Academic Director

Heritage Academy • Phoenix, AZ

5h • Hybrid

About The Position

Elite Sports Academy is seeking an Academic Director for a full-time, year-round position. This role involves leading the academic program for grades 5-12 in a small, entrepreneurial private school environment that combines rigorous academics with high-level athletic development. The Academic Director will be responsible for maintaining academic integrity, managing the school master schedule, making student course-placement decisions, overseeing credit tracking and graduation planning, supervising teachers, and implementing dual/concurrent enrollment programs. This position also involves coordinating academic eligibility for student-athletes, leading accreditation initiatives, and partnering closely with the registrar. The role requires strong communication, organizational skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment. The target salary is $70,000–$85,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• At least 5 years of relevant secondary education experience
• Teaching experience strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of transcripts, credits, graduation planning, and secondary course placement
• Experience with a student information system
• Strong written communication
• Strong verbal communication
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong follow-through
• Ability to work in a small, fast-moving school environment
• Ability to handle multiple responsibilities
• Collaborative problem-solving ability
• Arizona fingerprint clearance or ability to obtain it

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred in Education, Educational leadership, Curriculum and instruction, or a related field
• Experience in one or more of the following: Academic leadership, Instructional coaching, Curriculum, Scheduling, Student support, School administration
• PowerSchool experience preferred
• Private-school experience
• Innovative or nontraditional school experience
• Dual-enrollment programs
• Concurrent-enrollment programs
• College partnerships
• NCAA academic eligibility
• College-bound student-athlete processes
• Accreditation
• School-association applications
• Academic compliance
• Building academic systems in a new or rapidly growing school
• Working with student-athletes
• Coordinating academics around intensive athletic training schedules

Responsibilities

• Lead the academic program for grades 5–12
• Maintain academic integrity, rigor, and continuous improvement
• Build and maintain the school master schedule
• Make student course-placement decisions
• Review transcripts, credits, assessments, and academic needs
• Manage high-school credit tracking
• Oversee graduation planning and diploma readiness
• Supervise, coach, and develop teachers
• Establish clear academic expectations
• Support strong classroom instruction
• Oversee grades and student progress
• Manage academic interventions
• Address escalated academic concerns
• Lead dual and concurrent enrollment implementation
• Coordinate teacher qualifications with college partners
• Oversee the academic side of NCAA/student-athlete eligibility
• Coordinate eligibility records with the registrar and athletic staff
• Lead accreditation, association, and academic compliance initiatives
• Partner closely with the registrar
• Maintain separation between academic decisions and records/data administration
• Communicate with students, families, and staff throughout the workweek
• Participate as an active member of school leadership
• Support student recruitment
• Participate in feeder-school events
• Participate in open houses and other schoolwide initiatives
• Create systems, timelines, and accountability for academic projects
• Carry projects through completion

Benefits

• Depending on experience, qualifications, and scope

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior