Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Batten Institute at Darden School of Business

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business, one of the world's leading business schools, seeks a strategic and collaborative Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and Programs to join the Batten Institute of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology.

The Senior Director  is a senioroperational and programmaticleaderof the Batten Institutewhois key toshaping its future vision and leading execution against it.

This position develops and drives mission-critical programs by engaging a broad coalition of Darden staff, faculty, students, and alumni across initiativesspanningthe areas of entrepreneurship,innovation and technology/AI.The Senior Director advances the Institute's mission of buildingentrepreneurialmindset and skillset in MBAs and Darden's mission of inspiring purpose-driven innovative leaders who will change the world.

The Senior Directormanagesan experienced team ofdirect reports and collaborates closely with the larger Batten Institute and Darden enterprise leadership teams. This position reports directly to the Batten Institute Executive Director and is based at the Darden School of Business in Charlottesville, VA, with anideal start dateof

October 2026.

• Shapesthe student experience acrossMBA formatsand sectorsthroughco-curricular and experiential learningprogramsin the areas of entrepreneurship,innovation and tech/AI.Programsmayinclude immersions, workshops, bootcamps,incubators/accelerators,speaker series,awards/competitions, conferences,projects, courses, internships/fellowships,and student club activities-offering unique opportunities toskill-build and to network with academics,practitioner sand mentors.
• Managestheteam that runs flagshipstudentand alumniprograms includingi.
  
  Lab Incubator,the Southeast
  
  Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference, Batten Venture Internships, Tech& AI Learning Series,DC Tech Connect,and the Batten Scholarships.
  
  Develops new, impactful programs in collaborationwiththeteam.
• Supports students 1:1 around their specific needs in career/startup development and networking.
• Runs point on initiatives to invigorate and sustain a strong Darden alumnicommunity in the stated focus areas andgalvanizes a robust network to support current students and fellow alumniin collaboration with Darden'sAlumni Engagementteamand Alumni Career Services.
• Helps managetheprestigious Batten Scholarprogram (full tuition and fees),inclusive of
  
  Batten Scholar alumni, and related scholarships for innovators. Creates mechanisms for longitudinal outcome tracking.

• Supports Darden faculty through strategic planning and outreach for course speakers, conference panelists and guests,and co-curricular workshops.
• Helpsfaculty tobridge theoryandpractice by creating programmatic touchpointswithleaders of tech companies,recentlyacquiredcompanies,early-stage ventures, andVC firms.
• Works with Batten's thought leadership team to find opportunitiesforfaculty and Darden alumni to create and curate content that strengthens Darden's brand around entrepreneurial mindset and skillset.

• Developsstrong partnerships with a range of stakeholdersasacritical element of success in this role.
  
  The Senior Director is a visible faceofthe Institute, partneringwithcolleagues inthe
  
  Dardenoffices of Communications & Marketing,Admissions, Alumni Engagement, Alumni Career Services, Career Services;as well as the Dean's Office and other centers of excellence (Lacross Institute for Ethical AI;Mayo Center for Asset Management;Institute for Business in Society; Center for Global Initiatives), in order to strategize on and deliver top-notch programs, communications, events,and engagement opportunities forkey stakeholders.
  
  Oversees MBA rankings submissionprocessfor entrepreneurship specialty.
• Partners with Batten Institute Executive Director and Dardenleadershipto deepen collaborations across UVA around entrepreneurship and innovation-notably UVA Innovates/The Foundry,UVANorthern Virginia, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and theMcIntire School of Commerce-toadvancethe
  
  Institute'sgoals.
• Choreographs alignment of team priorities andnew pilotsin support of Darden'sstrategic goals.
• Maintainsa partnership with the Darden School Foundation  and the UVAAlumni Association,representing and engagingalumni entrepreneurs,innovator sand technologists.

• Bachelor'sdegreeand at least five yearsof relevant professional experience required, including 2 years of managerial experience.
• Strong preference will be given to candidates with a Master's degree and 10+ years of relevant experience, including 5+ years of managerial experience.

• Demonstrated abilityas a results- and relationship-driven people manager.
• Expertise in program management, entrepreneurship and venture development, Venture Capital, and/or tech.
• Collaborative team player who caneffectivelyengage with other senior leaders andmanage by…