Academic Director, Professional Studies

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Penn Foster

WebsiteLinkedInAll Job Openings

201 - 500 employees

📚 Education

👥 B2C

🤝 B2B

Education • B2C • B2B

Penn Foster is an accredited, career-focused online education provider offering self-paced certificate, diploma, associate, bachelor's degree and high school programs. Its catalog covers vocational and professional areas including healthcare, veterinary technology, skilled trades (HVACR, electrical, plumbing), automotive repair, business, IT, criminal justice, design, hospitality, and more. Penn Foster serves individual learners (over 133,000 active students) with flexible, 24/7 online coursework and also provides employer-facing training solutions. The institution operates multiple schools/divisions and maintains accreditations such as DEAC and program-specific accreditations (for example, an AVMA-CVTEA-accredited veterinary technician program).

📋 Description

• Provide strategic direction and operational oversight for the Professional Studies portfolio • Ensure alignment of programs with workforce demands, accreditation standards, and institutional goals • Lead program evaluation, continuous improvement, and innovation in online pedagogy • Identify opportunities for new program development and expansion • Oversee curriculum design, updates, and instructional quality across all programs • Ensure academic rigor, relevance, and alignment with industry standards • Collaborate with instructional design teams to enhance learner experience and outcomes • Lead, mentor, and develop faculty and academic staff • Establish performance expectations and conduct evaluations • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and learner-centered teaching • Monitor key performance indicators (retention, completion, satisfaction, and employment outcomes) • Implement initiatives to improve learner engagement and success • Partner with support teams, operations, and other teams to optimize the learner journey • Work closely with product, marketing, operations, and workforce partners • Contribute to institutional initiatives and strategic planning • Ensure programs meet accreditation, regulatory, and compliance requirements • Support audits, reporting, and accreditation reviews • Maintain documentation and processes aligned with quality assurance standards

🎯 Requirements

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline required, PhD or EdD preferred • 5+ years of leadership experience in online or distance education • Proven experience managing academic programs and faculty teams • Experience with career-focused or workforce-aligned education programs preferred • Strong understanding of online pedagogy and instructional best practices • Strategic thinking with operational execution capability • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills • Data-driven decision-making and analytical capability • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment • Experience with different technologies, learning platforms, and academic systems preferred, such as Brightspace, Dynamic 365, and Tableau

🏖️ Benefits

• medical • dental • vision • flexible spending • generous paid time off • sponsored volunteer opportunities • a 401K with a company match • free access to our online programs