Assistant Director - Program Development

Northeastern University•Boston, MA

19h

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Program Development supports the Associate Dean for Graduate Education in developing a portfolio of academic programs that advances the college’s goals for high-quality programs and strong enrollment. The role supports traditional and non-traditional educational products developed by college departments and academic units for delivery across Northeastern’s campuses, aligning offerings with prospective student demand, faculty teaching expertise, enrollment goals, and employer needs. The Assistant Director works with the Dean’s Office and Central Enrollment Management to understand enrollment goals, priorities, trends, and opportunities. The role engages employers to identify hiring needs and educational interests, organizes marketing and survey data, and partners with Innovation Planning and Development on job-market and technology trends and market research. It also collaborates with Experiential Digital Global Education on online program development. Working with department chairs, graduate associate chairs, and program directors, the Assistant Director develops master’s and doctoral programs, identifies programming opportunities, connects faculty in emerging areas, and facilitates curriculum and proposal development. The role supports interdisciplinary programs and campus-wide rollout opportunities, and ensures programs comply with governance, accreditation, and licensure guidelines. It also supports non-traditional educational products, including employer-focused modules and badges, and assists the Associate Director of Graduate Education with program development activities, communication, and coordination.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
At least 3–5 years of experience with academic and administrative projects, preferably in higher education and with adult learners or in a high-customer-service environment.
Strong project management and organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to quality, including producing high-quality work under tight deadlines.
Effective interpersonal, oral presentation, and written communication skills.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret market research, enrollment data, and trends to inform program development decisions.
Ability to balance multiple demands, navigate ambiguity, and drive projects forward independently.
Ability to work effectively as a team member in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, with flexibility and initiative to navigate shifting priorities.
Ability to work across the organization with students, faculty, academic managers, program office personnel, and Deans.
Responsiveness to feedback and commitment to continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience with academic coordination.
Familiarity with academic governance, accreditation, and program approval processes.

Responsibilities

Organize and interpret data about enrollment trends, student program interests, and employer hiring needs across campuses.
Develop new master’s and doctoral programs with department chairs, graduate associate chairs, and program directors.
Identify opportunities to roll out college programs across campuses.
Support development of non-traditional educational products, including non-credit classes, programs, pathways, modules, and badges.
Support opportunities for students to take cross-college classes.
Support online program development and offerings in coordination with Experiential Digital Global Education.
Assist the Associate Director of Graduate Education with program development activities, communication, and coordination.
Ensure compliance with governance, accreditation, and licensure requirements.
Engage employers to understand hiring needs and areas of interest, and facilitate discussions with academic leadership about employer-focused educational products.
Partner on market research related to job-market and technology trends and organize marketing and survey data.