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.

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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.

Market Intelligence Report

Associate Professor of Business Innovation and Strategy is part of the Higher Education category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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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

Map target journals (e.g., STR/ENT divisions) and submit 1–2 manuscripts; present at Academy of Management to grow your research network.

Develop a teaching portfolio: sample syllabi, cases, and teaching evaluations; teach an adjunct or executive education course.

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.