Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Writing Program Director

🎯 Role Definition

The Writing Program Director is an academic and administrative leader responsible for designing, implementing, and continuously improving institutional writing programs, composition courses, and writing center services. This role combines curriculum design, faculty development, assessment and accreditation support, budget and resource management, and community outreach. The Director ensures alignment between learning outcomes, inclusive pedagogies, institutional goals, and evidence-based assessment practices to raise student success and faculty effectiveness in writing instruction.

Primary SEO/key responsibilities: Writing Program Director, program leadership, composition curriculum, assessment and learning outcomes, faculty development, grant writing, writing center administration, student writing success.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Lecturer or Associate Lecturer in Composition and Rhetoric
Writing Center Director or Coordinator
Instructional Designer or Curriculum Specialist focused on writing instruction

Advancement To:

Director of Academic Programs or Director of First-Year Experience
Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning or Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Senior Director of Student Success or Institutional Assessment Leader

Lateral Moves:

Curriculum Development Manager
Director of Faculty Development or Teaching & Learning Center
Grant Manager / Fundraising Lead for Academic Programs

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the strategic vision, planning, and daily management of the institution’s writing program(s), including first-year composition, advanced writing tracks, discipline-specific writing courses, and writing-across-the-curriculum initiatives.
Design, oversee, and continuously improve curricula and syllabi aligned to measurable learning outcomes, accreditation standards, and inclusive pedagogy best practices for diverse student populations.
Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive assessment plan for program-level learning outcomes; analyze quantitative and qualitative assessment data; produce reports that inform curricular revisions and administrative decision-making.
Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, evaluate, and mentor full-time and adjunct instructors, teaching fellows, and writing center tutors to sustain high-quality, consistent instructional practice across courses and sections.
Coordinate faculty development initiatives—workshops, mentorships, peer observations, and training modules—focused on evidence-based teaching methods, inclusive assessment, multimodal composition, and digital literacies.
Manage program budgets, allocate resources, negotiate adjunct contracts, monitor expenditures, and prepare budget requests that align with institutional priorities and program growth goals.
Lead accreditation, compliance, and reporting efforts tied to composition programs; ensure documentation and data meet institutional, regional, and programmatic accreditation standards.
Direct the writing center or tutoring services when part of the program; craft policies, staffing models, tutor training protocols, and outreach strategies to maximize student utilization and learning impact.
Design and administer placement and placement-testing protocols, including cut scores, directed self-placement, and co-requisite models, and collaborate with institutional stakeholders to refine placement practices.
Create and manage assessment rubrics, scoring guides, and moderation processes for portfolios, capstones, and standardized writing assessments; train raters and maintain inter-rater reliability.
Build and sustain campus- and community-based partnerships for writing instruction, service-learning, internships, and employer engagement to enhance student writing experiences and career readiness.
Lead grant writing, fundraising, and external partnership development to secure programmatic funding, scholarships, research support, and outreach opportunities; manage grant budgets and reporting requirements.
Oversee adoption, integration, and training for instructional technologies, learning management systems (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard), ePortfolios, plagiarism detection tools, and writing-specific software to support pedagogy and assessment.
Draft, update, and communicate program policies including academic integrity, accessibility accommodations, grading, late work, and syllabus standards to ensure equity and clarity for faculty and students.
Serve as a primary liaison between the writing program, academic departments, institutional research offices, student services, and senior administration to align program goals with institutional strategy.
Design data-driven retention and student success interventions targeted at improving outcomes for historically underserved and at-risk student populations; monitor impact and iterate on interventions.
Oversee course scheduling, enrollment management, and section planning to meet program demand while optimizing resources and access for students.
Lead scholarly and pedagogical research initiatives related to composition, writing pedagogy, assessment, and student outcomes; present findings at conferences and publish in disciplinary venues where appropriate.
Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in curricular choices, hiring practices, and program outreach; implement inclusive assignment design and assessment strategies.
Develop communication strategies and marketing materials for the program—web content, social media, brochures, and orientation sessions—to increase visibility and student engagement.
Serve on institutional committees related to curriculum, assessment, general education, and teaching & learning; represent the writing program in college-wide academic planning.
Provide direct student advising on writing pathways, certificate programs, and honors or capstone projects; design options for students pursuing writing-intensive majors or careers.
Implement quality assurance processes for adjunct instruction including observation cycles, feedback loops, and ongoing professional development tied to performance improvement.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc curricular requests from academic departments and collaborate on discipline-specific writing initiatives and assignments.
Maintain up-to-date documentation for program policies, learning outcomes, syllabi templates, and assessment calendars; create easy-access resources for faculty and tutors.
Oversee minor technology troubleshooting related to ePortfolios, LMS course shells, and online assessment tools; coordinate with IT for complex issues.
Coordinate special events—writing festivals, student conferences, guest lectures, and scholarship award ceremonies—to showcase student work and elevate program profile.
Assist with student recruitment efforts for writing certificates, minors, and honors tracks by presenting at orientations and admissions events.
Contribute to institutional research by responding to data requests and compiling program-level metrics for retention, completion, and learning outcomes.
Serve as a mentor and sounding board for faculty engaging in scholarship related to teaching writing, providing feedback on research, conference proposals, and publications.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Program design and curriculum development for writing and composition courses, including syllabi, rubrics, scaffolding assignments, and learning outcomes mapping.
Program-level assessment and learning outcomes measurement, including rubric development, data analysis, and producing accreditation-ready reports.
Faculty development design and delivery: workshop facilitation, observation/feedback models, mentoring, and professional development planning.
Budgeting and fiscal management for academic programs: budget creation, forecasting, expense tracking, and resource allocation.
Grant writing and external funding management, including proposal development, budget narratives, and compliance reporting.
Experience with Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace) and ePortfolio platforms (Digication, Mahara) for course delivery and assessment.
Familiarity with writing center best practices: tutor training, observation protocols, appointment systems, and online tutoring platforms.
Competence with student data tools and analytics (e.g., Tableau, Excel, institutional IR systems) to monitor outcomes and inform program decisions.
Knowledge of placement models and directed self-placement systems, and experience designing placement policies.
Scholarly research methods in composition/rhetoric: qualitative methods, program evaluation, and educational research dissemination.
Proficiency with productivity and collaboration tools: Google Workspace, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), and project management tools (Asana, Trello).

