Assistant Director

Position Summary:

The Assistant Director of Vanderbilt University English Language Center (VU ELC) coordinates designated programming areas of the Center; analyzes and evaluates departmental policies and procedures; and recommends personnel responsibilities and assignments to the Center Director.

About the Work Unit:

The Vanderbilt University ELC supports the university’s internationalization, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts through engaging language instruction and resource development for Vanderbilt University students, faculty, staff, and scholars, who use English as an additional language (EAL). 

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

In conjunction with and supervised by the Center Director, the Assistant Director will 

1. Create an organizational culture (both within and across departments) that provides a safe, satisfying and enriching environment and provides a qualified and competent teaching, administrative, and student-worker staff to meet ELC participant/student needs.  
2. Develop goals and objectives for the Center’s programs based on interpretation of institutional goals.   
   1. Plan to achieve goals or establish priorities.                          
   2. Help area(s) understand, share and support the Center’s vision.                              
   3. Initiate changes in or develop new procedures and/or methods.
   4. Analyze long-range impact of decisions and plans.   
3. Develop goals and objectives for the Center’s teaching, administrative, and student staff, based on the interpretation of institutional goals. 
   1. Supervision to include responsibility for planning, coordinating, and controlling work and procedures; provide advice and consultation to staff regarding issues.                   
   2. Adjust work schedules or project priorities to meet emergencies or changing conditions.
   3. Participate on departmental and/or interdepartmental committees to address problems and facilitate information exchange about programs, problems, etc.
   4. Provide information to others to explain/clarify problems, issues or requests.
   5. Participate in periodic management meetings to keep the Director informed of section problems and concerns.
   6. Analyze and evaluate ongoing section programs to identify areas where adjustments and improvements are needed.    
   7. Develop staffing plans to ensure developmental objectives are being met.
4. Create and exceed service standards utilizing key service dimension and from knowledge of participant/student expectations and best practice.
   1. Participate in establishing service standards for the ELC.                             
   2. Ensure that the service standards are met or exceeded by utilizing ELC student satisfaction, best practices and market information to improve programs.                     
   3. Identify, establish and evaluate quality standards, programs, and procedures.       
5. Teach courses, facilitate workshops, and conduct 1:1 consultations in order to maintain direct involvement in the teaching and learning experience.
6. Supervises and coordinates 1:1 consultations and supervises the Administrative Specialist
7. Manages enrollment data
8. Co-coordinates in-house tech support with the Associate Director           
9. Perform other duties as needed by the ELC.

Supervisory Relationships:

Administrative Assistant and student workers 

Education and Certifications:

            Masters in Applied Linguistics, TESOL, or related field is necessary

Experience and Skills:

1. Demonstrated excellence in teaching a variety of English for Academics and Professionals courses at the university-level.
2. Background in graduate student and future faculty professional development.
3. Ability to develop educational resources – including digital resources.
4. Knowledge of language-assessment procedures.
5. Superior English-language proficiency.
6. Knowledge of scholarly literature on teaching and learning in Applied Linguistics in higher education.
7. Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and administrative skills, including ability to work cooperatively with campus colleagues as well as with culturally and linguistically diverse students, faculty, staff, and scholars.
8. Familiarity with the academic mission of a research university.

Key Characteristics of a Successful Team Member in this Work Unit:

The successful VU ELC Assistant Director will 

1. Be adept at understanding the role of the ELC in supporting the mission of Vanderbilt University. 
2. Demonstrate a strong academic background in Applied Linguistics/similar and experience teaching the English language for academic purposes in higher education. 
3. Exhibit flexibility, which is required to identify and support the continuously changing needs of participants/students in a competitive academic setting. 
4. Display strong interpersonal skills with culturally and linguistically diverse students, faculty, staff, and scholars.
5. Be proficient in developing collaborative working relationships with VU ELC colleagues, especially those within their line management as well as with colleagues across campus.