Assistant Dean of Professional Education Programs

Department: School of Professional Studies
Salary/Grade: EXS/12

Job Summary:

The Assistant Dean of Professional Education Programs is responsible for strategic leadership in planning, developing, promoting, and implementing all aspects of non-credit professional development education offered by the School of Professional Studies. This individual is a member of the SPS management team and collaborates with senior leadership to guide strategic direction, identify new growth opportunities, facilitate cross-departmental implementation, and lead continuous improvement activities required to maintain SPS's competitiveness and position as a premier school for adult students. A key responsibility of this position is to develop new and nurture existing industry and academic partnerships to enhance current programming and to identify and develop new programs that respond to market needs for professional education. This position retains oversight for the recruitment and development of faculty to teach in SPS's professional programs and develops academic standards for new and current programs, in partnership with SPS Distance Education as appropriate. The Assistant Dean is also responsible for all student and program management, including administrative budgets, authorizing expenditures, and providing fiscal oversight. The position will work with the Director of Marketing and Enrollment Management to develop marketing and recruitment strategies and will collaborate with key stakeholders within Northwestern to ensure adequate operational support for all professional programs. The position will also lead high-level projects that support SPS's mission, as warranted by the Dean or Associate Dean of Academics.

Please note: Available and willing to work occasional hours during evening and weekends if program schedule requires. Ability to travel abroad.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Guides the strategy of all professional development programs that align with, capitalize on, and promote natural synergies among the programs and leads to new business growth in alignment with overall SPS goals and objectives.
• 2. Manages and conducts ongoing programmatic assessments of the existing professional development portfolio, ensuring that programs are aligned with market demand, industry trends (including corporate and other organizations) and student needs along with revenue goals while maintaining appropriate academic standards. Collaborates with professional associations, especially those which provide accreditation for our programs, to ensure that we are meeting their standards as well as our own. Gathers competitive intelligence, conducts market analysis, and evaluates long-term trends in professional education. Prepares the business case for creating new professional program initiatives.
• Identifies and develops new opportunities for SPS and leverages cross-department strengths to take advantage of those opportunities.
• Develops budgets and pricing strategies for new professional development programs; assists in revenue and expense forecasting and reconciles budgets. Partners with appropriate internal SPS and NU staff to track professional development enrollment data and use this data to develop yearly program offerings. Develops a tuition strategy for existing program offerings.
• Manages customer relationships; develops systems to improve and enhance customer service and increase cross-selling; collaborates with Registration and IT to analyze enrollment trends.
• Recruits and develops staff and faculty, including identifying and contacting external industry experts. Ensures that faculty is adequately supported and improves the SPS faculty communication and management process.
• Leads high profile projects that support the strategic vision for SPS.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible related professional experience managing people, projects, and budgets
• Previous experience with professional development and/or corporate training programs

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• In-depth knowledge of academic planning policies, procedures, administration and budgeting of professional educational programs. Demonstrated competency in strategic planning, leadership, financial stewardship and organizational teamwork
• Ability to easily develop contacts and working relationships with students, instructors and staff; excellent customer service skills
• Demonstrated research and market analysis skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task
• Ability to work independently and take initiative
• Proven success in team building and motivation
• Recognizes problems and responds, systematically gathers data, makes timely decisions, can make difficult decisions, communicates decisions to others. Demonstrates a track record of good decision-making and is sought by others for advice and solutions.
• Process/project management skills: Good at figuring out the necessary processes to get things done. Knows how to organize people and activities. Understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient workflow. Can simplify complex processes, gets more out of fewer resources.
• Oral and written communication skills: Can write and speak clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; can conceive, prepare and present messages that engage and motivate intended audiences.
• Working knowledge of a variety of computer applications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in management/business administration or a related field
• Strategic planning experience
• Previous work experience in higher education; teaching experience
• Previous experience in leading a professional development educational unit

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Proven track record in developing and managing educational programming
• Proven project management skills
• Excellent decision-making skills
• Outstanding communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to effectively multitask

Target hiring range for this position will be between $132,000 to $139,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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