Senior Director of Learning and Academic Support

CU Boulder; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Medical and dental coverage

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

ECO Pass for transit

Job summary

The University of Colorado Boulder invites applications for a Senior Director of Learning and Academic Support. This role leads the Writing Center, LA Program, and UROP, building a centralized undergraduate learning hub within OUE to advance student success.

You will partner with campus units, guide strategic vision, supervise staff and budgets, and measure outcomes. The position offers a hybrid work model with on-campus responsibilities and a broad impact on undergraduate education across CU

Qualifications

• Master’s degree and 4+ years in program direction with full-time supervision.
• Experience with cross-campus initiatives and equity-focused strategies.
• Strong data analysis, assessment, and reporting skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with faculty and administrators.
• PhD preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan for Learning and Academic Support.
• Set a vision for integrated academic support model at CU Boulder.
• Identify and address barriers to student success with equity-minded solutions.
• Lead cross-campus initiatives to improve student outcomes.
• Oversee operations, staff performance, and budgets for the units.
• Foster collaboration across Writing Center, LA Program, and UROP.

Skills

Data analysis

Leadership

Stakeholder collaboration

Public speaking

Policy knowledge

Education

Master's degree

PhD preferred

Job description

Senior Director of Learning and Academic Support

The University of Colorado Boulder is accepting applications for a Senior Director of Learning and Academic Support! This role will provide operational and programmatic support for a portfolio of high-impact academic support units, under the guidance of the Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Support and Enrichment: the Writing Center, the Learning Assistant (LA) Program, and the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). In addition, the Senior Director will cultivate sustained partnerships with campus resources including ASAP Tutoring and academic support efforts in colleges such as Arts & Sciences. These efforts will play a key role in building a high-impact, integrated ecosystem of learning and academic support services that students can access regardless of major.

The development of a campus-wide learning center that serves as a conduit and connection to campus academic resources centers and student success partners is presently under consideration and proposed to the Chancellor and Provost. An important aspect of this role will include leading the development of this newly established, centralized hub for undergraduate academic support. This initiative will involve developing a collaborative and transformative student success infrastructure and shaping the Learning Center's mission, culture, and programs in ways that will support the undergraduate experience for students across all colleges and schools on campus. The Learning Center operates within the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) and represents a critical strategic investment in student success.

In addition to the supervision of the aforementioned academic units, this role will support learning initiatives in OUE more broadly, connect with academic support partners campus-wide, supervise related staff and budgets, and work to assess and communicate outcomes to a wide range of constituents.

The Senior Director will report to the Assistant Vice Provost, Academic Support and Enrichment and will provide visionary and collaborative leadership to partners both within and beyond the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) while working deliberately to surface barriers and improve retention and graduation outcomes across student populations. Additionally, this role will closely consider the intersection of executive functioning and learning technology as higher education navigates the increasing presence of Artificial Intelligence in the world.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to supporting the holistic health and well‑being of employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world‑class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Who We Are

The Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) is responsible for the academic undergraduate experience at CU Boulder, provides extraordinary educational experiences, serves exploring students and collaborates with a variety of units to ensure that students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Strategic Vision and Leadership

The Senior Director will articulate and champion a unifying mission and vision for Learning and Academic Support that reflects CU Boulder's commitment to academic excellence, equity, and student belonging. This includes supporting strategic organizational change processes, collaborating to integrate the work of all supervised units, collaborating with key partners, aligning with campus‑wide student success goals, and responding to data on student learning needs, persistence, and related outcomes.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan for Learning and Academic Support programs and services in collaboration with unit directors and OUE leadership.
• Set a clear, aspirational vision for integrated academic support that positions CU Boulder as a national model for undergraduate learning.
• Discover, examine, and surface barriers to student success in a wide variety of contexts, working with students and campus partners to better understand and consider equity‑minded solutions.
• Develop and pilot future cross‑campus initiatives to improve student success, partnering with relevant offices while using new and existing resources.
• Represent Learning and Academic Support programs and services and related constituencies in university‑wide planning processes, relevant shared governance efforts, and external partnerships, including peer institutions and professional organizations such as the National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA).
• Contribute to CU Boulder enrollment management planning and various student success initiatives by serving on relevant campus committees and/or task forces.

Supervision and Unit Oversight

The Senior Director will provide operational oversight of the three units within the Learning and Academic Support portfolio, providing mentorship, performance accountability, professional development support, and clear direction aligned with the center's mission and larger OUE goals.

The Writing Center is a nationally recognized program offering free, one‑on‑one consultations with trained writing consultants to undergraduate and graduate students across all subject areas. With multiple campus locations and a commitment to supporting writers at every stage of the writing process, the Writing Center is a cornerstone of undergraduate academic life at CU Boulder.

