Academic Director

Mansfield Hall; Burlington (VT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Burlington, Vermont, seeks an Academic Director to provide academic case management for neurodiverse students. The role involves supervising staff, developing individualized support plans, and ensuring student success in a post-secondary learning environment. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree, experience in higher education, and strong organizational and communication skills. This position plays a key part in creating a supportive and inclusive academic atmosphere.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years’ experience supporting diverse learners or working in higher education.
• Ability to support families and stakeholders around student growth.
• Experience managing direct reports in team environments.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and develop team members, ensuring alignment with academic plans.
• Support a caseload of students with executive-functioning disorders.
• Conduct 1:1 academic sessions to support student organization and goal setting.

Skills

Organizational skills

Effective communication

Problem-solving

Conflict resolution

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences or related field

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

Position Summary

The Academic Director serves as an academic case manager and coach for students, providing individualized support and scaffolding to help neurodiverse students succeed in a post‑secondary learning environment. This includes providing structured plans to scaffold executive‑functioning support, supporting them to set holistic goals, develop self‑advocacy, and build executive‑functioning skills. It also includes coordinating support across families, referring professionals, staff, and campus partners. The Academic Director plays a key role in integrating academic development into the overall holistic student experience at Mansfield Hall.

Supervises

Case manager/coach‑level staff, as assigned.

Essential Functions

Leadership and Management

• Supervise and develop team members (as designated), including onboarding, training, performance management, and ongoing professional development.
• Attend team‑based meetings to ensure staff alignment with each student’s academic support plan and Mansfield Hall’s mission, values, and goals.
• Provide leadership and training to direct support staff in cognitive diversity, learning and study approaches, academic development, executive‑functioning, and self‑advocacy strategies.
• Attend weekly Director and Community meetings and serve on relevant internal committees.
• Participate in the on‑call rotation to support after‑hours continuity of support for staff, student, and facility needs that can include student mental‑health emergencies and student conflicts.
• Provide limited support in recruitment, admission, and marketing initiatives in collaboration with the Vice President of Enrollment and Executive Director.
• Represent the academic program in public‑facing events and campus tours as needed.

Student Case Management & Coaching

• Support a caseload of students with executive‑functioning disorders and learning disabilities and who can find college success when offered appropriate scaffolding, instruction, and coaching.
• Caseloads are determined by student needs, team capacity, and available support structures and may vary each year, reflecting the overall complexity and support required.
• Conduct weekly 1:1 academic sessions with students to support organization, coursework management, academic goal setting, class registration, degree planning, scaffolded support plans, and skill instruction.
• Facilitate individualized student planning, goal setting, and assessment through a variety of annual and semester‑based tools and processes.
• Support students in developing social, emotional, and professional communication strategies, self‑advocacy, and decision‑making skills that support long‑term independence.

Academic Systems, Tools, and Support Navigation

• Track and anticipate academic barriers including grades, assignments, attendance, and registration needs.
• Coordinate and collaborate with local college campuses, service providers, and internal staff to ensure student success in navigating post‑secondary academics.
• Advise students on course loads, registration planning, accommodation access, and graduation goals.
• Promote utilization of campus resources such as academic success centers and accessibility offices.
• Maintain accurate documentation and student planning tools.

Family & Stakeholder Communication

• Maintain bi‑weekly communication with families and stakeholders to share progress, identify concerns, and collaborate on interventions, and provide more timely proactive communication as needed.
• Provide detailed updates regarding academic strengths, challenges, and support strategies being implemented to mitigate future academic challenges including potential failing grades, etc.
• Foster early detection and transparent communication to reduce surprises and strengthen the family partnership model.

Culture and Expectations

In performing their duties, employees are expected to embody Mansfield Hall’s commitment to a supportive and encouraging living and learning environment. As a residential program, our work extends beyond traditional office hours and settings, requiring flexibility, presence, and a willingness to adapt to changing schedules and student needs. Team members are encouraged to integrate their passions and talents into program design and delivery, creating a rich, responsive, and engaging experience for students. This includes maintaining respectful, effective communication with co‑workers and students, embracing our inclusive community values, and always acting in a manner that protects the privacy and integrity of our students.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences or a related field required; graduate degree preferred.
• 3‑5 years’ experience supporting diverse learners or working in higher education with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience managing direct reports and collaborating in team environments.
• Demonstrated ability to support families and stakeholders around student growth and development.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong organizational, administrative, and systems management skills.
• Proficiency in building and maintaining professional relationships with families, campus partners, and colleagues.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, flexible work environment.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to synthesize and present complex information.
• Problem‑solving, conflict resolution, and negotiation abilities.
• Commitment to inclusive, student‑centered programming and positive team culture.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Work involves standing and walking for brief periods of time, but most duties are performed from a seated position. There is potential for eye strain from reading detailed materials and computer work. The ability to lift up to 30 pounds (office equipment, paper, etc.) is required. Deadlines, workloads during peak periods, and changing priorities may cause increased stress levels. Work normally requires finger dexterity and eye‑hand coordination to operate computer keyboards at a moderate skill level. Repetitive motion injuries may occur. Mansfield Hall will provide adaptive devices as needed.

Work Environment

• Internal: Work is normally performed in a climate‑controlled office environment, where exposure to extreme heat/cold, poor ventilation, fumes, and gases is very limited. The noise level is moderate and includes sounds of normal office equipment (people, computers, telephones, etc.). No known environmental hazards are encountered in the normal performance of job duties. We operate in a flex‑space work environment that by nature may include distractions and interruptions.
• External: Limited local travel may be required. Work outside the office normally takes place in similar office environments, although occasionally work may include classroom environments.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. All of the listed functions are important and are in no particular order. This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. All employees are required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed. Mansfield Hall is an equal‑opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workplace. People from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, women, and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.