Associate Professor of Business Innovation and Strategy

Career Guide
Teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in strategy and innovation, conducts original research and publishes in peer‑reviewed journals, mentors students, and contributes service to the department and university through committees and curriculum development.

Key Responsibilities

  • Teach undergraduate and MBA courses in strategy and innovation
  • Design syllabi, cases, and assessments; assure learning outcomes
  • Conduct original research and publish in peer‑reviewed journals
  • Apply for and manage research grants
  • Advise and mentor undergraduate, MBA, and doctoral students
  • Serve on departmental, school, and university committees
  • Build industry partnerships for projects and experiential learning
  • Supervise doctoral dissertations and research assistants

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Full Professor (Strategy/Innovation)
Department Chair or Program Director
Associate Dean (Academic Affairs)
Transition Opportunities
Director of Innovation
Corporate Strategy Manager
Management Consultant
Think Tank or Policy Research Director

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
Peer‑reviewed publication track record in strategy/innovationAdvanced research methods and statistical analysisGraduate-level curriculum design and assessmentGrant writing and sponsor compliance
Development SuggestionsBuild a publication pipeline by co-authoring and submitting to AOM divisions/journals; gain teaching experience as an adjunct and complete CITI and a graduate-level methods sequence (or equivalent MOOCs) to strengthen research rigor.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry Level$110,000-$140,000
Mid Level$140,000-$175,000
Senior Level$175,000-$220,000
Growth Trend
stable — Tenure-track openings steady; growth constrained by budgets and enrollments

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
Arizona State UniversityUniversity of CaliforniaSouthern New Hampshire University
Industry Sectors
Higher EducationOnline & Continuing EducationExecutive Education

Recommended Next Steps

1
Map target journals (e.g., STR/ENT divisions) and submit 1–2 manuscripts; present at Academy of Management to grow your research network.
2
Develop a teaching portfolio: sample syllabi, cases, and teaching evaluations; teach an adjunct or executive education course.
3
Complete QM Online Teaching certification and refresh methods skills in R/Stata/Python; apply for a small internal or foundation grant to demonstrate funding success.