HS Academic Director

Penn Foster Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational provider is seeking an Academic Director to oversee the daily operations of multiple online programs. This role requires a strong educational leader to develop curriculum, support faculty, and enhance student success. Ideal candidates will have advanced degrees and a minimum of three years of relevant experience in online education.

Benefits

Generous paid time off

401K with company match

Free access to online programs

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Flexible spending

Sponsored volunteer opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in academic leadership in online/hybrid modalities.
• Teaching experience preferred; online teaching experience highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Ensure curriculum meets educational standards and aligns with the school's mission.
• Recruit, train, and support teaching staff in an online learning environment.
• Oversee systems for tracking student progress and analyze performance data.

Skills

Curriculum strategy

Communication skills

Project management

Analytical skills

Technical knowledge

Education

BA, MA in related field

Doctoral Degree preferred

Job description

Posted Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 4:00 AM

Position Summary:
The Academic Director serves as the academic leader responsible for student-centered vision and oversees the overall daily operations of the programs under their purview. The Academic Director ensures that their programs embody the school’s mission, strives for educational coherence, and reflects the collaborative interests of the administration, faculty, and students.

Essential Job Functions:

Curriculum Development and Oversight: Ensure that the curriculum meets state and federal educational standards while also aligning with the school’s mission. Optimize digital first curriculum and ensure that it aligns with assessment strategies to measure student progress effectively. Oversee continuous updates to keep it relevant and effective.

Academic Strategy and Vision: Partner with Product Leadership and Chief Learning Officer to develop and implement a strategic academic vision to enhance student learning outcomes. This includes identifying areas of improvement and innovation in the academic model.

Faculty and Staff Leadership: Recruit, train, and support teaching staff, ensuring that instructors are effective in an online learning environment. Provide professional development and create a collaborative team culture.

Student Performance and Success Monitoring: Oversee systems for tracking student progress, ensuring they are meeting academic benchmarks. Analyze performance data to identify trends and improve interventions where needed.

Accreditation and Compliance Management: Ensure that the school maintains its accreditation and complies with all educational regulations and reporting requirements.

Technology Integration and Improvement: Work with the Product Leadership and technology team to ensure that learning management systems and other tools are effective for students and faculty and continuously seek ways to enhance the online learning experience.

Program Evaluation and Improvement: Regularly assess and refine the academic programs, including course offerings, to meet the diverse needs of students in an online learning environment.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

BA, MA in related field. Doctoral Degree preferred

Expertise in broad state graduation requirements and corresponding curriculum strategy

Define the curricular sequence based on target HS personas and their post grad objectives

Content and curriculum pedagogy expertise

Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills

Strong analytical skills

Excellent project management skills

Excellent technical knowledge and understanding of the evolving technological and social networking needed for the distance learning student

Solid understanding of appropriate accreditation standards

Understanding of the licensing and regulatory requirements within the industry

A minimum of three years of full-time experience in teaching and/or academic leadership in primary online/hybrid delivery modalities.

Teaching experience preferred; online teaching experience highly desirable

About Us: At Penn Foster Group, we are transforming online learning to help learners by bringing together Penn Foster, CareerStep, Ashworth College, James Madison High School, the New York Institute of Photography, the New York Institute of Art and Design, and other education platforms. Together, we create an accelerated path to greater economic mobility through real-world skills and knowledge that enable learners to achieve long-term success in the workplaces of the future. Our history dates back to 1890 when our founder, Thomas Foster, pioneered distance education by offering training by mail for coal miners to get the necessary skills for safer jobs. Today, with the partners who use our education and training programs, we continue that mission of providing accessible training and education for in-demand skills and are building a workforce that’s prepared for the future job market.

Equal Employment Opportunity: We strive toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Penn Foster Group by intentionally building teams that are diverse – in identities, lived experiences, and ideas to create a culture where people feel connected to each other and have a sense of belonging. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion because it is the foundation that enables us to achieve what we set out to do as an organization – from maximizing the number of learners who can reach their goals while giving them the kinds of experiences we want them to have, to becoming the type of company we want to work in.

What We Offer :We offer a robust benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending, generous paid time off, sponsored volunteer opportunities, a 401K with a company match, plus free access to all of our online programs.