Soft Skills

Leadership and strategic planning: ability to align program initiatives with institutional priorities and lead change management.
Strong written and verbal communication tailored to faculty, administrators, funders, and students.
Collaborative relationship-building across departments, student services, community partners, and external stakeholders.
Coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback skills to develop instructors and tutors effectively.
Cultural competency and commitment to inclusive pedagogy that supports equity in student learning outcomes.
Excellent organizational skills, project management, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Data-informed decision-making mindset with a clear ability to translate assessment findings into actionable program improvements.
Problem solving and conflict resolution: navigating academic disputes, scheduling challenges, and faculty/adjunct concerns.
Public speaking and presentation skills for workshops, conferences, and campus-wide events.
Adaptability and innovation in adopting new pedagogical tools, digital writing practices, and remote/hybrid instruction models.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Master’s degree in Rhetoric & Composition, English, Education, Applied Linguistics, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Ph.D. in Rhetoric & Composition, Composition and TESOL, English, or Higher Education Leadership preferred for research-intensive or tenure-track positions.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Rhetoric & Composition
English / Creative Writing
Applied Linguistics / TESOL
Education / Curriculum & Instruction
Higher Education Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5–10 years of progressively responsible experience teaching writing at the postsecondary level, with at least 2–4 years in supervisory or program leadership roles.

Preferred:

7+ years of combined teaching and administrative experience including program development, assessment leadership, budget management, and demonstrated success in faculty development and grant-funded projects.