Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Campus Administration

Northeastern University; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 131,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University’s Seattle campus seeks an accomplished Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Campus Administration to guide program delivery, compliance, faculty affairs, student services, and career advising. This leadership role partners with the Dean and global network to drive innovation and ensure exceptional student experiences.

The ideal candidate has a doctoral or equivalent degree, 10+ years in higher education, and a proven record of managing diverse teams, advancing strategic

Qualifications

• Master’s or doctoral degree in education, leadership, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in higher education.
• Proven leadership in academic administration.
• Experience coaching, inspiring, mobilizing, and managing high-performing teams.
• Ability to lead strategically and operationally in complex environments.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, particularly in academic administration.
• Highly developed written and oral communication skills.
• Proven track record of fostering a culture of innovation in a growing organization.
• Ability to function as an organizational ambassador and facilitator.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategist for developing academic programs and aligning curricula with workforce needs.
• Act as primary liaison with Deans, Program Directors, and regional colleagues to ensure program relevance.
• Ensure faculty, staff, and students have access to resources and support for teaching and learning.
• Oversee Academic Advisors and 80+ Seattle campus faculty as primary point of contact.
• Collaborate with Northeastern’s Global University System to support excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

People management

Change management

Crisis management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Operational excellence

Education

Master’s or doctoral degree in education/leadership or related field

Job description

Located on the Seattle campus and reporting to the Dean & CEO, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Campus Administration serves as a key member of the campus leadership team and is responsible for oversight and guidance of academic program delivery and innovation, compliance and regulatory matters, faculty affairs, student services, career advising, and program innovation.

Working closely with the Dean, the Seattle campus team, and leaders across Northeastern’s Global University System, the Associate Dean leads the vision and implementation of initiatives designed to promote innovation in academic offerings, including co-curricular experiential learning opportunities. In partnership with college leadership and university stakeholders, the Associate Dean ensures the successful delivery of academic programs and an exceptional student experience. This role is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of new academic programs in collaboration with academic colleges and the global network, as well as leading strategic planning, implementation, and assessment efforts that advance the mission of the Seattle campus.

The Seattle campus is advancing a five-year strategic initiative to launch multiple health science programs in partnership with Bouvé College of Health Sciences. This Health Hub expansion represents a major campus priority and will diversify the campus enrollment portfolio alongside its established Enterprise Technology graduate programs. The Associate Dean will play a critical role in supporting this expansion, partnering with Bouvé leadership on program readiness and ensuring health sciences programs are integrated into campus operations, student services, and the broader academic experience.

The successful candidate will be an experienced leader who inspires teams, develops talent, drives strategic initiatives, and navigates ambiguity while maintaining a strong commitment to operational excellence, accountability, and student success. This position also requires strong crisis management, problem-solving, and change management capabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

Required

• Master’s degree or doctoral degree in education, leadership, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated experience in respected leadership roles within an academic setting.
• Experience coaching, inspiring, mobilizing, and managing high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategically and operationally in complex environments.
• Ability to successfully lead, motivate, and manage multidisciplinary staff groups and build effective teams and networks.
• Exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills, particularly in academic administration.
• Highly developed written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare detailed documents and memoranda.
• Proven track record of fostering a culture of innovation in a growing organization.
• Ability to thrive under pressure, exercise sound judgment, and work with minimal direction.
• Strong personal accountability and a self-starter mindset.
• Ability to function as an organizational ambassador, active listener, and facilitator.
• Ability to navigate difficult conversations effectively and professionally.
• Authentic communication style with the ability to engage individuals at all levels.
• Confidence balanced with humility.

Preferred

• Proven track record of partnering with local academic institutions to deliver high-quality partnerships and events.
• Familiarity with health education and/or health education strategy.
• Prior experience with Veteran’s Administration compliance requirements and state-level regulatory approval processes.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Academic Stewardship

• Serve as a strategist for developing academic programs and recommending and implementing innovative curricula.
• Act as the primary liaison with college Deans, Associate Deans, Program Directors, academic personnel, and regional network colleagues to ensure programs align with local and regional workforce needs.
• Ensure faculty, staff, and students have access to the classroom resources, technology, and support necessary to deliver an outstanding learning and teaching experience.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and problem solver for Academic Advisors and more than 80 faculty members on the Seattle campus.
• Collaborate closely with counterparts across Northeastern’s Global University System to support academic excellence and program delivery.

Strategic Planning

• Partner with the Dean and senior university leadership, including the Registrar and Enrollment Management teams, to identify strategic opportunities and priorities.
• Lead implementation efforts for strategic initiatives and establish appropriate success metrics.
• Manage the ongoing review and update of the campus strategic plan.

People Management

• Oversee high-performing Student Services and Career Services teams to deliver an exceptional student experience.
• Collaborate with campus and network stakeholders to design and implement strategic plans related to student engagement, support, and success.
• Provide leadership, advocacy, and guidance while navigating complex situations and advancing student-centered initiatives.

Faculty Partnership

• Convene faculty and staff to provide professional development opportunities.
• Foster a growth mindset focused on continuous improvement and stakeholder development.
• Support initiatives that elevate teaching effectiveness and enhance the student experience.

Licensure, Compliance, and Accreditation

• Partner with stakeholders in Boston and Seattle to manage campus licensing, compliance, and accreditation requirements.
• Coordinate with national accreditors and state regulators to ensure compliance with applicable standards and regulations.
• Support ongoing regulatory and accreditation processes and related institutional requirements.

Program Pre-Launch Support

• Support and oversee new and existing academic programs prior to launch.
• Partner with Boston-based colleges to ensure operational readiness for program implementation.
• Ensure appropriate resourcing, regulatory alignment, and adherence to institutional quality standards before program launch.

Required Documents

• Resume

Position Type

General 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:

114S

Expected Hiring Range:

$130,945.00 - $209,510.00

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.