Assct. Dean for Curricular and Academic Affairs

New England Conservatory Of Music•Boston, MA

17h•Onsite

About The Position

The New England Conservatory (NEC), a leading independent music school, seeks an Associate Dean for Curricular and Academic Affairs. This role serves as a strategic and operational partner to the Dean and Chief Academic Officer, managing the Conservatory’s academic infrastructure, curriculum, and institutional compliance. The Associate Dean will oversee the curriculum, the Registrar's office (including course offerings, scheduling, assessment, accreditation, and reporting), the academic budget, academic Department Chairs, payroll operations, and the contracting process for academic faculty.

Requirements

Master’s degree in higher education administration, arts administration, or a related field.
3 to 5 years of progressive experience in academic administration, ideally within a conservatory or arts setting.
Demonstrated ability to inspire and manage a team of faculty and staff.
Knowledge of higher education legislation (e.g., FERPA, Title IX) and accreditation processes.
Exceptional judgment, discretion, and a commitment to fostering a healthy and welcoming campus culture.
Strong analytical skills, with experience in data-driven decision-making within budgetary constraints.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with Jenzabar J1 (ERP/SIS) and Watermark software (Curriculum Strategy and Course Evaluations).

Responsibilities

Manage course offerings to align with institutional curricular goals, enrollment, and budget.
Oversee the course-approval process and the annual revision of the Academic Catalog.
Oversee the Registrar in developing the annual academic course schedule, ensuring effective use of classroom space and faculty time.
Oversee the Registrar and coordination with advising staff to ensure timely degree progress, completion, and auditing.
Partner with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Academic Life to strengthen the Conservatory's academic advising program and ensure effective student leave policies.
Attend Faculty Council meetings and participate in Curriculum Committee meetings.
Identify, develop, and implement efficient and effective administrative processes related to academic operations.
Serve as a trusted deputy to the Dean, representing the academic leadership team in operational matters.
Serve as the primary administrative point of contact and supervisor for Academic Department Chairs.
Develop and monitor all academic department operating budgets.
Oversee the annual faculty contracting process for all academic faculty in partnership with Human Resources.
Support the Dean & Chief Academic Officer in ensuring and implementing effective faculty evaluation.
Serve as the primary liaison with the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), ensuring institutional compliance with all accreditation standards.
Coordinate data collection and report preparation for accreditation on-site visits.
Maintain and analyze data related to faculty workload and academic resource utilization.
Develop and administer effective semesterly course evaluations.
Hear, decide, document, and act on matters of academic integrity, and participate in the Academic Review Committee.
Maintain and analyze data related to course enrollments, faculty workload, and academic resource utilization to support strategic decision-making.
Develop assessment metrics to measure the success of advising systems and report on metrics related to student retention and persistence to graduation.