The Learning Assistant Program uses a research‑based pedagogical model in which undergraduate Learning Assistants (LAs) are embedded in large gateway and STEM courses to facilitate collaborative learning. The LA Program benefits three groups simultaneously: the students in the courses who receive peer‑supported instruction, the Learning Assistants who develop deep disciplinary and pedagogical knowledge, and the faculty who gain a powerful co‑instructional resource.

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) connects undergraduate students from all colleges and fields on campus with faculty‑mentored research, creative work, and scholarly inquiry. UROP administers grants, coordinates research showcases and provides a developmental pathway that transforms students into active contributors to the production of new knowledge‑deepening engagement, building graduate school readiness, and enhancing retention.

• Supervise and evaluate the performance of unit directors, establishing clear expectations and accountability structures aligned with strategic priorities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and ongoing improvement across the Writing Center, LA Program, and UROP.
• Ensure each unit's programming is data‑informed, equitably accessible, and responsive to the evolving needs of CU Boulder's undergraduate students and the university's overall mission and goals.
• Be responsible for and support integrated professional development programming for peer educators, learning assistants, writing consultants, and research mentors as applicable.

Cross‑Campus Collaboration and Partnership

The Senior Director will build an effective Learning and Academic Support infrastructure through a networked, student‑centered approach to building relationships between the Learning and Academic Support units and key campus partners, working to eliminate service gaps and create coherent student pathways across new and existing support structures.

• Establish and maintain a formal partnership with ASAP Tutoring to coordinate tutoring and supplemental instruction services, prevent duplication, and develop shared referral and outreach systems.
• Develop partnerships with learning‑support focused offices, including the Center for Teaching and Learning, Disability Services, the Academic Technology team in the Office of Information Technology, Student Academic Success Center (SASC), and Academic Resource Centers on campus such as the Math Academic Resource Center (MARC) and the Physics Help Room.
• Collaborate with the College of Arts and Sciences to develop and integrate learning support initiatives and pilot programs for at‑risk students, and to co‑develop early alert and intervention protocols.
• Build collaborative relationships with academic departments, college‑based student success offices, the Dean of Students Office, Housing and Residential Education, and other units serving student populations facing barriers.
• Support Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Support and Enrichment by collaborating with the Office of Institutional Research and the Office of Data Analytics as needed to access and leverage student success data for program evaluation and targeted intervention.
• Engage faculty members and relevant department leaders to advance the integration of academic support into course design and first‑year programming, including residential learning communities.

Administration, Assessment, and Resource Management

The Senior Director will oversee the day‑to‑day operations of the Learning and Academic Support programming, supervising personnel matters including staff evaluation, performance management and promotional processes, and conducting relevant assessment and related reporting activities for OUE leadership and campus constituents. This position will work in collaboration with OUE Director of Finance, Budget and Operations to handle unit portfolios and provide resource management recommendations to the Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Support and Enrichment.

• Co‑develop the Learning and Academic Support area's consolidated annual budget, ensuring responsible stewardship of institutional resources.
• Lead a robust assessment infrastructure to evaluate program effectiveness, student learning outcomes, and return on investment across all units.
• Produce annual reports and data summaries for OUE and university leadership, accreditation processes, and external audiences as relevant.
• Oversee processes, partnerships, and technology infrastructure that support the Learning and Academic Support area operations.
• Recruit, hire, and develop team leaders for supervised units, under the direction of the Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Support and Enrichment.

What You Should Know

This position offers a hybrid work modality with at least 3 days per week on campus.

What We Can Offer

The annual hiring range for this position is $125,000-$140,000.

Be Statements

Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• A Master's degree and 4+ years of experience serving as a program director with fulltime personnel supervision responsibilities. A Bachelor's degree and 6+ years of experience may substitute.
• Demonstrated knowledge of learning strategies, executive functioning, research integration, and various academic support interventions.
• Experience with cross‑campus university initiatives working with multiple campus academic and student support units.
• Experience with higher education strategic planning, organizational change processes, addressing equity gaps, and compiling assessment results.

What You Will Need

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty and academic administrators.
• Ability to analyze data, assess program effectiveness, and make data‑driven decisions.
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations in higher education.
• A commitment to creating and supporting campus environments where everyone matters and all can thrive.
• Ability to resolve personnel issues within teams.
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport and influence a variety of collaborators.

What We Would Like You to Have

• PhD is preferred.
• Experience in student services.
• Six years of progressively responsible experience in academic administration in a complex higher education setting, or experience as a faculty member.
• Six years of supervisory and/or management experience.
• Experience with student success initiatives and undergraduate policies and processes at CU Boulder.
• Experience administering academic/university policy.
• Experience in handling and allocating significant fiscal and personnel resources.
• Experience with change management and engaging collaborators.
• Experience across multiple units within higher education.

Application Deadline

September 28, 2026