Assistant Director - Academic Programs

About the Opportunity

Job Summary The Assistant Director of Academic Programs creates and executes a strategic plan to grow and enhance the department’s graduate programs. This role advises Master of Science (MS) and PhD students on their academic programs and serves as an integral partner to the Graduate and Undergraduate Faculty Committees in advancing initiatives and enhancing graduate education. Responsibilities include managing graduate admissions processes and data, serving as a liaison between the department and the Graduate School, overseeing course scheduling on a semester basis and for the department’s five-year growth plan, developing workshops and events that enhance the student experience, managing course assessment activities related to accreditation, providing guidance to faculty and PhD students regarding teaching assistant workload and support, and facilitating academic projects through collaboration with partners across and beyond the college.

This position is dedicated primarily to the department’s graduate programs (MS, Plus One, and PhD), with undergraduate-facing responsibilities managed by the Academic Coordinator supervised by this role.

This position follows a hybrid schedule, with three days on site and two days remote each week.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities Academic Program Operations and Recruitment Manage department policies related to student matters.

Oversee course scheduling for each academic term and maintain the department’s five-year teaching plan.

Oversee annual catalog submissions and catalog changes.

Manage TRACE scores and mid-year and annual reviews for PhD students and faculty.

Manage recruitment activities associated with MS, Plus One, and PhD applications.

Serve as the primary point of contact for program inquiries.

Coordinate and administer orientation programs, welcome events, Graduate Candidates Day, and other graduate recruitment and onboarding activities.

Serve as a liaison between the college and department for student-facing events and matters.

Student Data Management Manage tracking processes for PhD student milestones, including qualifying examinations, work-in-progress reviews, proposal defenses, and dissertation defenses.

Interact directly with graduate students and monitor timelines related to advisor assignments and reassignments, committee formation, qualifying examinations, proposals, and defense arrangements.

Serve as the primary contact for MS students with questions regarding course scheduling and academic timelines.

Manage student enrollment and tracking data and serve as the department contact for student-related data management.

Program Development Manage processes related to the development of new MS programs, combined majors and minors, and new research concentrations for the PhD program.

Administer approval processes for new courses, concentrations, and academic programs.

Collaborate with faculty and administrators across departments and colleges to manage the development and implementation of new academic programs.

Document program changes, approval processes, and voting outcomes associated with new programs.

Minimum Qualifications Required Bachelor ’s degree or equivalent.

Minimum of four years of experience supporting academic and administrative projects, preferably in higher education, with adult learners, or in a high customer service environment.

Strong project management and organizational skills with keen attention to detail and a commitment to quality.

Effective interpersonal, oral presentation, and written communication skills.

Ability to balance multiple priorities and respond effectively to the needs of diverse constituencies.

Ability to consistently produce high-quality work under tight deadlines.

Professional…