Director of Academic Programs and Program Innovation

UC Irvine; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 91,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Irvine’s Division of Continuing Education seeks a Director of Academic Programs & Program Innovation to oversee the academic programs team and drive learner-centered, industry-aligned course development. You will supervise program managers, ensure high quality curriculum, and collaborate with professional associations and partners to advance workforce education.

You will lead strategic initiatives, manage budgets, and influence governance for certificate and degree-credit programs across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area or equivalent experience/training.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in public education, technical education, and/or training and development of programs.
• Program management experience in higher education setting with supervisory experience.
• Ability to build internal and external relationships and partnerships with professional associations and accreditation bodies.
• Knowledge of grants relating to workforce development from private, government and non-profit organizations.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, LMS Canvas, SIS, and educational learning tools.

Responsibilities

• Oversee activities of public education professionals, academic programs, and management of the unit's day-to-day activities.
• Ensure programs are learner-centered and aligned to industry and/or professional association needs.
• Establish goals and evaluate the performance of the academic programs team, including Program Managers.
• Lead curriculum quality, industry alignment, and instructor performance.
• Collaborate across teams and maintain relationships with internal and external partners.
• Support strategic initiatives and provide leadership for course and program development.

Job description

Who We Are

Founded in 1965,

UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

The Division of Continuing Education is an environment that celebrates diversity of background and experience and one that leverages the unique talents and strengths of staff to achieve greater employee satisfaction, higher productivity, and innovation. We strive to be a place where staff feel that they are equitably treated, respected, heard, valued, and enabled to do their best work while contributing to the organization's mission and vision.

The Academic Programs unit leads the program development and delivery of DCE open enrollment courses and programs targeted to a wide range of professional audiences and industries. The unit is responsible for leading academic governance and oversight, course development, strategic scheduling and all other administrative operations in support of the delivery of courses online and in-person. The unit actively collaborates with external subject matter experts, internal partners and initiates and consults with advisory boards. The unit actively partners and consults with professional associations, licensing bodies and internal campus partners (divisions and schools). The unit recruits and hires professional instructors, provides coaching and professional development, and ensures learners have exceptional learning experiences that adhere to high academic quality standards. The unit is responsible for ensuring all programs and courses align with workforce development objectives and goals established in the division's five-year strategic plan. This unit oversees the creation of programs leveraging non-credit professional courses, certificate programs (degree credit and non-credit) and degree-credit courses available to non-matriculated learners.

Your Role on the Team

Under the direction of the Associate Dean of the Division of Continuing Education (DCE), the Director of Academic Programs & Program Innovation is responsible for overseeing the activities of public education professionals, academic programs, and management of unit’s day to day activities. The Director is responsible for ensuring that all programs are learner-centered, aligned to industry and/or professional association needs and adhere to established academic and service quality standards. The Director, in consultation with the Associate Dean, establishes short and long-term goals and priorities for domestic open enrollment programs and collaborates on program development and oversees the delivery of courses, workshops and programs.

Establishes goals, expectations and objectives and evaluates the performance of the academic programs team, including Program Managers and indirectly, instructional designers and program coordinators. Leads, supports and motivates the Program Managers, ensuring close attention is paid to curriculum quality and maintenance, industry alignment, instructor performance, relationships with professional associations and overall learner and instructor experience.

• Recommends changes to department policies and practices. Responsible for collaborating across teams and cultivating and maintaining relationships with internal and external partners. The Director continually engages in problem-solving associated with the day-to-day operations, including course related issues, instructor hiring, coaching and management and learner issues. The Director also provides support and leadership of strategic initiatives, adding insight and expertise on topics related to academic programming, instructor professional development, course development and innovative course and learning models.

The Director is an active participant in the AP governance process, preparing proposals, evaluating market viability, advising on format and ensuring that DCE has the required resources (human and financial) for the development and renewal of a high volume DCE courses. The Director has the responsibility of supervising and supporting the preparation of approval packages for certificate programs, MOUs, and the creation and dissemination of all supporting documentation for the Academic Program Council. Responsible for communicating program changes and updates to keystakeholders and divisional wide to ensure understanding and clear expectations.

The Director is expected to build internal and external relationships and partnerships to strengthen and grow programs, explore new opportunities, and attend business meetings and events.

Required

What It Takes to be Successful

• Ability to maintain effective professional relationships with clients and instructors.
• Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Effective leadership skills, including directing and developing staff members
• Effective skills to conduct needs assessment and program delivery.
• Knowledge of developing budget, project management, and curriculum design
• Knowledge with credit and non-credit programs and certificates
• Knowledge of program development, business development, curriculum development and online pedagogies
• Knowledge of Microsoft office, LMS Canvas, SIS, and educational learning tools
• Knowledge of change management, problem-solving complex issues, experience with conflict resolutions.
• Knowledge of program ideation, design, format, development, redevelopment, and launch that aligns with workforce needs
• Ability to interpret workforce data, conduct market research, and program assessments.
• Experience working with professional associations, accreditation, as well as for-profit and non-profit organizations
• Knowledge and awareness of preparing grants relating to workforce development, from private, government and non-profit organizations
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
• A minimum of 5 years of experienceStrong knowledge of public education, technical education, and/or training and development of programs.
• A minimum of 5 years of experienceProgram management experience in higher education setting with supervisory experience

Preferred

• Master's degree in related area preferred.
• Continuing education in related field

Total Rewards

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Expected Salary Range Min: $90,600

Expected Salary Range Max: $135,000

Conditions Of Employment

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment
• Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].

Consideration for Work Authorization Sponsorship

Must be able to provide proof of work authorization