Assistant Director Graduate Programs

Department: School of Professional Studies

Salary/Grade: EXS/6

Job Summary:

This position manages key elements of academic operations for multiple graduate programs in the School of Professional Studies (SPS). The Assistant Director of Graduate Programs is the primary point of contact for faculty teaching in master's degrees and advanced graduate certificates at SPS. In collaboration with faculty directors and the director of graduate programs, this position manages the day-to-day operations of the graduate programs and advanced graduate certificates. Responsibilities include recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and developing adjunct faculty; leading curriculum development and implementing curriculum updates in collaboration with the program faculty director; managing all other aspects of an assigned program. The manager provides program and project management leadership for other departments in SPS (Distance Learning, Student Advising, Registrar's Office, Finance, Marketing and Recruiting) and Northwestern University to ensure that programs and advanced graduate certificates are managed effectively and efficiently at the highest degree of academic quality.

Specific Responsibilities:

Faculty Management:

• Actively recruit new faculty members to increase program and bench strength via conferences, professional associations, and other events. Interview, select, hire, and schedule new faculty in cooperation with faculty directors.

• Build positive rapport and engagement with faculty director and faculty in specified graduate programs and advanced graduate certificates.

• Implement faculty instructional support initiatives and individually consult with faculty to improve instruction in their specific courses.

• Independently develop and implement annual course schedules for multiple graduate and advanced graduate certificate programs with director approval and oversight; work directly with faculty to rehire and solidify teaching schedules.

• Serves as main point of contact for faculty questions, support, and resolution of issues. This includes new faculty onboarding and support, guidance regarding student issues, and overall teaching and learning support.

• Administer and assess student evaluation data and execute appropriate changes in faculty rehires and curriculum updates.

• Administer SPS and NU policies regarding grade submission, course preparation, and evaluations.

• Co-lead 2 faculty meetings per year per program with faculty director

• Assure faculty compliance with SPS policies and procedures.

• Recommend and implement enhancements to SPS faculty processes to help streamline operations and improve efficiencies.

• Hires and develops TAs, when appropriate

Curriculum Development:

• Develop and sustain program advisory boards, in collaboration with program faculty director.

• Review curricular offerings with advisory boards, faculty director, and faculty to ensure that programs meet high academic standards of quality and meet student and industry needs.

• Initiate and manage program curriculum revisions. This includes developing revision proposals, in cooperation with faculty director, implementing program revisions in conjunction with faculty and the DL team (if applicable), and contracting and overseeing course faculty developers.

• Implement and manage new graduate program offerings at the direction of the assistant dean of graduate programs.

• Directly manage the course development process for both new courses and course revisions and serve as the final sign-off on all development milestones and final developed course.

• Research areas of program expansion and create new program proposals

Faculty Development:

• Manage all faculty communication regarding on-boarding, training, mentoring, and teaching excellence framework.

• Identify appropriate opportunities to implement faculty community-building initiatives, such as awards ceremony, DL weekend, workshops, graduation, etc. and increase faculty presence and participation.

• Collaborate with Instructional Designers to provide expertise and support for faculty to apply teaching and learning innovations in the development and revision of program courses.

• Serves as an advisor and faculty 'connector' to share best practices in teaching excellence

Program Management:

• Oversee approval process for petitions involving program requirements, i.e. course waivers, thesis proposals, independent studies, internships, final thesis approvals, and special requirements for students on academic probation.

• Gather and analyze application and registration data to assist in course planning and retention efforts.

• Solicit student feedback on courses offerings, location, and instruction to inform course planning.

• Research and report on competing programs to help ensure relevancy and competitiveness.

• Research and pursue program accreditation as appropriate to bolster program marketability and relevance.

• Attend/represent programs at industry conferences and other events.

• Develop and execute co-curricular academic and career-related offerings and resources for individual programs with the creation and assistance of Student Leadership Councils.

• Secure speakers and process payments for school-wide lecture series/special events

• Create and review program-related materials, such as the website and print collateral, to ensure content is accurate and up to date.

• Recommend marketing initiatives to improve student interest.

• Draft and recommend new policies and procedures as needed.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.

• Three to five years of experience working in an academic environment directly related to supporting education programs, including regular contact with students and faculty.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Leadership: Demonstrates the ability to lead faculty and academic programming with an emphasis on collaboration, adaptability, and effective problem solving to ensure the quality of academic experience

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to build relationships and influence others to effectively execute initiatives.

• Problem Solving: Formulates realistic plans and contingencies and establishes appropriate measurements of anticipated results.

• Communication, Oral and Written: Communicates effectively one-on-one, in small groups, and in public speaking contexts; writes precise, well-organized emails, letters, and memos while using appropriate vocabulary and grammar.

• Customer focus: Regularly monitors student and faculty satisfaction; provides suggestions to improve quality and value to students and faculty.

• Efficiency: Effectively performs duties and responsibilities; displays attention to detail; supports organizational policies; anticipates demands/pressures of assignments and adjusts accordingly.

• Organization: Plans, organizes and schedules in an efficient, productive manner; anticipates contingencies and pays attention to detail; targets projects or initiatives that require special attention and focuses on key tasks when faced with limited time and/or resources.

• Computer Proficiency: Successfully uses multiple software programs independently. Software may include Microsoft Office, email, and PeopleSoft

Preferred Qualifications:

• A master's degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.
• 8-10 years of professional work experience in academic program management and higher education.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Business Acumen: Possesses business savvy and demonstrates the activity to foster and lead cost-efficient initiatives without sacrificing quality or core values.

• Coachability: Being receptive to feedback, willing to learn, embracing continuous improvement.

• Creativity: Explores alternatives to existing products and services; identifies opportunities to improve procedures and practices; shows imagination.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $68,000K - $74,500K 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.

#LI-GY1