Academic Director​/Professor Practice of Project Management and IT Management; R0008215

Overview

Location: School of Professional Studies (Charlotte) — Wake Forest University

Open Date: Sep 08, 2025

Description: The Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies (SPS) is seeking an exceptional and dynamic faculty leader to serve as the Academic Director of the Project Management and IT Management programs, starting July 1, 2026. This full-time position is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The mission of the SPS is to accelerate the professional growth of adult learners across their careers and support the talent development needs of organizations. Programs are designed for professionals who can apply acquired skills directly to their careers and reflect best and emerging practices from the field combined with rigorous, research-based knowledge from academia.

The Academic Director provides academic oversight and strategic direction for the graduate Project Management and IT Management degree programs. The director will join a creative, mission-centered, and highly collaborative team of faculty and staff, and will support these programs and their students. The director will nurture a culture of innovation and collaboration that centers on student and community partner success. Responsibilities include guiding program strategy, ensuring market leadership, and continuously enhancing curriculum quality and relevance by monitoring outcomes and gathering input from students, faculty, advisors, and other stakeholders.

As the leader of a team of practitioner-scholars, the Academic Director will engage with program faculty and industry leaders, leveraging a deep understanding of emerging trends and best practices. This includes leading Program Advisory Boards to advance the programs and mentor students, and engaging with IT and project management professionals in the Charlotte region to advance program goals and student success.

The candidate will be ranked as a professor of the practice (non-tenure track) and is expected to teach courses within the school in at least one of the two programs they lead.

• An earned master’s degree in a related field such as technology, computer science, business, management, or IT management, along with relevant professional certifications.
• Significant experience leading and managing IT and other high-level projects in a professional setting.
• Prior experience teaching online at the graduate level is required, with evidence of teaching effectiveness.
• Prior academic leadership or business managerial experience is preferred.

The Project Management program delivers a well-calibrated balance of the "art and science" of the discipline. Students gain essential leadership skills in communication and stakeholder engagement, alongside the technical skills needed to master proven and emerging methodologies. The program enables students to pursue industry certifications such as PMP and Scrum Master.

The IT Management program is designed to equip working professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to align IT strategies with business objectives, support digital transformation, and drive IT-enabled innovation. It is a cross-industry program for professionals looking to pivot into more significant leadership roles.

This joint leadership role presents an opportunity to build synergies between project management and IT leadership. The director will guide a curriculum that prepares professionals to manage complex projects and align IT strategies with business objectives. The role requires a leader who is passionate about both the technical and leadership aspects of project and IT management in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a qualified candidate is selected. Materials should include: letter of application, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching philosophy, and evidence of teaching effectiveness (such as course evaluations and comparative benchmarks). Formal transcripts will be required before an offer is made. Applications with all required information will be given full consideration. : (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Inquiries about the position should be addressed to AskHR.

Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational institution dedicated to academic excellence in liberal arts, graduate, and professional education. The University is a private, nonsectarian research university with a student-faculty ratio of roughly 11:1. The University is committed to public service and engagement with the work.

The School of Professional Studies (SPS) is the newest school of Wake Forest University, offering graduate degrees, non-degree programs, certificates, and executive education for working professionals. SPS focuses on accessible and market-relevant programs to support Charlotte and the surrounding region. SPS aims to develop leaders who can…