Innovation Project Experience Designer - Information Technology at Gvsu

This position plays a pivotal role as a catalyst in shaping the future of education by actively facilitating ideation and incubating innovation initiatives through project management expertise and human-centered design principles. This position is at the forefront of digital transformation, collaborating with students, faculty, staff, and industry partners to design, develop, and implement innovative projects, experiences, and events that contribute to pioneering the future of education.

Salary & Benefits:

Minimum starting salary of $70,000; commensurate with experience.

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, dental, life insurance, generous employer retirement contributions, wellness resources and tuition waiver effective on date of hire.

Primary Duties:

• Partner to provide vision, strategic leadership, and coordination to ensure Information Technology’s (IT) portfolio of solutions, services, and resources are future focused, drive digital transformation, and align with the University’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Establish, operationalize, and refine innovation project management frameworks in alignment with IT Project Management Office standards, incorporating agile and human-centered design methodologies.
• Facilitate idea collection and the analysis of project proposals, defining scope and milestones.
• Actively lead the design, development, and implementation of innovation projects while managing resources to ensure projects are within scope, budget, and on-schedule.
• Develop and deliver clear and concise communications to project teams and stakeholders, including executive leadership, faculty, and students.
• Facilitate innovation workshops to incubate and accelerate innovative ideas through human-centered design principles.
• Proactively monitor project progress, track key performance indicators, and prepare regular status reports.
• Collaborate to design and execute engaging events, workshops, and experiences that foster idea collection, creativity, collaboration, and knowledge sharing in the futurEDlab, X>STUDIO, and Atomic Object TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE.
• Manage event coordination including logistics, promotion, registration, and hospitality.
• Utilize storytelling, multimedia, social networking, and digital platforms to amplify the impact of innovation projects and events.
• Monitor emerging trends and nurture opportunities for networking while establishing partnerships with key University stakeholders as well as industry experts, business leaders, professional organizations, and technology vendors that build innovation capacity and contribute to pioneering the future of education.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and procedures, as well as legal and ethical standards.
• Manage and mentor student assistants, fostering their professional development.
• Perform other duties as required/assigned by leadership.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor's degree required in fields including project management, event management, innovation, or a related area preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Proven project management experience, managing multiple complex projects while leading cross-functional teams and overseeing stakeholders and vendor relationships.
• Expertise and experience applying agile, human-centered design, or project management principles, methodologies, and tools to ensure projects are completed within scope, budget, and delivered on schedule.
• Demonstrated experience in event planning and execution, including managing logistics and attendee experience.
• Technical skills with the ability to quickly adapt, understand, and engage with complex, cutting-edge, or emerging hardware and software solutions.
• Knowledge or experience in deploying best practices in applying procedures, tools, and methods to acquire, prototype, beta test, analyze and evaluate innovative solutions, services, or resources.
• Experience in providing high quality customer-centric service, end user support, documentation, training, and professional development.
• Ability to take initiative, add value, remove barriers, solve problems and move multiple projects forward to successful completion using effective project management skills. ·
• Exceptional communication, writing, and teamwork skills and abilities.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Two or more (2+) years of experience in higher education, particularly in instructional or emerging technologies.
• Certifications in project management or design thinking principles and methodologies.
• Experience with agile software development methodologies.
• Experience in large scale change management that include enterprise level initiatives.
• Experience developing and managing innovation or entrepreneurship programs.
• Advanced knowledge and applied experience with human-centered design.
• Experience with video production, graphic design, or web design.
• Experience with social media management and digital marketing.

How to Apply: Attach your cover letter and resume. The system will allow you to attach these documents electronically. If you have questions about the position or the posting, please contact Eric Kunnen ([email protected]). If you need technical assistance, please contact Human Resources at [email protected].

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

Application Deadline: Application review begins November 3, 2025. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week.  The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. See www.gvsu.edu/equalopportunity/. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State).

 

Grand Valley State University is an Antidiscrimination/Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. University policy extends protections to additional identities.

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