Director, Academic Affairs and Instructional Services

Director Of Academic Affairs And Instructional Services

Reporting to the Executive Director of the MS-ADS, the Director of Academic Affairs and Instructional Services works closely with the leadership and faculty to manage the faculty affairs and instructional services of the In-Person Programs, Online Program, and Joint Degree programs. The Director of Academic Affairs and Instructional Services is responsible for the oversight and execution of faculty and instructor recruiting, course scheduling, instructor feedback, among other duties related to operating the MS-ADS programs.

The Director collaborates with other functional areas on the team such as enrollment management, student affairs, career services/external partnerships, and facilities/IT to support the student experience for both the online and in-person modalities. The Director serves as a senior member of the MS-ADS programs leadership team and liaisons with staff and faculty at UChicago's Data Science Institute (DSI), the PSD Dean's Office, University of Chicago Professional (UCP) and other University of Chicago units.

A percentage of the Director's time may be dedicated to strategic planning of new, related master's programs on an as-needed basis. This position is primarily based in the NBC Tower location in downtown Chicago, IL and eligible for a partially remote work schedule.

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for academic affairs and instructional services, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive work culture.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate four professional staff, offering guidance and oversight to ensure operational excellence across faculty and instructional support.
• Collaborate with Program Directors and Clinical Advisory Team to plan course scheduling, instructor assignments, curriculum, and the Capstone experience, aligning with current and future program needs.
• Partner with Sr. Manager of Facilities & IT to optimize class scheduling and space utilization.
• Direct long-term planning and compliance for faculty and academic employee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, evaluation, promotion, and reappointment.
• Uphold the highest standards of confidentiality, discretion, and integrity in handling sensitive information, academic records, personnel data, and institutional documents.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, accreditation standards, and maintain up-to-date faculty credentials and contract records.
• Guide development and refinement of academic policies in support of institutional and program objectives.
• Work closely with enrollment management, student affairs, career services, clinical advisory, and external partnership teams to ensure alignment of academic policies, course offerings, and teaching assignments with program strategy and student success initiatives.
• Coordinate with the PSD's Director of Academic Affairs for effective processing of instructor appointments and pay requests.
• Oversee teaching assistant recruiting and training, supporting ongoing TA professional development.
• Provide strategic oversight for professional development and instructional design initiatives, led by the Instructional Designer, to advance pedagogical innovation and teaching quality.
• Lead change management efforts, driving continuous improvement of courses and workflows based on data analysis and collaborative assessment.
• Manage budgetary planning and execution for instructional services in partnership with Faculty Director and Executive Director.
• Analyze data from academic operations, enrollment, and student outcomes to inform strategic planning, resource allocation, and budget management.
• Establish, monitor, and assess goals, benchmarks, and outcomes for academic and faculty support activities.
• Represent MS-ADS academic affairs in institutional committees, cross-functional teams, and external collaborations.
• Lead special projects related to academic innovation, curricular transformation, and real-world student experiences.
• Manages the daily operations of an organizational unit or assists with managing the daily operations of a larger organizational unit, primarily in the areas of financial, purchasing, grant, facilities, human resources and support services management. Ensures compliance of staff with organizational, University and other relevant policies and guidelines.
• May oversee the management of informational technology planning, ensuring necessary operating and information systems and resources are in place to accomplish strategic goals. Conceives and directs special projects related to the business of the organizational unit.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Experience:

• Experience working in academic affairs, including direct…