Executive Director / CEO

ACCSC; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range $250k–$325k

Retirement contributions

Health, dental, vision insurance

Vacation leave

Parking

Tuition reimbursement

Travel benefits

Job summary

ACCSC in Arlington, VA seeks an Executive Director and CEO to advance accreditation integrity, innovation, and student outcomes. You will lead strategy, governance, and operations, working with the Commission, Chair, and Executive Committee to shape national policy and ensure high standards across career education institutions.

The role requires 10+ years of senior leadership in accreditation or higher education, strong policy acumen, and a collaborative, transparent leadership style.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in accreditation or higher education.
• Experience with education policy, regulatory compliance, and nonprofit governance.
• Strong strategic thinking, judgment, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead ACCSC operations, accreditation process, budgets, HR, and IT infrastructure.
• Develop accrediting standards, policies, and procedures; guide accreditation decisions.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Executive communication

Governance & accountability

Policy development

Cross‑functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

Education

Graduate degree in educational/organizational leadership

Doctorate or terminal professional degree preferred

Job description

Lead the Future of Accreditation. Champion Student Success.

The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) is seeking an accomplished, visionary, and mission-driven leader to serve as its next Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer.

As the chief executive and administrative officer of ACCSC, the Executive Director will work closely with the Commission, Chair, and Executive Committee to advance the organization's mission, ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the accreditation process, and position ACCSC as a respected and forward-thinking authority in career education.

For nearly six decades, ACCSC has been dedicated to promoting educational quality and accountability in career-focused educational institutions, helping ensure that students receive the training and education necessary to achieve meaningful workforce success. The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to shape the future of accreditation while advancing innovation, accountability, and student achievement.

Key Responsibilities

The Executive Director will:

• Assist and support the Commission in achieving its mission of serving as a dependable authority as to the quality of education and training offered by career education institutions.
• Assist and support the Commission in establishing and fostering high educational standards, quality, accountability, and ethical practices among accredited institutions.
• Administer the Commission’s operations including but not limited to all aspects of the accreditation process, annual budgets and financial management, organizational design and IT infrastructure, staff management and human resources, and physical space and equipment.
• Cultivate and distribute timely information, advice, and direction needed by the Commission to set strategy; develop accrediting standards, policies, procedures; and make accreditation decisions.
• Ensure the delivery of clear and timely correspondence to member institutions expressing the Commission’s decisions, actions, and guidance as well as any changes or revisions to the Standards of Accreditation or the accreditation process.
• Implement actions determined by the Commission and perform such other duties as assigned by the Chair of ACCSC, Executive Committee, or the Commission.
• Maintain effective and harmonious relationships with the Commission, staff, the U.S. Department of Education, state regulators, accredited institutions, other accrediting agencies, trade associations representing career schools, and other ACCSC constituents.
• Engage in education policy discussions across a spectrum of forums representing the interests of ACCSC and accreditation as an enterprise.
• Schedule, plan, and attend all meetings of the Commission and the Executive Committee participating in deliberations in a non-voting capacity unless otherwise directed by the Executive Committee.
• Devote time and attention to professional development activities, scholarships, and research that are complementary to ACCSC.

The Executive Director is accountable to the Commission for the successful achievement of these duties and responsibilities, with the Chair acting on behalf of the Commission to oversee and review the Executive Director’s annual performance in accordance with the administrative policies and procedures of ACCSC.

Qualifications and Experience:

Successful candidates will have significant senior leadership experience (i.e., 10+ years) in one or more of the following areas:

• Institutional or programmatic accreditation;Higher education administration;Education policy; Regulatory compliance; Nonprofit governance. The strongest candidates may come from backgrounds such as:
• Senior executive leadership within an accrediting agency President or CEO of an education-focused nonprofit organization Senior higher education administration Education policy leadership Chief academic or compliance officer roles within multi-campus educational systems

Experience working with the U.S. Department of Education, accreditation recognition processes, Title IV issues, compliance oversight, and regulatory environments is highly desirable.

Leadership Characteristics

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Commitment to student-centered decision-making
• Strong belief in accountability, peer review, and continuous improvement
• Strategic thinking and sound judgment
• Exceptional communication skills Integrity, transparency, and professionalism
• The ability to lead effectively in complex regulatory environments
• A collaborative leadership style and strong governance partnership skills

Education

• A graduate degree in a field aligned to the requirements and expectations of the position such as educational or organizational leadership, educational administration, public policy, nonprofit management, is required.
• A doctorate or terminal professional degree (e.g., Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D.) is strongly preferred.

Required Experience 10+ years of relevant leadership experience in accreditation, higher education, education policy, regulatory compliance, or a related field.

Other Requirements

• This is an Arlington, VA in-person office-based position.
• Must be able to travel a minimum of 25% of the time/ ~1 trip per month. Must hold a valid driver’s license

Position Start Date: July 1, 2027

Applications will be accepted October 1, 2026 through December 1, 2026.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary Range: $250,000 - $325,000 annually. Starting salary will be determined based on relevant executive leadership experience, credentials, organizational management expertise, and overall qualifications. Retirement Contribution Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Life Insurance Vacation Leave Paid Holidays Parking Tuition Reimbursement Partner Travel Benefit