Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Bridgewater Bagel & Coffee; Bridgewater (MA); Hybrid; USD 275,000 - 325,000; Full time

Job summary

Bridgewater State University seeks a Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs to lead the Division of Academic Affairs, oversee six colleges, and partner with faculty and staff to advance student success. The role reports to the President and serves on the President's Cabinet, guiding policy, accreditation, and strategic initiatives.

The position emphasizes equity-minded leadership, budgeting oversight, and collaboration across divisions to sustain BSU's mission and public service

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate or terminal degree.
• Evidence of senior academic leadership in higher education.
• Experience with strategic planning and policy development.
• Budgeting, fiscal management, and resource allocation experience.
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and evaluate faculty and staff.
• Commitment to equity, excellence, and innovation in public higher education.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Division of Academic Affairs and serve on the President's Cabinet.
• Oversee six academic colleges and key functional areas.
• Develop and execute the division's strategic plan.
• Collaborate with faculty, librarians, deans, and staff to advance student success.
• Represent the university in external meetings and ensure accreditation and program assessment.
• Manage the division's budget and resources to support strategic priorities.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Budgeting & finance

HR management

Enrollment management

Equity-minded leadership

Communication skills

Collaboration across divisions

Public higher education experience

Education

Earned doctorate or terminal degree

Job description

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Position Information

Title

Title Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Department Summary

Bridgewater State University is the comprehensive university of southeastern Massachusetts and the third largest public university - 10th largest overall, public or private - in the Commonwealth. With an enrollment of more than 10,000 students, Bridgewater State University provides a wide range of academic programs and innovative learning experiences inside and outside the classroom. The university grants more than 2,200 degrees and certificates each year. Bridgewater State University is on the rise. From being named one of the Best Colleges in America by The Wall Street Journal for a third consecutive year, being ranked the 3rd safest campus and the 3rd most LGBTQ+ Friendly College in the U.S., to our nationally leading undergraduate research program, our ranking as the #1 driver of social mobility among more than 100 colleges and universities in Massachusetts, Bridgewater State University has emerged as the flagship of the state university system. In Fall 2025, BSU welcomed the largest first-year class in its history, increased its overall enrollment by nearly seven percent, and projects continued enrollment growth in 2026. BSU is driven to advance the success of its students – every student, one student at a time, without exception. BSU has also garnered several recognitions as a best place to work in education and higher education and as a USA Today Top Workplaces 2026. In 2024, we published Bridgewater Rising, a digital, multimedia report that tells the story of the university’s advancement during the 10 years of the presidency of Frederick W. Clark, Jr., the 12th president in BSU’s 186-year history. Bridgewater Rising can be accessed via the link below. Bridgewater Rising

To learn more about the position, please review the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Position Prospectus ( PDF ) at the link below. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Position Prospectus ( PDF ) Reporting directly to the President, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs serves as the chief academic officer, leads the Division of Academic Affairs, serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet, and is a liaison to the Academic and Student Life Committee of the Board of Trustees.

This position works collaboratively with highly committed faculty, librarians, deans, and staff to ensure the quality and integrity of academic programs; coordinates the development of new and innovative programs; secures relevant accreditations; leads the recruitment and development of faculty; promotes innovation and excellence in teaching, scholarship, research, creative pursuits and service; and leads the division’s strategic planning efforts.

The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs oversees six academic colleges: Louis M. Ricciardi College of Business; College of Continuing Studies; College of Education and Health Professions; College of Graduate Studies; College of Humanities and Social Sciences; and the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics.

The position also has responsibility for functional areas including, but not limited to Global Engagement; Grants and Sponsored Projects; Academic Achievement Center; Undergraduate Studies; Registrar; Library; Assessment and Institutional Research; High-Impact Practices; and Teaching and Learning.

The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is a non-unit, FLSA exempt position; the terms and conditions of which are governed by the State Universities Non-Unit Professional Administrators Handbook. Salary range for this position is $275,000 - $325,000 (commensurate with experience) and a competitive benefits package including health and life insurance and retirement savings options is offered.

This position is an on-campus position with eligibility for a hybrid remote work option in accordance with the university’s Remote Work Policy.

