Department: School of Professional Studies
Salary/Grade: EXS/15
Northwestern University's School of Professional Studies is accepting applications for the position of Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. This position is an exciting opportunity for strategic and innovative leaders, who possess a strong background in higher education, a passion for adult learning, and are seeking to advance in academic leadership.
As one of the twelve colleges and schools of Northwestern University, the School of Professional Studies (SPS) has been delivering innovative learning programs that set the standard for adult higher education since 1933. Our students learn in a supportive, collaborative environment in courses offered online and on Northwestern's Chicago and Evanston campuses that enable them to balance their personal and professional lives with the pursuit of learning.
Reporting to the Dean of the School of Professional Studies, the Associate Dean provides vision and leadership in the development, delivery and management of undergraduate and graduate degrees, international and professional development programs and summer session. This position leads curriculum and faculty development efforts, ensuring superior quality and integrity of the academic experience. This role assumes primary responsibility in developing and managing academic partnerships with other NU schools and outside entities and leads SPS Assistant Deans, faculty and advisory boards in determining admission and academic standards for current and new programs. The Associate Dean provides leadership for the distance learning staff, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures governing academic curriculum. Additionally, this position collaborates with other SPS senior leaders to develop a dynamic recruitment strategy, ensure fiscal compliance, and resolve student academic issues.
The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of the national and regional landscape of continuing and professional education, including trends and issues that impact the field and working adults. We are seeking a hands-on, innovative thinker with experience in developing and implementing successful programs and course offerings in higher education, who has demonstrated in-depth knowledge of academic planning policies, administration and budgeting of academic programs, and collaborative managerial experience with both staff and faculty.
Job Summary:
The Associate Dean provides vision and leadership in the development, delivery and management of undergraduate and graduate degrees, international and professional development programs and summer session. This position leads curriculum and faculty development efforts, ensuring superior quality and integrity of the academic experience. The Associate Dean convenes and chairs the academic program planning committee, manages the strategic academic plan, and leads research of the competitive landscape and learner demand which inform the development of new initiatives and programmatic offerings.
This role assumes primary responsibility of developing and managing academic partnerships with other NU schools and outside entities and leads SPS Assistant Deans, faculty and advisory board in determining admission and academic standards for current and new programs. The Associate Dean provides leadership for the distance learning staff, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures governing academic curriculum. The position collaborates with other SPS senior leaders to develop a dynamic recruitment strategy, ensure fiscal compliance, and resolve student academic issues. The Associate Dean has primary responsibility for creating the school's annual academic strategic plan, in consultation with the Dean.
Please note: Some evening and weekend hours, and occasional travel are required.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Collaborates with the SPS academic leadership team, SPS faculty and advisory boards, the SPS Marketing and Enrollment team, and the SPS Distance Learning team, to identify new, innovative educational opportunities that increase the SPS portfolio of academic offerings; oversees market research and analysis of learner and employer needs to evaluate viability of new offerings; develops and submits proposals for new academic programs.
- Leads the academic teams in developing annual strategic plans and fiscal budgets designed to sustain quality instruction in all educational activity; monitors and approves existing curriculum revisions; recommends changes in policies and procedures to improve the quality of the academic experience.
- Provides leadership and management for planning, scheduling, delivery and maintenance of program assessment, activity and accreditation efforts.
- Partners with faculty and department directors at other Northwestern University schools, departments and units to deliver undergraduate and certificate programs, including online offerings that reflect the academic quality of the programs at Northwestern University.
- Collaborates with Academic staff, faculty and advisory boards to establish priorities for improving course instruction, including faculty development, technologies to support instructional design and other programmatic initiatives which increase student academic success.
- Organizes and delegates the support staff structure and duties, providing general supervision of staff; formally approves all hiring, promotion and termination of academic departmental staff.
Miscellaneous:
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- PhD required.
- Five to seven years of senior leadership experience in higher education, including management of staff and in-depth knowledge of academic planning policies, procedures, administration and budgeting of academic programs.
- Evidence of developing and implementing successful, innovative program and course offerings in a higher education environment.
- Demonstrated experience with online program delivery.
- Demonstrated experience in long-term strategic and financial planning.
Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)
- Comprehensive knowledge of pedagogy, instructional design, and distance learning in higher education.
- Understanding of the national and regional landscapes of continuing education, including trends and issues that significantly impact the field.
- Entrepreneurial and collaborative leadership style; experience working with faculty, students and administrators.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
Target hiring range for this position will be between $195K to $210K per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.
Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.
Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.
Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.
The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.
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