Academic Director of Public Administration

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Job Description Summary

The Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies (SPS) is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as the part-time Academic Director for our new master's program in Public Administration, which will begin in Fall 2024. This leadership role will ensure that this new program achieves sustained academic excellence and strong marketplace relevance to provide high value to our students. To optimize our work and the experiences of our students, staff and faculty, we seek to hire academic leaders who are committed to inclusive practices that value the backgrounds, experiences, and voices of all of our community members. We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive and equitable environment for all given our commitment to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. The Academic Director is a faculty leader integrally responsible for program oversight, continuous improvement of curriculum, student mentoring and guidance, advisory board leadership, faculty coordination, and support of curriculum-related aspects of the accreditation review process.

The Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies (SPS) is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as the part-time Academic Director for our new master's program in Public Administration, which will begin in Fall 2024. This leadership role will ensure that this new program achieves sustained academic excellence and strong marketplace relevance to provide high value to our students. To optimize our work and the experiences of our students, staff and faculty, we seek to hire academic leaders who are committed to inclusive practices that value the backgrounds, experiences, and voices of all of our community members. We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive and equitable environment for all given our commitment to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. The Academic Director is a faculty leader integrally responsible for program oversight, continuous improvement of curriculum, student mentoring and guidance, advisory board leadership, faculty coordination, and support of curriculum-related aspects of the accreditation review process.

An ideal candidate will have

• Earned master's degree in public administration or a related field,
• Significant experience leading and coordinating public administration efforts in a professional setting
• Evidence of effective graduate-level, online course development and teaching experience.

This is a part-time faculty professor of the practice position (non-tenure track) located in Charlotte. Remote work arrangements with regular travel to Charlotte may be considered. Faculty rank and compensation is commensurate with professional experience and academic background.

Job Role

Wake Forest University has a strong sense of community with faculty and staff who are dedicated to the mission of educating the whole person. SPS focuses on accelerating the professional growth of adult students in the Charlotte community and beyond by providing accessible, flexible, affordable, and leading-edge educational experiences by leveraging our academic areas of excellence and external strategic partnerships.

The SPS aims to deliver an innovative online Master of Public Administration program that will focus leadership in the public sector, nonprofit organizations, non-governmental organizations, and government at the local, state, and federal levels. Graduates of the program will be equipped to serve as effective leaders managing the development of impactful projects, programs, and policies.

The Academic Director plays an influential role in developing a culture of innovation, equity, and collaboration that centers on the success of our students and community partners. As a key subject-matter expert, the Academic Director nurtures close connections to industry and community/professional organizations and possesses a deep understanding of best and emerging practices in the field.

SPS faculty consists of a combination of practitioner-scholars from industry and affiliated professors who serve as faculty members in other academic units of the university. The program faculty collaborate to provide a relevant and engaged learning experience to students and are deeply connected to the practice of their profession. The successful candidate will possess relevant experience in professional settings in order to lead this faculty team and continually evolve the Public Administration program to ensure program leadership in the marketplace, high student engagement and outcomes, and impactful mentoring by professional experts.

In support of the SPS goals to provide industry-relevant and cutting-edge academic programs, the Academic Director will be expected to establish and lead a Program Advisory Board made up of industry experts who will assist in the ongoing stewardship of the program and provide mentoring to students. Collaborating closely with SPS staff and the Program Advisory Board, the Academic Director will routinely monitor program outcomes and seek input from students, faculty, and external stakeholders to continuously enhance the program and its impact.

The Academic Director should also be a dynamic leader and impactful mentor who is deeply committed to adult learning. The Academic Director should possess an understanding of the landscape of Public Administration programs. Preferred candidates will possess a graduate degree in public administration or a related field and will have previous experience teaching, online, graduate-level courses.

Application Procedure

Required materials include a letter of application that addresses the academic and professional experience, current curriculum vitae/resume and recent course evaluation results (online, graduate-level courses preferred). (Note: Formal transcripts will be required before a hiring offer can be made.)

Additional Job Description

Time Type Requirement

Part time

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations for all final faculty candidates being considered for employment.

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive work environment committed to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by University policies, the University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran status and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.