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university program director

title: Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for University Program Director
salary: $70,000 - $120,000
categories: ["Higher Education", "Academic Administration", "Program Management"]
description: A comprehensive overview of the key responsibilities, required technical skills and professional background for the role of a University Program Director.
Hiring for a University Program Director to lead academic program strategy, curriculum development, faculty and student support, accreditation and budget management. Ideal candidates have demonstrated experience in higher education leadership, enrollment growth, faculty development, and cross-functional stakeholder management. Keywords: University Program Director, academic program management, curriculum development, accreditation, student success, enrollment management, budget planning.

🎯 Role Definition

The University Program Director is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational management, and continuous improvement of one or more academic programs. This role leads curriculum design and delivery, partners with faculty and staff to ensure high-quality student outcomes, manages program budgets and resources, ensures compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements, and implements recruitment and retention strategies to grow enrollment and strengthen program reputation. The Program Director is the primary internal and external ambassador for the program, working with university leadership, industry partners, and alumni to ensure relevance and sustainability.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Assistant Director / Associate Director of Academic Programs
  • Senior Lecturer / Program Coordinator
  • Director of Continuing Education or Professional Studies

Advancement To:

  • Department Chair / Head of Department
  • Associate Dean / Director of Academic Affairs
  • Executive Director, College-level Programs

Lateral Moves:

  • Director of Online Education
  • Director of Student Success or Enrollment Management

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Provide strategic direction and operational leadership for the academic program, defining short- and long-term goals, program priorities, and performance metrics aligned with college and university priorities.
  • Lead curriculum development and continuous curriculum review, ensuring learning outcomes are current, measurable, and aligned with industry standards and accreditation expectations.
  • Oversee the full lifecycle of program delivery, including course scheduling, faculty assignments, curriculum updates, program assessment, and quality assurance.
  • Manage faculty recruitment, hiring, evaluation, workload distribution, and professional development to build and sustain a high-performing instructional team.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with external stakeholders (employers, industry advisory boards, community partners) to inform curriculum relevance, internship opportunities, and career pathways for graduates.
  • Direct the program’s accreditation, reporting, and compliance activities, preparing documentation, coordinating site visits, and ensuring adherence to institutional, state, and national standards.
  • Create and manage program budgets, forecasts, and financial performance reports; monitor revenue and expenditures and make data-informed recommendations to optimize resources and meet financial targets.
  • Design and implement student recruitment and retention strategies in collaboration with admissions, marketing, and enrollment teams to meet enrollment targets and diversify the student body.
  • Lead program marketing and outreach initiatives, including developing program messaging, participating in recruitment events, and collaborating on web and social media content to increase visibility and applications.
  • Supervise academic advising practices for the program, ensuring students receive timely guidance on academic plans, career options, and degree completion requirements.
  • Analyze program-level data (enrollment trends, retention, completion, student learning outcomes) and produce actionable reports to guide strategic improvements and support decision-making.
  • Coordinate internship, practicum, and experiential learning placements, negotiating agreements with partner organizations and supervising compliance with learning objectives and assessment.
  • Develop and submit grant proposals and external funding requests to support program growth, research, scholarships, or special initiatives.
  • Implement and monitor quality assurance processes for online, hybrid, and face-to-face delivery modes; work with instructional designers to support course development and accessibility.
  • Serve as the program’s primary liaison with college and university leadership, representing program needs, advocating for resources, and participating in governance and policy discussions.
  • Lead cross-functional teams and committees (curriculum committees, advisory boards, assessment teams) to design, implement, and monitor program initiatives and policy changes.
  • Oversee student support programs (mentoring, tutoring, career services partnerships) aimed at improving retention, student experience, and success metrics.
  • Ensure compliance with FERPA, Title IX, disability accommodations, and other federal/state regulations that affect students and program operations.
  • Develop and maintain alumni engagement strategies to strengthen lifelong relationships, fundraising, mentorship networks, and career placement opportunities for graduates.
  • Create and manage onboarding, orientation, and ongoing training programs for adjunct and full-time faculty to support pedagogical consistency and program standards.
  • Monitor labor market trends and employer needs and translate insights into curriculum adjustments, new certificate offerings, or micro-credentials to increase graduate employability.
  • Lead continuous program evaluation initiatives, including longitudinal outcome tracking, course-level assessment analysis, and implementation of improvement plans based on evidence.

Secondary Functions

  • Support data-driven decision making by collaborating with institutional research to interpret dashboards and enrollment analytics for program improvement.
  • Assist with the integration of learning technologies and Learning Management System (LMS) best practices to enhance student engagement and assessment.
  • Provide subject matter expertise and participate in internal and external committees, task forces, and accreditation working groups.
  • Represent the program at university recruitment events, conferences, and community presentations to build partnerships and increase visibility.
  • Facilitate conflict resolution between students, faculty, and staff, escalating complex issues to appropriate university offices when necessary.
  • Coordinate continuing education, certificate, and professional development offerings that extend program reach and generate revenue.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Curriculum development and assessment design (learning outcomes, rubrics, accreditation mapping).
  • Accreditation and regulatory compliance management (regional, programmatic, state regulations).
  • Budget planning and financial management for academic units, including forecasting and P&L responsibility.
  • Enrollment management strategies and CRM experience (e.g., Slate, Salesforce, Technolutions) for recruitment funnel optimization.
  • Data analysis and reporting using institutional research tools, Excel, Tableau, or Power BI to drive program decisions.
  • Learning Management System administration and course design familiarity (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle).
  • Grant writing and external funding stewardship, including proposal development and budget justification.
  • Project management methodologies to plan and implement curricular and operational initiatives.
  • Knowledge of federal/state higher education policies (FERPA, Title IX, ADA compliance).
  • Experience with career services coordination and employer engagement platforms.

Soft Skills

  • Strategic leadership with the ability to translate vision into operational plans and measurable outcomes.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication, public speaking, and presentation skills for varied audiences.
  • Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
  • Organizational skills and attention to detail with the capacity to manage competing priorities under deadlines.
  • Collaborative mindset and experience leading cross-functional teams and committees.
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking to diagnose program challenges and design scalable solutions.
  • Cultural competence and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic programming.
  • Negotiation and conflict-resolution skills for faculty, partner, and student issues.
  • Adaptability and resilience in a changing higher education environment.
  • Coaching and mentoring skills to develop faculty and student potential.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Master’s degree in higher education administration, education, discipline-related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in relevant academic discipline or higher education leadership preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Higher Education Administration
  • Educational Leadership
  • Discipline-specific fields (e.g., Business, STEM, Health Sciences, Education)
  • Curriculum & Instruction
  • Organizational Leadership

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10+ years of progressive experience in higher education administration, program management, or faculty leadership.

Preferred:

  • Minimum 3–5 years in a leadership role managing an academic program, department, or similar unit.
  • Demonstrated experience with accreditation processes, budget management, recruitment and retention strategies, and successful cross-campus collaboration.
  • Proven track record of developing partnerships with industry, community, and alumni to advance program goals.
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