Senior Director of Academic Initiatives and Institutional Effectiveness

What if I told you it is possible to find a Company that lived to educate, inspire and empower others while creating a family atmosphere that truly appreciates and respects their team? Would you apply? What if I threw in strong Company values, outstanding benefits, and the opportunity for you to make a tangible impact and feel appreciated?

See below for a feel of what the Company culture is (REALLY) like. Hint: it's amazing.

At Westcliff, we are constantly striving to be the best while valuing each of our team members as human beings and succeeding together!

Westcliff is a leader in innovative global education. We are respected for our transformative, technologically advanced programs and initiatives with a focus on excellence, social responsibility, and diversity. Our tagline – “Educate. Inspire, Empower.” – is a summary of our Mission Statement. As it suggests, the main focus of our University is to strive to enhance the opportunities of our students and employees to enjoy success through empowerment, as a result of their education and hard work.

With diversity and inclusion at the forefront of Westcliff’s core values, we promote a culture that celebrates diversity and inclusiveness regardless of, but not limited to, race, gender, sexual orientation, family status, religion, ethnicity, national origin, physical disability, veteran status, or age. By joining the Westcliff team, you’ll be playing a significant role in our growth, having an opportunity to put your personal touch on Westcliff’s progress as we grow and succeed together!

Sr. Director of Academic Initiatives and Institutional Effectiveness reports to the Chief Academic Officer, VP of Academic Affairs. The position plays a vital role in providing strategic leadership and vision for Westcliff's academic initiatives, assessment, course development, institutional research, and continuous improvement efforts. Collaborating with university senior leaders, college deans, academic teams, and other departments, this person is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and maintenance of successful academic quality initiatives and effective course development and assessment processes, ensuring data-driven decision-making, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement throughout the institution. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Leadership and Strategy: 
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for institutional effectiveness that aligns with the institution's mission, vision, and strategic goals. 
  • Provide leadership and direction for the Course Development team, The Assessment Office, and the Institutional Research team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement. 
  • Advise senior leadership on matters related to institutional research, assessment, course development, and continuous improvement.
     
• Program Management: 
  • Oversee the fulfillment of larger organizational goals through coordinating activities between multiple projects. 
  • Lead the development and execution of academic initiatives, driving enhancement and effectiveness in academic innovation, curriculum design, course development, program assessment, and student retention. 
  • Collaborate with college leadership, department leads, faculty, staff, and external partners to ensure alignment with academic standards, institutional goals, and industry needs.  
  • Monitor initiative effectiveness and make data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement. 
  • Research relevant information from industry leaders, educational
    institutions, and community organizations to enhance program relevance and effectiveness. 

? Work with the ALO to support accreditation processes and ensure appropriate data reportings. 

• Data Management and Analysis: 
  • In collaboration with internal stakeholders, develop and improve structure and systems for collecting, analyzing, and reporting academic data, including student performance metrics, enrollment trends, and program outcomes. 
  • Work with the IR team to utilize data analytics to identify opportunities for optimizing academic programs, enhancing student engagement, and improving retention rates. 
  • Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of institutional data to support decision-making and strategic planning. 
  • Drive the institutional efforts in developing and enhancing dashboards, reports, and other tools to communicate key performance indicators and assessment results to stakeholders. 
  • Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and security of institutional data.
     
• Continuous Improvement: 
  • Promote a culture of continuous improvement by facilitating the use of assessment results to inform planning, resource allocation, and decision-making. 
  • Drive overall effort in training and support to faculty and staff on assessment practices, data analysis, and continuous improvement processes. 
  • Identify opportunities for process improvements and lead initiatives to enhance institutional effectiveness.
     
• Collaboration and Communication: 
  • Collaborate with multiple internal stakeholders to support the development and implementation of academic improvement plans. 
  • Communicate portfolio related results, updates, and continuous improvement initiatives to internal and external stakeholders. 

Qualifications: 

• Master's degree from an accredited institution; doctorate degree is preferred 
• Proven experience in program management, academic administration, or related   fields within higher education. 
• Strong experience in course development, learning outcome assessment, and/or   program evaluation. 
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in data management and statistical   analysis tools. 
• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.  
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic   programs and initiatives. 

Limitations and Disclaimer

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an at-will basis, unless otherwise contractually bound.

Westcliff University is an Equal Opportunity Employer