Assistant Director of Academic Programs

University of Virginia•Charlottesville, VA

6d•$85,000 - $95,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of English in the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia seeks an Assistant Director of Academic Programs to partner with faculty leadership to provide strategic planning to ensure all programs are delivered with excellence and offer an exceptional student experience. The Assistant Director’s primary focus initially will be on the Writing and Rhetoric program with potential to expand programmatic leadership across the department over time. The Assistant Director serves as a primary support and partner to the Director of the Writing Program (and, over time, other program directors), balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution functioning as a key integrator across the program’s portfolio.

Requirements

Master's degree
6+ years of relevant professional experience
2+ years formal management experience required.
Exceptional written and verbal communication, and the presence to represent programs with credibility and care
Familiarity with and a commitment to English and/or Writing and Rhetoric as academic disciplines.
Experience in higher education administration, with demonstrated leadership of academic programs at the graduate and/or undergraduate level
The ability to strategize with faculty, engaging with intellectual respect, clarity of mission, and strong professional judgment
Direct experience supporting students through advising, admissions, onboarding, and milestone progression
A student-centered orientation that extends across program types and levels
Experience leading and developing teams of academic professionals
Comfort working across institutional partners
Strong data literacy — the ability to monitor program health, interpret trends, and use evidence to drive continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in English, Writing, Creative Writing
Experience teaching Writing or Creative Writing
Experience working in an academic Writing Center

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary support and strategic partner to the Director of Writing and Rhetoric and other faculty leaders
Manage teaching assignments, course scheduling, and enrollment in partnership with faculty leadership and university partners
Manage Writing and Rhetoric operations including operational and administrative leadership for Writing Across the Curriculum and the Writing Center
Oversee student services functions including onboarding, orientation, advising support, registration coordination, and milestone progression
Partner with faculty program directors to monitor student performance, engagement, and well-being, addressing concerns proactively and holistically
Maintain knowledge of university policies and procedures.
Provide operational leadership for program assessment and reporting
Monitor program metrics including enrollment trends, student progression, and operational performance
Prepare analyses and reports for academic leadership and use data to drive continuous improvement across programs and team functions.
Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of academic programs professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement in service delivery and program operations.
Set clear expectations, support professional growth, and conduct regular performance evaluations.