Director of Assessment, Academic Affairs

Director of Assessment, Academic Affairs

The Director of Assessment provides leadership for the University's institutional assessment and effectiveness efforts. This position collaborates with academic and administrative units to design, implement, evaluate, and communicate comprehensive assessment processes that support student learning and development across the full student experience—including curricular, co-curricular, and support services—as well as institutional effectiveness, accreditation, and evidence-based decision-making. The Director serves as a campus leader in fostering a culture of assessment and continuous improvement, promoting the systematic use of data, assessment technologies, and best practices to evaluate student engagement, success, and outcomes both inside and outside the classroom.

• Provide strategic leadership for the university's assessment and institutional effectiveness efforts, ensuring alignment with institutional strategic planning and priorities while fostering a culture of evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement across academic and administrative units.

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive assessment processes and systems related to student learning outcomes, program review, institutional effectiveness, and quality assurance.

• Oversee assessment-related data systems, tools, and data governance practices to ensure data integrity, accessibility, and effective use of data to inform decision-making across the institution.

• Partner with faculty, academic leaders, and campus stakeholders to design meaningful assessment plans, analyze results, and ensure systematic documentation and follow-up on the use of findings to drive continuous improvement in student learning and institutional performance.

• Develop, implement, and maintain institutional policies, guidelines, and standards related to assessment and institutional effectiveness to ensure consistency, compliance, and best practices.

• Support accreditation and regulatory compliance activities by coordinating the collection, analysis, documentation, and reporting of assessment evidence for regional, specialized, and state requirements.

• Provide consultation, training, and professional development to faculty and staff on assessment practices, learning outcomes, data use, continuous improvement processes, and accreditation expectations.

• Lead the communication and utilization of assessment findings through reports, presentations, dashboards, and other tools, while managing departmental operations, personnel, budget resources, and committee work in support of institutional effectiveness initiatives.

• Perform other duties as requested or assigned.

Required:

• Master's degree in Education, Higher Education, Educational Research, Assessment, Institutional Effectiveness, or a related field.

• Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in higher education leadership.

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience leading or managing assessment initiatives and accreditation processes in a higher education setting.

• Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience.

• Proven track record of working with faculty to promote teaching best practices and improve educational outcomes.

• Maintain a growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ, reflect His character in all interactions, and faithfully uphold and embrace Northwestern's mission, Doctrinal Statement, and Declaration of Christian Community.

Nice to Have:

• Doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in Higher Education, Educational Leadership, Assessment, Institutional Effectiveness, or a related field.

• Higher education teaching experience.

• Experience working with the Higher Learning Commission accreditation processes.

• Experience designing and implementing assessment dashboards and institutional reporting tools using assessment management systems and data visualization platforms, with demonstrated contribution to campus-wide assessment or accreditation initiatives.

• Hold current professional certifications related to assessment, institutional research, accreditation, quality improvement, or higher…