Director of Experiential Learning

Position Overview

The Director of Experiential Learning serves as the strategic and operational leader responsible for implementing, scaling, and overseeing the university-wide Experiential Learning for All initiative. This position collaborates across academic and administrative units to develop centralized infrastructure, establish systems and processes, implement quality measures, and coordinate university-wide tracking to ensure equitable student access while supporting college ownership of learning. The Director also partners with internal and external stakeholders to integrate high-impact experiential opportunities into degree requirements, academic advising, career mentoring, and the broader Boldly Butler strategic vision.

Responsibilities

Strategic Integration: Lead the university-wide integration of the Boldly Butler Strategy's Experiential Learning for All initiative across all colleges and academic programs.

Program Expansion: Scale existing high-impact practices—such as internships, study away, research, and treks—to build a robust, inclusive, and scalable experiential portfolio.

Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with deans, department chairs, and faculty to align experiential opportunities with curriculum design, modern teaching pedagogies, and academic goals.

Infrastructure and Process Design: Develop, refine, implement, and maintain centralized infrastructure, including operational processes, systems, and workflows necessary to support scalable growth and student onboarding. External Relations and Pipeline Development: Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with alumni, corporate partners, non-profits, and regional entities to expand external project placement and networking opportunities.

Barrier Reduction: Develop and administer equitable support initiatives to eliminate cost, travel, and structural barriers, ensuring all students can participate in off-campus or global programs in diverse experiences.

Data Assessment & Reporting: Establish a robust data-informed ecosystem to track, assess, and report on the scale, efficacy, and career-readiness impact of experiential initiatives.

Team Management: Provide operational and professional leadership to a dedicated team of direct reports managing day-to-day experiential programming and operations.

Fiscal Stewardship: Manage operational budgets and carefully allocate philanthropic gifts or grant funds to optimize student-facing experiential programming.

Required Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree in a relevant field or experiential-focused field. A terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D.) is preferred.

Equivalent executive leadership experience and demonstrated impact on higher education strategy may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience: 5+ years of progressive leadership experience overseeing high-impact student outcomes, experiential learning programs, career development, or strategic academic/administrative initiatives in higher education or complex organization settings.

Highly Organized Strategic Implementer: Translate institutional vision into effective action by executing complex initiatives, developing implementation plans, and anticipating operational challenges before they arise.

Flexible Systems Thinker: Demonstrate strong systems thinking, recognizing connections across the institution, understanding the complexity of organizational systems, identifying opportunities for alignment, and balancing institution-wide consistency with the flexibility needed to meet the unique needs of individual colleges, departments, and programs.

Relationship Management and Influence: Cultivate relationships and build trust to facilitate cross-functional collaboration, ensuring decisive action and forward progress when navigating competing priorities among diverse stakeholders.

Data-Informed Decision Making: Skilled in data and assessment, using evidence to inform decisions through data collection, analysis, dashboard development, and institutional assessment practices.

Exceptional Execution: Demonstrates project management and organizational skills that enable meticulous attention to detail, robust documentation, and rigorous follow-through.

Communication Skills: Effectively engages faculty across colleges, academic leadership, administrative leaders, community partners, and executive leadership, serving as a bridge between academic and operational perspectives to ensure shared understanding and successful implementation.

The successful candidate will demonstrate experience in:

Leading complex institutional initiatives

Project management and prioritization

Organizational change

Higher education administration

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analytics and reporting

Continuous improvement

Strategic implementation

Process design

Stakeholder engagement – internal and external

Continuous improvement mindset

Preferred Qualifications

Ph.D. or Ed.D. in a relevant field or experiential-focused field

Established track record of utilizing donor-backed funds or successfully implementing large-scale comprehensive campaign goals (such as the Boldly Butler initiatives).

Deep understanding of modern assessment methodologies regarding the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Active involvement or volunteer leadership within national experiential education or career development associations.

Evidence of interdisciplinary data management

BU Benefits and Perks

Please check out Butler’s Total Rewards website to learn more about our benefit offerings, which include:

Paid Time Off and Holidays:

28 days of paid time off (vacation and PTO days) per Fiscal year

8 Paid Holidays In addition, a paid Winter Break between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day

Paid Parental Leave (after 1 year of full-time employment)

Health:

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans including disability and life insurance programs

Retirement:

10% employer contribution after 1 year of full-time employment

Tuition Assistance:

Tuition Exchange Program for Dependents

Remission of tuition for classes taken at Butler for employees, spouses, and dependent children. Eligibility after 9 months of full-time employment

Employees & spouses- undergraduate/graduate degrees

Dependents (under age 26)- undergraduate degree

Covers tuition only

Butler Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks:

Access to Butler’s on-site fitness facility and libraries for full-time staff and faculty

LinkedIn Learning Courses

Free premium subscription to the Calm App

Free subscription to the WSJ, The Economist, and NYT

Discount at the College Bookstore

Discount on select Athletic and Arts/Events Center Performances

Butler University is a private, nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing seven colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Pharmacy & Health Sciences and Founder's College. Approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate and doctoral students are enrolled at Butler, representing 46 states and 24 countries.

Join us at the crossroads of tradition & transformation. A career at Butler University offers more than just a job—it’s an opportunity to join a dedicated, innovative, and supportive community grounded in equity, academic excellence, and meaningful impact. Aligned with Boldly Butler, our strategic plan, faculty and staff play a vital role in delivering transformational learning experiences, enriching our campus and community, and ensuring a thriving Butler for generations to come.

Butler University is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, sex, race, religion, color, disability, protected veteran status, national origin, or any other legally protected category.