Associate Director, Academic Support and Learning

Job Description:

ABOUT THE CHICAGO SCHOOL 

The Chicago School educates the next generation of change-makers in innovative theory and culturally competent practice to strengthen the integrated health of individuals, organizations, and communities. We enroll over 6,000 students across 40+ academic programs culminating in a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree or a professional certificate, and our unique approach to impact-focused education has made us a leading nonprofit university for over 45 years. As an employee at The Chicago School, you can become a member of an inclusive community committed to excellence. At The Chicago School, we celebrate individuals of all backgrounds and identities for who they are and what they can contribute. We take pride in hiring and retaining the most dynamic, talented, and passionate professionals who will help us continue to innovate for decades to come. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chicago School seeks an innovative and strategic Associate Director of Academic Support and Learning to lead national academic support initiatives for faculty, staff, and students. This role will oversee strategic direction for teaching and learning initiatives, academic skill development, and writing programs across the institution. The Associate Director will also serve as the Coordinator of the Office of Student Writing and Learning (OSWL), ensuring high-quality writing support services and resources are available to students nationwide. 

Reporting to the University Librarian, the Associate Director will collaborate closely with faculty, administrators, and other institutional stakeholders to enhance academic skill development programs and contribute to the long-term vision of the OSWL. This position is remote/hybrid, with occasional travel to campus locations as needed. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight 

• Provide strategic oversight of national student academic skill development initiatives for students in its four colleges. 

• Oversee and expand OSWL programming to support the evolving needs of a diverse student population. 

• Manage internal and external communication strategies for OSWL, including SharePoint, websites, and third-party platforms. 

Writing & Academic Skill Development Initiatives for Online and On-Ground Programs 

• Coordinate writing support services. 

• Develop academic skill initiatives in partnership with the Associate Director of Academic Engagement 

• Develop and implement effective programming, including 1:1 and group tutoring, workshops, and webinars. 

• Collaborate with faculty to support student writing needs across disciplines and degree levels. 

• Oversee dissertation support services and multilingual/international student writing support programs. 

Faculty & Institutional Collaboration 

• Partner with academic departments to design and deliver customized writing and learning support services. 

• Chair The Chicago School’s Artificial Intelligence Content Standards Committee, ensuring AI policies align with institutional goals. 

• Collaborate with faculty councils, deans, and leadership to align academic support initiatives with broader institutional strategies. 

Operational Management & Evaluation 

• Hire, train, and supervise writing specialists and peer tutors as needed. 

• Oversee scheduling, data collection, and outcome reporting for OSWL services. 

• Collaborate with the Office of Institutional Research to evaluate program effectiveness and establish key performance indicators (KPIs). 

• Maintain confidentiality of student records and adhere to institutional policies. 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master’s degree required in English, writing, rhetoric, education, psychology, library and information science or a related field (PhD preferred). 

• Minimum 5 years of experience in higher education academic support, teaching, or learning center leadership. 

• Experience managing or leading virtual teams. 

• Strong familiarity with APA and AMA writing style and formatting. 

• Demonstrated excellence in teaching academic and/or professional writing to diverse student populations. 

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience in a teaching and learning center or academic support role. 

• Knowledge of writing across the curriculum (WAC) and writing in the disciplines (WID) frameworks. 

• Proficiency with academic technology platforms, including SharePoint, Canvas, LibGuides, Libcal, and Writing Assistant Tools (like Grammarly or Writefull). 

• A proven ability to develop and evaluate co-curricular learning support programs. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

This opportunity is budgeted at $70,000 - $75,000 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, and tuition reimbursement, click the link below. 

The Chicago School Career Opportunities 

 

DISCLAIMER 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Compensation & Benefits

This opportunity is budgeted at $$70,000 to $75,000 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.

https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/career-opportunities/

The Chicago School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please note: For the protection of faculty, staff, students, and all who enter our facilities, The Chicago School strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 per CDC guidance.

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