Assistant Director of Engineering

Washington and Lee University • Lexington, VA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Engineering, the Assistant Director of Engineering oversees pre-professional advising of engineering students, implements the ABET assessment and continuous improvement process, and assists the Director of Engineering in managing the engineering program. The position supports the administration of curricular logistics, transfer courses, external agency surveys, program public relations, collaborations with university offices, and alumni and industry council meetings. With a long history of preparing students for successful careers and graduate study, the Engineering Program is pursuing ABET accreditation, and this newly created role offers the opportunity to help shape that work. As part of the small, dedicated Physics and Engineering Department, the Assistant Director will be an integral member of a collaborative academic community. To achieve our mission as a liberal arts college, we continually strive to foster a welcoming campus community, which recognizes the value of all persons. The Physics and Engineering Department is committed to contributing to an educational environment that is rich with a wide range of intellectual perspectives and backgrounds. Learn more about what makes Washington and Lee University a great place to work and live at jobs.wlu.edu.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Familiarity with administering policies and procedures in a higher education setting preferred.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and confidentiality in data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
• Ability to learn faculty workflows and pain points to ensure information requests are timed appropriately and framed to highlight benefits to the department and student experience.
• Ability to translate complex accreditation requirements into clear, actionable steps that respect the time and expertise of academic partners.
• Skilled at reading interpersonal dynamics and adapting communication styles to suit different personalities, ensuring all interactions are handled with tact and sensitivity.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a proven ability to manage multiple priorities and recurring deadlines.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to guide faculty in the implementation of assessment procedures.
• Proactive interest in attending conferences and professional development opportunities associated with ABET accreditation.

Responsibilities

• Manages the annual assessment cycle, ensuring collection of faculty assessment artifacts and scores, faculty course reflections, fundamentals of engineering exam results, and other key performance measures.
• Administers annual external agency survey collection of indirect assessment data from seniors, alumni, and employers.
• Analyzes and interprets assessment metrics to identify program trends; formulates strategic recommendations and data-driven briefs for executive leadership to guide programmatic meetings and improvements.
• Facilitates and supports key portions of program meetings (alumni and industry councils); manages the implementation of action items and ensures departmental alignment with strategic objectives discussed.
• Coordinates the multi-year ABET accreditation lifecycle by managing comprehensive documentation and ensuring all reporting adheres to compliance standards.
• Advises all incoming first-year students interested in engineering, including serving as an additional initial advisor until students declare their major.
• Continuously reviews student progress through the curriculum and advises the Director of Engineering when concerns arise.
• Gathers, tracks, and manages all course transfers, including incoming first-year transfer/AP/IB/DE credit, summer courses, and study abroad courses.
• Ensures compliance with ABET tracking standards.
• Examines curricular trends to advise the Director of Engineering on future course planning and hiring.
• Advises students and alumni in their pursuit of professional licensing including national and state-specific requirements.
• Reviews and advises on all communications and publications for consistency and compliance with ABET standards.
• Collaborates with the Director of Engineering to facilitate and engage the alumni and industry advisory councils.
• Liaises with key campus partners including Admissions, IQ Center, Connolly Center, Registrar’s Office, summer first-year advising, Career and Professional Development, Accreditation and Institutional Research, and the Office of Community Based Learning.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package aimed at supporting the work-life balance, health and wellbeing, financial security, and professional development of employees.

What This Job Offers

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