Vice President for Academic Affairs & Chief Academic Officer

Easterseals•Long Island City, NY

About The Position

Apex Technical School, part of The Fedcap Group, is seeking an academic leader responsible for the quality, consistency, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of all academic and technical training programs. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President for Administration, the Vice President leads curriculum, instruction, faculty performance, academic operations, accreditation and regulatory compliance, and student learning outcomes. The role ensures programs maintain rigorous academic and technical standards while aligning with industry expectations, employer needs, licensing requirements, and career opportunities for graduates. The Vice President works with school leadership, instructors, student services, enrollment, operations, and employer partners to strengthen the student experience from enrollment through graduation and employment. As a member of the senior leadership team, the role contributes to institutional strategy, planning, budgeting, and decision-making, and supports the development and launch of campuses, programs, partnerships, and academic initiatives. The position is based in the New York Metro Region. Compensation is $150,000–$180,000. Benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage; life/AD&D and long-term disability; a flexible spending account; commuter benefits; a 403(b); and a wellness program.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Significant senior-level experience in career and technical education, workforce education, higher education, proprietary education, community colleges, or a related educational environment.
Demonstrated experience leading academic programs, instructors, curriculum, and student outcomes.
Strong understanding of career and technical education and the relationship between education, industry credentials, employer expectations, and employment outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to use data to evaluate academic performance and improve outcomes.
Experience recruiting, managing, evaluating, and developing faculty.
Strong organizational, communication, analytical, and leadership skills.
Ability to manage multiple programs and priorities in a fast-paced educational environment.
A practical, student-centered approach to academic leadership and a strong commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or other advanced degree.
Experience with accreditation, regulatory compliance, or state education requirements.

Responsibilities

Provide institution-wide leadership and direction for academic and technical education programs.
Set standards for instructional quality, curriculum delivery, student learning, and faculty performance, and promote consistent program delivery across departments, schedules, and locations.
Lead the development, review, and continuous improvement of academic programs, including evaluating opportunities for new programs, credentials, and instructional models.
Keep technical programs aligned with industry standards, technology, equipment, employer expectations, and workforce demand.
Lead recruitment, onboarding, supervision, evaluation, development, and retention of instructors and academic leaders; set faculty performance expectations and maintain an observation and evaluation process.
Strengthen instructor professional development in teaching practice, classroom management, student engagement, technology, and technical instruction; identify and develop academic leaders and department heads.
Work with Human Resources and school leadership on faculty staffing needs, vacancies, compensation challenges, and retention risks.
Oversee curriculum development, course sequencing, instructional materials, assessments, and academic policies.
Ensure curriculum reflects occupational competencies and prepares students for employment, industry certifications, and applicable licensing examinations; review it with employers, industry experts, faculty, and other stakeholders.
Promote effective instructional practices for students with different educational backgrounds and learning needs, and support appropriate educational technology, simulation, hands-on learning, and other instructional innovations.
Ensure required instructional hours, competencies, assessments, and attendance standards are maintained.
Monitor student academic progress and barriers to persistence, completion, credential attainment, and employment; use data to improve attendance, retention, completion, certification passage, and other outcomes.
Partner with Enrollment Management and Student Success leadership on interventions for academically struggling students; establish academic performance dashboards and review results with school leadership and faculty.
Maintain academic compliance with applicable federal, state, accreditation, licensing, and institutional requirements; lead academic work for accreditation reviews, regulatory submissions, program approvals, and site visits.
Ensure faculty credentials, curriculum, instructional hours, academic records, and other academic requirements meet applicable standards; collaborate with compliance, operations, and administrative teams to address regulatory risks and maintain compliance documentation.
Develop relationships with employers, trade associations, unions, licensing bodies, and industry leaders, and establish regular employer feedback on curriculum, graduate skills, and workforce needs.
Ensure programs prepare students for workplace skills and behaviors; work with Career Services and employers to connect instruction with employment outcomes and identify emerging occupations, technologies, and credentials.
Ensure academic schedules, instructor assignments, classroom utilization, laboratories, equipment, and instructional resources support effective program delivery.
Work with Operations and Facilities leadership to ensure shops, laboratories, classrooms, equipment, and learning environments meet instructional requirements.
Participate in annual academic budgeting and workforce planning; develop staffing models based on enrollment, instructional requirements, and program schedules, and identify opportunities to improve effectiveness while responsibly using resources.
Provide senior leadership with regular reporting on academic performance, faculty staffing, student outcomes, compliance, and emerging risks.
Collaborate across departments to integrate academic priorities with enrollment, student services, career placement, operations, and institutional growth.
Foster a culture of high expectations, accountability, continuous improvement, and commitment to student success.