Vice President of Academic Affairs/Chief Academic Officer

Crowder College is seeking a servant leader to be the next Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA)/Chief Academic Officer (CAO). The VPAA/CAO will be responsible for leading the academic division of the College to fulfill Crowder’s mission, vision, values, and goals of the strategic plan while ensuring the institution remains innovative, responsive, and resilient in a rapidly changing higher education environment.
The next VPAA of Crowder College must have demonstrated experience as a strategic thinker and an engaged leader. The VPAA/CAO will lead the continued improvement of a student-centered teaching and learning environment that is responsive to the diverse needs of learners, including high school dual credit students, traditional-age students, adult learners, incumbent workers, and those seeking alternative or short-term credential pathways. Efforts must be informed by data and adapted to meet social and economic needs across the region served by Crowder College.
Overview
The Vice President of Academic Affairs reports to the President of the College. The position provides academic and executive leadership for both transfer and career and technical education serving both credit and noncredit instruction. The VPAA/CAO leads the academic division to ensure academic quality, student success, workforce alignment, regulatory compliance, and long-term institutional sustainability.
Areas of supervision include the following instructional areas of the College: Business; Communications; Math/Physical Science; Social Science/General Studies; Teacher and Physical Education/Psychology; Life Sciences; Fine Arts; Nursing; Lee Library; Career and Technical Education; Concurrent Enrollment; and Instructional Sites.
The VPAA is a member of the executive cabinet and works collaboratively with the President, other vice presidents, faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders to achieve the College’s mission and strategic goals.
Essential Job Duties

• Provide administrative supervision of the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Associate Vice President of Career and Technical Education, Campus Directors, Library Director, Division Chairs, faculty, Concurrent Enrollment Office and instructional office staff.
• Lead and assist faculty in fully integrating liberal arts principles in all areas of instruction—with focused efforts on critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and civic responsibility.
• Oversee and approve faculty assignments, overload and adjunct pay, and schedules in collaboration with division chairs.
• Oversee all aspects of the curriculum, including the approval of new programs via the Curriculum Committee, the Board of Trustees, the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Higher Learning Commission, and the Department of Education for Financial Aid eligibility.
• Maintain expectations for effective collaboration among all areas of the college.
• Assist in the leadership and coordination of accreditation activities.
• Lead the academic affairs division in the exploration, development, and implementation of academic strategies that anticipate and respond to demographic, technological, and workforce shifts.
• Promote curricular innovation and continuous improvement to ensure academic programs remain relevant and resilient for future students and employers.
• Oversee the development, strengthening, and maintenance of strategic partnerships with employers and industry leaders to co-design relevant curricula, expand work-based learning opportunities—including apprenticeships and internships—and, ensure academic programs remain aligned with evolving regional labor market needs.
• Champion equitable instructional and assessment practices, modalities, and initiatives that enhance student access, retention, and completion, with focused attention on needs for adult and nontraditional learners.
• Assist faculty in the development of integrated alternative pathways to college credits, post-secondary credentials, and industry recognized credentials.
• Lead faculty in the design and development of learning experiences that build community and/or professional networking opportunities between learners and potential employers.
• Ensure academic support and scaffolding are in place to support and onboard the diverse needs of students with focused attention on new or returning adult learners
• Foster a culture of professional learning communities among faculty that strives for continuous improvement in instructional and assessment practices across all discipline areas.
• In coordination with the AVP of AA and instructional site directors, examine the expansion of high-quality, flexible delivery models including online, hybrid, accelerated, short-term, and competency-based pathways to meet learner needs across the nine-county service area, ensuring instructional sites operate at a scale aligned with cost and revenue.
• Assess and implement opportunities to adjust course and program scheduling to create additional entry points for students beyond the traditional eight- and sixteen-week intervals.
• Oversee and assist in the development of talent attraction and professional development opportunities among faculty and staff in academic affairs.
• Lead regular meetings of the Instructional Council and faculty meetings.
• Plan and coordinate instructional space and equipment.
• Lead in the exploration and execution of grant funding opportunities that are aligned to the college’s strategic plan and/or college stakeholder needs.
• Participate in statewide committees for CAOs.
• Develop and manage annual budgets for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Ensure the production of the college catalog, class schedules, and academic calendar is aligned to the needs of learners and is developed on a timely basis.
• Provide administrative guidance for student and parent concerns and appeals with faculty and division chairs.
• Collaborate closely with Human Resources to oversee, develop, and evaluate all faculty contract renewals, including those with specific stipulations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and alignment with institutional policies and academic priorities.
• Collaborate with Human Resources to ensure all personnel investigations involving faculty performance and conduct are handled in accordance with college policies, established HR procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Ensure quality control measures for all coursework, including online and concurrent enrollment instruction.
• Participate in commencement and other ceremonies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the appropriate administrator.

 
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
• A minimum of five years of progressive experience in higher education management.  
• A minimum of five years of instructional experience developing curriculum as well as instructional delivery.
• Knowledge of or familiarity with the mission and distinctive features of community colleges, especially in a rural setting. 
• Skill in supervising directors, chairs, and faculty; coaching and performance management; building professional learning communities and faculty development
• Ability to lead through shared governance, resolve conflicts, and cultivate an equity-minded, student-centered culture.
• