Academic Program Liaison (Senior Academic Success Manager)

Navitas Group; London; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Navitas is seeking a Senior Academic Program Liaison (Academic Program Liaison) to join our North American team at Western International College in London, Ontario. The role focuses on academic rigour, student outcomes, and student experience, with responsibilities spanning compliance, curriculum, staff management and budget oversight.

The position involves leading instructional programming, staff development and continuous quality improvement while ensuring alignment with regulatory standards

Qualifications

• Experience supervising instructional staff
• Experience in higher education with students and faculty
• Leadership and coordination of busy academic environments
• Strong written communication for reporting and documentation
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced setting
• Commitment to continuous quality assurance and improvement
• Team-oriented and student-centered approach

Responsibilities

• Support academic department leadership to ensure smooth transition for students into university partnerships
• Oversee timetable development, space allocation, and instructor availability
• Participate in instructor recruitment and staff development
• Manage approved academic budget and resource allocation
• Lead strategies for enrolment management, retention and student experience
• Drive teaching excellence and collaboration among instructors
• Design and deliver instructional support programs and curricula
• Ensure alignment of programming with student experience priorities
• Oversee assessment, exams, and academic integrity practices
• Provide one-on-one student advising and connect to support services
• Foster continuous improvement in teaching and learning practices
• Engage with best practices in pathway education for international students

Job description

Since 1994, Navitas has been a respected leader in global higher education. As pioneers in the university pathway sector, we have trusted partnerships with more than 30 forward-thinking universities in Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. We provide our partners with access to resources and expertise to help drive large-scale initiatives that provide tangible, lasting benefits to students, faculty, staff, and local communities.

Navitas is seeking to employ a senior academic success manager internally referred to as Academic Program Liaison to join our North American team at Western International College in London, Ontario (on-site).

The Academic Program Liaison works on the College's strategic direction, management, and support of academic rigour, student outcomes, and student experience.

The position is responsible for academic quality compliance, instructional support services and programming, course offering and curriculum delivery, strategic enrolment management, accreditation of programs, staff management, staff development, and budget oversight.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Leadership and Operations

• Support the leadership in the management of the Academic Department, ensuring students have a smooth transition into the College and to the University Partner
• Oversee the development of the academic timetable, considering course demand, student needs, space allocation, and instructor availability
• Participate in instructor recruitment and selection processes
• Assume accountability for the approved academic budget and ensure effective resource allocation
• Implement the strategic enrolment management systems of the college with an emphasis on retention, success, and student experience

Instructor Community and Teaching Practice

• Drive the development of a cohesive and engaged instructor community, fostering collaboration, consistency, and shared ownership of student outcomes
• Lead initiatives that strengthen teaching practice, including the application of evidence informed and culturally responsive pedagogy within the pathway context
• Create opportunities for instructors to share practices, reflect on teaching, and continuously enhance their approach to student learning
• Build a culture of teaching excellence that supports both instructor effectiveness and student success
• Foster professional excellence with teaching staff on all matters relating to student learning needs

Instructional Programming and Academic Support

• Drive the design and delivery of instructional support programming—including learning management system (LMS) training, onboarding for instructors and staff, and community engagement initiatives - grounded in pedagogical best practices, and evaluate their impact on teaching quality and student outcomes
• Oversee the curriculum and facilitation of academic support programs and foundational courses
• Deliver programming t\hat strengthens academic integrity, onboarding, professional development, and student success
• Ensure alignment between instructional programming and broader academic and student experience priorities

Staff Leadership and Development

• Lead, support, and develop the professional and instructional staff associated to the position
• Provide ongoing coaching, performance management, and professional development opportunities
• Contribute to the recruitment, onboarding, and engagement of instructional staff
• Promote a collaborative, high-performing, and student-centred team environment

Academic Quality and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and academic quality standards
• Support the compilation, analysis, and presentation of academic data for reporting purposes
• Maintain oversight of assessment, exam processes, and academic integrity practices
• Contribute to continuous quality assurance and improvement initiatives

Student Advising and Support

• Maintain breadth of knowledge required to engage effectively in one on one advising of college students, ensuring alignment between teaching practice, academic programming, and student support
• Provide guidance to students and connect them with appropriate academic and support services
• Ensure that academic leadership remains grounded in the student experience and responsive to emerging needs

Best Practices and Continuous Improvement

• Actively engage with and apply best practices in teaching and learning, translating these into approaches that strengthen the student experience and academic outcomes across the College
• Monitor trends in pathway education and international student learning to inform program development
• Contribute to innovation and continuous improvement in academic delivery and student success strategies

Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• A degree in a relevant field from a recognized university
• Experience in the supervision and management of staff (instructional staff preferred)
• Experience in a higher education environment working with students and faculty
• Demonstrated ability to develop, promote, implement, and evaluate programs that support professional development of instructional staff
• Demonstrated leadership and coordination skills required to manage all functions of a busy academic environment
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, including the ability to manage confidential and sensitive matters
• Strong written communication skills to support reporting and documentation
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous quality assurance and improvement
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment

Desirable Skills

• Experience in a pathway college environment
• Experience working with international students
• Experience in a multicultural environment

What We Offer

Navitas is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment, where all employees feel valued, respected and supported. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our students and communities in which we live and serve. If you require an accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Successful applicants will be subject to relevant pre-employment checks, including criminal background and professional reference checks.