Director of Graduate Studies and Online Programs

Lasell University; Newton (MA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/remote work options

Tuition benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Lasell University seeks a forward-thinking leader to serve as Director of Graduate Studies and Online Programs. You will provide strategic leadership for graduate and online bachelor’s programs within the Division of Workforce Development and Graduate Studies, shaping growth and ensuring academic excellence.

Reporting to the Vice President of Workforce Development and Graduate Studies, you will drive program development, enrollment growth, and accreditation efforts while collaborating with

Qualifications

• Terminal degree required in a relevant field.
• 7–10+ years in higher education with leadership experience in graduate education.
• Experience with online and hybrid education and academic programs.
• Proven ability to lead program development, curriculum oversight, and faculty leadership.
• Strong communication and change-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic expansion of graduate and online programs aligned with labor market demand.
• Conduct labor market analysis and competitive benchmarking to inform program development.
• Partner with enrollment, marketing, and academic operations to set growth targets.
• Supervise program chairs, directors, and faculty across disciplines.
• Guide curriculum development, program quality, and enrollment performance.
• Support accreditation efforts and ongoing program improvement.

Skills

Exceptional communication

Change management

Labor market awareness

Online & hybrid program leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Terminal degree (Ph.D./Ed.D.) in a relevant field

7–10+ years in higher education leadership

Tools

Labor market analytics tools

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Lasell University - Newton, MA 02466, Education Level: Ph.D., Salary Range: $95,000.00 - $100,000.00 Salary, Director of Graduate Studies and Online Programs

Position Summary

Lasell University seeks a forward-thinking and results-driven academic leader to serve as the Director of Graduate Studies and Online Programs to provide strategic leadership for all graduate and online bachelor’s degree programs within the Division of Workforce Development and Graduate Studies. This role is responsible for leading the growth, development, and continuous improvement of graduate offerings and online bachelor’s degrees in alignment with evolving labor market demands and workforce needs.

Reporting to Vice President of Workforce Development and Graduate Studies, the Director will join the division’s leadership team and play a central role in shaping the graduate and online bachelor’s degree portfolio, ensuring rigor, academic excellence, fostering innovation, and advancing enrollment growth through market-responsive program development.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Growth

• Lead the strategic expansion of graduate and online bachelor’s degree programs, identifying opportunities for new degrees with embedded industry recognized credentials aligned with labor market demand and emerging industries.
• Conduct and utilize labor market analysis and competitive benchmarking to inform program development and revision.
• Partner with institutional leadership including enrollment, marketing and communications, and academic operations to establish growth targets and ensure alignment with Lasell University’s strategic priorities.

Supervision and Management

• Supervise, support, and evaluate program chairs, program directors, and FT and PT faculty across all disciplines in the division’s academic portfolio.
• Foster collaboration among program chairs/directors/faculty/staff to promote consistency, accountability, innovation, and best practices in online education.
• Provide guidance on curriculum development, program quality, enrollment performance, and faculty engagement.

Program Development & Innovation

• Lead the development, approval, and launch of new graduate and online bachelor’s degree programs in various modalities (including online, hybrid and on-campus formats).
• Ensure programs are relevant, differentiated, and responsive to employer and industry needs.
• Promote the use of experiential and applied learning models for non-traditional learner that is consistent with Lasell’s Connected Learning philosophy.

Enrollment Growth & Market Alignment

• Collaborate with admissions, marketing, and enrollment staff to drive graduate and online bachelor’s enrollment growth.
• Support program chairs/directors in developing enrollment strategies and program-specific value propositions.
• Monitor enrollment trends and adjust program strategies to meet market demand and institutional goals.

Academic Quality & Student Success

• Ensure academic rigor, quality, and consistency across all graduate programs.
• Establish, lead, and support a comprehensive assessment plan for each program.
• Lead and support accreditations and continuous improvement efforts.
• Partner with student services and advising enhancing the graduate student experience, retention, and completion rates.

Industry & Workforce Engagement

• Build and maintain partnerships with employers, industry leaders, and community organizations to inform program design and create pipelines for students.
• Establish and maintain advisory boards.
• Ensure programs are aligned with workforce trends and provide clear career pathways for graduates.

Operational & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with instructional design, IT, registrar, and student support services to ensure seamless program delivery.
• Support efficiency in program scheduling, faculty staffing, and resource planning.

Qualifications

Required

• Terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent) in a relevant field.
• 7–10+ years of experience in higher education, with progressively responsible leadership experience in graduate education.
• Demonstrated success in academic program development, curriculum oversight, and faculty leadership.
• Experience with online and hybrid education and academic programs.
• Experience supervising academic leaders and/or program directors/chairs.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• Strong understanding of change management strategies.
• Strong understanding of labor market trends and their application to academic program development.

Preferred

• Knowledge of instructional designing
• Knowledge of accreditation standards and regulatory requirements.
• Familiarity with enrollment management strategies for graduate education.
• Experience using labor market analytics tools.

WHY LASELL?

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive benefits package including:
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Retirement
• Tuition benefits
• Generous time off
• Hybrid/remote work options

Lasell University is committed to equal opportunity in every aspect of hiring and employment. Lasell proactively reviews its policies and practices to assure that decisions with respect to every dimension of employment are made without regard to age, color of skin, disability, gender expression and identity, genetic predisposition, marital status, national origin, race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran's status, status as a victim of domestic violence, and all other protected groups and classes under Federal and State Laws and executive orders.