UNIVERSITY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Uphold and promote the mission, vision, and values of the university and provide equity-minded institutional leadership to the Division of Academic Affairs.
• Serve as a collaborative member of the President’s Cabinet and assist the president with strategic planning, policy/procedure development and implementation, data-informed decision making, and faculty and librarian communications.
• Develop and implement the division’s strategic plan and assess its departments, services, and programs to ensure alignment with the university’s strategic priorities and goals; assist divisional staff with prioritizing initiatives to realize strategic goals.
• Partner and collaborate across all divisions to support vibrant student collegiate and academic interactions – student/faculty programming; high-impact practices; student engagement; and student success and retention.
• Engage in Academic Affairs and university events as a member of the President’s Cabinet: e.g., commencement, social and racial justice activities, philanthropic endeavors, and other prominent campus traditions.
• Participate in the university’s Strategic Enrollment Management Committee to support the recruitment and engagement of a diverse student body.
• Support philanthropic initiatives pertaining to Academic Affairs or others as needed and offered by Alumni and Development.
• Represent the university at external meetings and events involving state university peers, the Department of Higher Education, and other relevant agencies as assigned by the President.
• Represent the Division of Academic Affairs on university-wide committees, task forces, and work groups, as assigned by the President.

DIVISIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work collaboratively to set the academic vision, provide leadership and direction to a diverse population of faculty, librarians, and staff, promoting an ethos which supports equity, continuous improvement, and innovation espousing the university’s overarching priority of student success.
• Responsible for the oversight of all academic programs; lead the development of innovative and viable academic programs; maintain relationships with faculty and librarians, and work in conjunction to create and deliver innovative curricula for all students.
• Promote a culture of excellence in teaching and learning in support of equity-minded student success and foster an inclusive and collegial environment which promotes belonging and embraces and celebrates diversity of people, thought, practice, and perspective.
• Support, enhance, and celebrate faculty, librarian, and student research, scholarly, and creative activities.
• Serve as the lead fiscal steward for the Academic Affairs division and implement a balanced divisional budget of $90.6 million ($83.1 million personnel and $7.5 million operating) in FY26 supporting the strategic goals of both the division and the university.
• Promote the use of technology and innovation to advance teaching and learning, as well as the strategic goals and initiatives of the division.
• Represent the Academic Affairs division in all crisis and emergency management related matters and assist in the coordination of crisis response.
• Responsible for the administration of all academic collective bargaining agreements.
• Oversee the review and development of equity-minded Academic Affairs policies and procedures ensuring alignment with institutional philosophy, compliance with relevant federal and state legal and regulatory requirements; communicate and educate all students on student life policies and procedures.
• Provide leadership and monitor all accreditation reviews and program assessments.
• Responsible for the recruitment, onboarding, development, and evaluation of faculty and staff within the Academic Affairs division.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the President.

Required Qualifications

• Earned doctorate or appropriate terminal degree.
• Attainment of full professor rank and proven record of teaching, scholarship, and service.
• Demonstrated senior academic leadership experience through progressively responsible roles within a Dean’s Office, Provost’s Office, or equivalent executive academic administration positions with a proven record of leading institutional initiatives and advancing academic priorities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning, including implementing and executing a strategic plan using best practices and understanding of current national trends in teaching and learning.
• Demonstrated knowledge of policies and best practices for Academic Affairs.
• Knowledge and experience in budgeting, fiscal management, and resource allocation.
• Experience managing human resources, knowledge of faculty recruitment, development and retention trends at a diverse and complex higher education institution.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diversity of people, thoughts, perspective, and practices.
• Demonstrated record of supporting the success of a diverse student body and experience with equity-minded practice in the academic affairs field.
• Commitment to equity, excellence, entrepreneurship, and innovation with an appreciation for the role of technology in achieving those standards.
• Demonstrated success with retention efforts.
• Evidence of success in the area of enrollment management.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, strong attention to detail, strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to be collaborative, as well as the ability to develop effective teams.
• Integrity, good judgment, and respect for others.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated belief in the importance of high quality, accessible public higher education.
• Prior experience working in a unionized higher education environment.
• Evidence of commitment to BSU values.

Bridgewater State University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ) to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants and employee with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please complete and submit this electronic form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?BridgewaterStateUniv&layout_id=18

Please be aware that employment at Bridgewater State University is contingent upon completion of a successful background check. Bridgewater State University is an E-Verify employer.

Bridgewater State University is an equal employment opportunity employer and considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition or any other characteristic protected by law.

Position Type

Position Type Professional Non-Unit

Salary Range

Salary Range $275,000 - $325,000

Supplemental Questions

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Equal Opportunity Employer Bridgewater State University is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition or any other characteristic protected by law.