Program Director, Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership and Innovation

Avila University; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition remission for employee and/de­

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Avila University is seeking a Director of the Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership and Innovation to provide strategic, academic, and operational leadership for the doctoral program.

You will oversee curriculum quality, student progression, and outcomes while ensuring RSI-compliant online delivery and alignment with accreditation standards. The role coordinates with Faculty Advisors, Dissertation Chairs, and CIPGS leadership to maintain program coherence from admission to dissertation completion,

Qualifications

• Earned terminal doctorate from a regionally accredited institution; Ph.D. preferred.
• Expertise in leadership, innovation, or a field aligned with the doctoral program.
• Demonstrated knowledge of doctoral education, research design, and applied dissertations.
• Familiarity with accreditation standards (Higher Learning Commission) and RSI standards.
• Understanding of curriculum design, assessment, and program evaluation at the graduate level.
• 10+ years experience teaching at the graduate level; some experience overseeing dissertations.
• Record of teaching and scholarship at the Associate Professor level; Professor preferred.
• Demonstrated academic leadership (program director, department chair, or equivalent).
• Experience in online program delivery, faculty supervision, and student success initiatives.
• Evidence of scholarly activity; applied leadership experience preferred.
• Experience serving adult and working-professional learners preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for the doctoral program and ensure alignment with institutional mission.
• Oversee program design, implementation, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor coherence across admission, coursework, advising, and dissertation phases.
• Maintain academic rigor and relevance in curriculum through regular review.
• Ensure RSI compliance and quality in online delivery.
• Recruit, appoint, and evaluate doctoral faculty including Advisors and Dissertation Chairs.
• Review faculty qualifications for alignment with accreditation standards.
• Support faculty development in teaching, advising and dissertation supervision.
• Monitor faculty workload and ensure appropriate student-to-faculty ratios.
• Lead cohort onboarding and build a community of Ph.D. scholars.
• Oversee student progression and timely completion of milestones.
• Coordinate program assessment with the Director of Assessment.
• Maintain program data for accreditation and institutional reporting.
• Collaborate with enrollment, marketing and student support to improve recruitment and retention.
• Communicate program expectations to faculty and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Online delivery

Faculty supervision

Dissertation supervision

Curriculum design

Program evaluation

Research design

Student success initiatives

Education

Ph.D. degree

Higher education experience

Tools

LMS

Job description

The Director of the Ph.D. In Strategic Leadership and Innovation provides strategic, academic, and operational leadership for the doctoral program, ensuring alignment with institutional mission, accreditation requirements, and standards for doctoral-level rigor. The Program Director oversees curriculum quality, faculty engagement, student progression, and program outcomes, with particular attention to maintaining high-quality online delivery consistent with Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) expectations and doctoral best practices. This role ensures the coherence of the program from admission through dissertation completion, coordinating across Faculty Advisors, Dissertation Chairs, and institutional leadership.

Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership for the doctoral program, ensuring alignment with institutional mission and strategic priorities.
• Oversee program design, implementation, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor program coherence across admission, coursework, advising, and dissertation phases.
• Oversee curriculum development, review, and revision to maintain academic rigor and relevance.
• Oversee alignment of course outcomes with program learning outcomes and dissertation
• Maintain quality and consistency in online delivery, including compliance with RSI and distance education standards.
• Recruit, appoint, and evaluate doctoral faculty, including Faculty Advisors and Dissertation Chairs, in accordance with the faculty handbook and in collaboration with deans and other program directors.
• Review faculty qualifications for alignment with institutional requirements and accreditation standards.
• Support faculty development related to teaching, advising, and dissertation supervision.
• Monitor faculty workload, including dissertation supervision capacity, to maintain appropriate student-to-faculty ratios.
• Lead cohort onboarding and orientation and build a community of scholars among Ph.D. students.
• Review student progression across all program stages, including coursework, milestones, and dissertation completion.
• Ensure effective advising structures are in place to support timely completion of coursework and program milestones.
• Address student concerns, appeals, or progression challenges with guidance from the Dean of the College of Innovative and Professional Studies (CIPGS).
• Lead implementation of the dissertation framework, including coordination among Faculty Advisors, Dissertation Chairs, and the Coordinator of Dissertation Development & Research Support.
• Monitor dissertation progress, completion rates, and time-to-degree.
• Support continuous improvement of dissertation policies, processes, and assessment tools.
• Coordinate program assessment, including evaluation of student learning outcomes and program effectiveness, working with the Director of Assessment, as needed.
• Maintain program-level evidence and compliance and provide data and narrative for institutional reports in coordination with the CIPGS Dean and University Accreditation Liaison Officer.
• Oversee scheduling, course staffing, and program budgeting.
• Collaborate with enrollment, marketing, and student support services to ensure effective recruitment and retention strategies.
• Maintain program data related to enrollment, retention, completion, and faculty performance.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the doctoral program, academic administration and university leadership.
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs, institutional research, and support units to ensure program effectiveness.
• Communicate program expectations, updates, and outcomes to faculty and stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Earned terminal doctorate from a regionally accredited Institution with a documented record of scholarship; Ph.D. preferred.
• Expertise in leadership, innovation, or a field aligned with the doctoral program.
• Demonstrated knowledge of doctoral education, research design, and applied/project-based dissertations.
• Familiarity with accreditation standards (e.g., Higher Learning Commission) and distance education regulations; Experience with RSI standards preferred.
• Understanding of curriculum design, assessment, and program evaluation at the graduate/doctoral level.
• 10+ years experience teaching at the graduate level required; at least some experience teaching or overseeing dissertation work for doctoral students.
• A record of teaching and scholarship at the rank of Associate Professor required; earned rank of Professor preferred.
• Demonstrated expert knowledge of doctoral dissertation supervision, including dissertation processes, standards, and evaluation at the doctoral level.
• Demonstrated academic leadership experience (e.g., program director, department chair, or equivalent).
• Experience in online program delivery, faculty supervision, and student success initiatives.
• Evidence of scholarly activity is required; applied professional leadership experience is preferred.
• Experience serving adult and working-professional learners is preferred.

Successful candidates should be committed to contributing to a climate that supports a diverse student body, serves first-generation college students, multilingual learners, and contributions to equity and social justice through their work.

This is a full-time position, eligible for the usual and customary benefits. Avila University’s comprehensive benefit package includes a generous holiday schedule, tuition remission for employee and dependents, vacation and sick leave, retirement benefits and health insurance.

The Community:

Kansas City, a two-state metropolitan area with a population of nearly two million, offers a wide variety of cultural, educational and social life opportunities. Avila University, a Catholic university founded and inspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, provides undergraduate and graduate education in the liberal arts and professional studies, preparing lifelong learners who make meaningful contributions to the global community.

Additional Employment Information:

Avila University is committed to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of, sex, race, religion, age, color, sexual orientation, disability, national or ethnic origin, marital status, veteran's status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

You must be at least 18 years of age to be employed by Avila University.

All new employees will be required to complete an "Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)" and produce requested documentation after employment.

In compliance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, the university's annual security and crime statistics report is available at https://www.avila.edu/campus-resources/campus-safety.  A copy of this report is available upon request from the Campus Safety Office in the Whitfield building any weekday between 8am and 5pm.

Avila University requires the successful completion of a background check as a condition of employment.