Assistant Director - Academic Programs

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston seeks an Assistant Director of Academic Programs to shape and execute a strategic plan for the Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate programs (MS, PlusOne, PhD). The role advises students and partners with faculty to advance graduate education.

This hybrid position coordinates admissions data, course scheduling, and program development, with undergraduate tasks managed by a separate coordinator, supporting student success and program quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required.
• Minimum of four years supporting academic/administrative projects in higher education or similar.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Manage department policies related to student matters.
• Oversee course scheduling for each term and the five-year teaching plan.
• Oversee annual catalog submissions and catalog changes.
• Manage TRACE scores and reviews for PhD students and faculty.
• Coordinate MS, PlusOne, and PhD recruitment activities and inquiries.
• Coordinate orientation programs and graduate recruitment/onboarding events.

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

About the Opportunity

Job Summary The Assistant Director of Academic Programs creates and executes a strategic plan to grow and enhance the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate programs. This role advises Master of Science (MS) and PhD students on their academic programs and serves as an integral partner to the Graduate and Undergraduate Faculty Committees in advancing initiatives and enhancing graduate education.

Responsibilities include managing graduate admissions processes and data, serving as a liaison between the department and the Graduate School, overseeing course scheduling on a semester basis and for the department’s five-year growth plan, developing workshops and events that enhance the student experience, managing course assessment activities related to accreditation, providing guidance to faculty and PhD students regarding teaching assistant workload and support, and facilitating academic projects through collaboration with partners across and beyond the college.

This position is dedicated primarily to the department’s graduate programs (MS, PlusOne, and PhD), with undergraduate-facing responsibilities managed by the Academic Coordinator supervised by this role.

This position follows a hybrid schedule, with three days on site and two days remote each week.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Academic Program Operations and Recruitment

• Manage department policies related to student matters.
• Oversee course scheduling for each academic term and maintain the department’s five-year teaching plan.
• Oversee annual catalog submissions and catalog changes.
• Manage TRACE scores and mid-year and annual reviews for PhD students and faculty.
• Manage recruitment activities associated with MS, PlusOne, and PhD applications.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for program inquiries.
• Coordinate and administer orientation programs, welcome events, Graduate Candidates Day, and other graduate recruitment and onboarding activities.
• Serve as a liaison between the college and department for student-facing events and matters.

Student Data Management

• Manage tracking processes for PhD student milestones, including qualifying examinations, work-in-progress reviews, proposal defenses, and dissertation defenses.
• Interact directly with graduate students and monitor timelines related to advisor assignments and reassignments, committee formation, qualifying examinations, proposals, and defense arrangements.
• Serve as the primary contact for MS students with questions regarding course scheduling and academic timelines.
• Manage student enrollment and tracking data and serve as the department contact for student-related data management.

Program Development

• Manage processes related to the development of new MS programs, combined majors and minors, and new research concentrations for the PhD program.
• Administer approval processes for new courses, concentrations, and academic programs.
• Collaborate with faculty and administrators across departments and colleges to manage the development and implementation of new academic programs.
• Document program changes, approval processes, and voting outcomes associated with new programs.

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Minimum of four years of experience supporting academic and administrative projects, preferably in higher education, with adult learners, or in a high customer service environment.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with keen attention to detail and a commitment to quality.
• Effective interpersonal, oral presentation, and written communication skills.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and respond effectively to the needs of diverse constituencies.
• Ability to consistently produce high-quality work under tight deadlines.
• Professional presence and maturity when interacting with audiences internal and external to the university.
• Positive, proactive attitude with flexibility, initiative, and the ability to function effectively as a member of a team in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated responsiveness to feedback, commitment to continuous improvement, and high integrity.

Preferred Experience

• With academic coordination.
• Master’s degree.

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Position Type

Academic Administration

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation.

Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation

Grade/Pay Type: 108S Expected Hiring Range: $60,315.00 - $85,192.50 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university

Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact.

Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—including 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions.

The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver.

Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses.

Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment.

Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.