Director of Child Advocacy Studies

North West Arkansas Community College (NWACC) provides quality and affordable higher education to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas.

As the largest community college in Arkansas, NWACC is recognized as a leader in education. NWACC offers a full range of associate degrees, certificates and workforce training programs that prepare students for rewarding futures and careers.

NWACC employees are dedicated to fostering a diverse educational community and cultural learning environment that supports student success.

The Director of Child Advocacy Studies provides leadership, strategic direction, and administrative oversight for Child Advocacy Studies instruction, workforce training initiatives, and related activities of the Melba Shewmaker National Child Protection Training Center. The position is responsible for program administration, curriculum coordination, assessment, budgeting, grant management, workforce development, student support, and partnership cultivation to ensure program quality, sustainability, and growth. The director serves as the primary liaison with educational institutions, child advocacy centers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and workforce partners and may teach up to six credit hours per semester based on program needs and qualifications.

• Provide leadership for the planning, implementation, evaluation, and expansion of Child Advocacy Studies programs, certificates, workforce training initiatives, and grant-funded projects
• Manage program operations, including scheduling, enrollment management, recruitment, student support services, assessment activities, financial performance, and required reporting
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives that support program effectiveness, sustainability, growth, and alignment with institutional priorities
• Coordinate curriculum development, review, and integration of Child Advocacy Studies courses, certificates, and academic pathways
• Direct program review, accreditation, assessment, continuous improvement efforts, and compliance with institutional, state, federal, and grant requirements
• Develop, administer, and monitor program and grant budgets; identify funding opportunities; and ensure responsible stewardship of resources
• Establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with educational institutions, child advocacy centers, schools, governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and workforce development entities
• Lead workforce and professional education initiatives through the Melba Shewmaker National Child Protection Training Center and identify emerging workforce development needs
• Recruit, train, supervise, evaluate, and mentor assigned staff and adjunct faculty while fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment
• Teach assigned coursework, advise and support students, represent the College in professional and community settings, participate in institutional service activities, and perform other duties as assigned

Rate of Pay: $65,061 annualized
* Higher compensation may be considered based on qualifications directly related to position

• Master’s degree in social work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Education, Public Administration, Human Services, or a closely related field
• A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in child advocacy, child protection, social services, criminal justice, mental health, workforce development, higher education administration, or a related field
• Candidates with a bachelor’s degree and extensive documented experience directly related to the responsibilities of the position may also be considered

• Doctoral degree in Social Work, Law, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Education, Public Administration, or a related discipline
• Experience managing grants, budgets, workforce education programs, or externally funded initiatives
• Experience with higher education program leadership, accreditation, assessment, and curriculum development
• Experience developing partnerships with educational institutions, child advocacy centers, government agencies, or nonprofit…