Next Frontier Program Director

Job no: 499350

Work type: Non-Classified/Professional

Location: Boise, ID

Categories: Information Technology, Project Management, Data Analysis, Senior-Level

Job Summary/Basic Function:

Within the Office of the Chief Financial and Operating Officer and Vice President for Finance and Operations, the primary purpose of this position is to efficiently manage and sustain the overall Next Frontier Program ("NFP") implementation.

NFP is a multi-year initiative, already in-progress, to establish and implement a strategy for a data-empowered culture at Boise State University to enable timely, accurate, accessible, and readily visualizable data and analytics for the campus community.

The person in this role will build key collaborations across Divisions of the university in addition to working closely with the Next Frontier Committee which includes members from various divisions in the Academic and Operations areas. The position reports directly to the CFO, lives outside of the existing data/analytical units by design and is expected to coordinate across these units as well as across Divisions of the university.

Level Scope:

Spends the majority of time (50% or more) achieving organizational objectives through the coordinated achievements of subordinate staff. Manages experienced professionals who exercise latitude and independence in assignments. Establishes departmental goals and objectives, functions with autonomy. Manages the accountability and stewardship of human, financial, and often physical resources in compliance with departmental and campus wide goals and objectives. Ensures subordinate supervisors and professionals adhere to defined internal controls with a focus on policy and strategy implementation. Manages systems and procedures to protect departmental assets and requires practical knowledge in leading and managing the execution of processes, projects and tactics within one area.

Essential Functions:

Foster partnerships, mutually beneficial relationships, and trust with the campus community broadly, with special emphasis on customer service and end users' needs.

Through engagement with and accountability to all executive leadership and other campus stakeholders, identify and address campus-wide analytical and operational reporting needs when developing solutions.

Work closely with the Information Technology Planning Committee's (ITPC) Decision Support Subcommittee — in particular the Next Frontier Committee including to re-envision its roles and responsibilities with respect to NFP and to enable the RCM budget modernization process.

Work closely with the Division of Finance and Operations (including the Office of Information Technology), Division of Academic Affairs (including the Office of the Provost and Institutional Effectiveness), Division of Research and Economic Development, and Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management on established high-priority needs.

Collaboratively develop and implement NFP goals, objectives, strategies, tactics, metrics, governance, and standards.

Conduct regular reviews and assessments to ensure that NFP's (including multiple related projects') deliverables are progressing on-time and according to quality benchmarks.

Maintain accurate and current NFP documentation, including project plans, decisions, campus engagement records, risk registers, and issue logs.

Optimize resource utilization, human and otherwise, and make adjustments as needed to meet changing NFP demands.

Skillfully manage the NFP budget overall and across individual projects, and promptly address issues as they arise.

Generate NFP status reports (e.g., program and budget), dashboards, and presentations for executive leadership and other campus stakeholders.

Establish and maintain regular campus-wide communications, including building and maintaining an internal website with updated news and statuses, emails to the campus community, and other open hours, presentations, and social media posts, etc., as may be appropriate from time to time.

Revitalize and improve the end user experience through training and resources, making data more easily accessible, and cultivating a culture of data literacy.

Pursue a modern, scalable, and sustainable data warehouse and architecture and the tools needed for reporting, operational data, and advanced analytics.

Implement a strategic approach to projects and processes that has a cross-functional view aligned to the overall analytics vision and includes end user input/involvement for functional requirements and systems decision making.

Strengthen existing data governance and management activities.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Exceptional leadership, collaboration, communication, and organizational skills to successfully address campus-wide operational and analytical reporting needs.

Strategic thinking and the ability to align NFP priorities with the university's goals.

Ability to engage stakeholders from multiple divisions and elicit/implement requirements.

Ability to communicate and explain complex topics in layperson's terms to ensure that campus stakeholders remain informed and engaged.

Ability to develop high-quality solutions by leveraging cross-functional teams to validate information and test out the user experience.

Ability to calmly handle multiple, changing priorities and competing deadlines.

Strong knowledge of project management, business process design, reengineering, and change management.

Actively listens and employs empathy to understand stakeholders and their needs.

Proficient risk management, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills.

Develops and maintains relationships with stakeholders and end-users.

Successful working independently and as part of a team.

A self-starter, driven by a standard of excellence.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and 5 years of experience, including 1 year of managerial experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree in business, project management, data analytics, social sciences, educational research, higher education, or a related field.

8+ years of similar experience, and leadership experience and/or skills necessary to coordinate and collaborate with various project managers, project teams and leaders.

5+ years of increasing responsibility in management roles, preferably in program and/or project management.

5+ years of experience at doctoral research institutions of higher education, including broad experience with academic, administrative, and auxiliary units.

5+ years of experience with business process design, change management, and program/project management.

Experience with multiple types of higher education data, structures modeling, and analytics including Responsibility Center Management (RCM) budgets at doctoral research institutions of higher education.

Technical education and experience, including a working knowledge of program/project management software and experience implementing a data warehouse and data analytics projects.

Experience building and following strict budgets.

Salary and Benefits:

Salary range is $97,884.80 to $117,000 annually and is commensurate with experience. Boise State University provides a best-in-class benefits package, including (but not limited to):

12 paid holidays AND the University is closed between Christmas and New Year's (requires use of 3 vacation days)

Between 12-24 annual paid vacation days for full-time Professional and Classified staff depending on position type and years of service

10.76% University contribution to your ORP retirement fund (Professional and Faculty employees)

11.96% University contribution to your PERSI retirement fund (Classified employees)

Excellent medical, dental and other health-related insurance coverages

Tuition fee waiver benefits for employees, spouses and their dependents

See our full benefits page for more information

Required Application Materials:

Cover letter and resume.

About Us:

Nestled along the Boise River and steps from the state capitol, Boise State University fosters a vibrant and welcoming academic environment that fuels student and employee success. We're a trailblazing institution, nationally recognized for our innovative spirit and commitment to positive impact on Idaho and beyond.

Boise State is proud to be recognized by Forbes as the only Idaho employer listed in the top 100 of all national midsize and large employers. We're building a thriving community of faculty and staff whose unique skills, experiences, and perspectives come together to create a rich and rewarding academic experience. Applications from all backgrounds are welcomed.

Learn more about Boise State and living in Idaho's Treasure Valley at

Advertised: November 12, 2025 Mountain Standard Time

Applications close: December 3, :55 PM Mountain Standard Time