.' Please be sure to put the Job ID# in the title once you name your file for cover letters only, unless you attached your cover letter with your resume.

If you are applying for an Instructional position (i.e. Faculty, Adjunct Faculty, Instructor), please ensure you include the following to be considered: Resume/CV, Cover Letter, Teaching Philosophy, and unofficial transcripts.

You must limit your file name for any attachment to 40 characters or less.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY ONLINE ONLY

We will not accept application material received via fax, email, mail, or hand delivered.

Postings for part-time and adjunct positions are active for the academic year. By selecting the option to receive notifications on your profile, you will begin receiving electronic communication regarding new opportunities with Lone Star College (LSC).

If selected for an interview, a recruiter will contact you by phone, or email to schedule an interview.

Lone Star College participates in the E-Verify program, under which Lone Star College provides the federal government with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm that the employee is authorized to work in the United States.

More information on the E-Verify program is available at www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

Lone Star College is an EEO Employer. All positions are subject to a criminal background check.