Assistant Director, Academic Support

NAU aims to be the nation’s preeminent engine of opportunity, vehicle of economic mobility, and driver of social impact by delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond.

This position is a remote within the state of Arizona position which allows the incumbent to complete their work at a location other than an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. The incumbent may occasionally work in a shared site, but primarily will work elsewhere.

The Assistant Director of Academic Support is responsible to plan, organize, and direct the day-to-day Academic Support operations of NAU Online team to promote efficiency and effectiveness of various functional areas that impact the online student experience. Oversees departmental activities and university resources focused on serving the needs of fully online students. Applies industry subject matter expertise and institutional knowledge to administers the policies and objectives of NAU Online. Hires, trains, and manages departmental employees.

Program Management - 50%

• Responsible for meeting the goals of assigned Academic Support Programs, including NAU Online Success Coaching, online orientation/onboarding, online, online outreach/communications, and online peer-to-peer programming.
• Supports the refinement of policies and programs that impact the online student journey and carries out the goals set by the division leadership.
• Supports the development, implementation, growth, and refinement of the Academic Support programs focused on NAU’s online student populations.
• Applying awareness of industry trends and environmental changes, provides direction on design and development of activities to improve, modify, or new processes designed to meet the needs of online learners.
• Develops and maintains unit strategic plans and monitors unit resources/budget to achieve strategic goals.
• Presents data to evaluate the efficiency of day-to-day tasks within the department and ensures all objectives are being met, determines outcomes and gives guidance to subordinates on how to meet goals.

Supervisor and Team Support - 30%

• Coaches, mentors, and motivates staff; evaluates team performance and identifies and prioritizes needs for development; reviews completed work to verify technical soundness; works within existing standards to promote team/organization effectiveness.
• Hires, trains, and supervises a team of four full time employees, Student Development Coordinators (i.e. success coaches) and student workers.
• Provides direction to staff including assignments, activities, and schedules to ensure the delivery of excellent service required to meet/exceed departmental goals.

Student Support Operations - 15%

• Conducts proactive outreach and intervention activities with students, selecting those strategies where there is a strong likelihood of making a difference in student persistence and academic success.
• Establishes goals, executes progression plans, effectively delegates, and resolves general issues and concerns of students.
• Develop, plan, promote, execute, and evaluate programming designed to encourage engagement, growth, and persistence seeking to provide a full and well-rounded university experience.
• Handles highly sensitive and/or complex issues with students and/or parents.

Other - 5%

• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree
• 2-4 years of management experience.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience.
• Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

• Master's degree preferred.
• Experience in higher education, including specialization working with online, adult, transfer, and/or military connected students.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of principles of programs, policy implementation, and department administration.
• Knowledge of higher education administrative systems and related business principles.
• Knowledge of online learning landscape.
• Knowledge of modern communications best practices.

Skills

• Supervisory practices and principles.
• Organizational and project management skills.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Knowledge of Salesforce (or other CRM tools).
• Knowledge of Peoplesoft, Tableau, or other SIS systems and student data tools.
• Knowledge of program evaluation practices.

Abilities

• Possesses strong leadership practices.
• Possesses strong problem solving, organizational and analytical capabilities.
• Motivates and empowers staff and facilitates communication across individuals and teams.
• Strong interpersonal communication amongst stakeholders at different levels (senior, peers, and direct reports).

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements. Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States. Finally, each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Anticipated salary range is $77,871 - $97,116. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

This is a Service Professional (SPF) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program; 22 days of vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified dependents. More information on benefits at NAU is available on the Human Resources benefits website. NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus. Service Professionals are hired on a contract basis, renewable each 6 months according to terms of the Conditions of Professional Service. Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's BCBS Plan). New employees are eligible for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31 days from their start date to enroll in benefits. If a new employee chooses the ASRS retirement option, participation in the Arizona State Retirement System, and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it, will begin on the first of the pay period following 6 months after the new employee's start date. New employees who choose to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), which is an alternative to the ASRS plan for faculty and other appointed staff, will begin to participate on the first day of the pay period following election. Additionally, the long-term disability plan that accompanies the ORP will begin on the first day of the pay period following election.

Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to be completed within the first 30 days.

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

March 19, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the "Submit" button by midnight of the application deadline. If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on the Human Resources website or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

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NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.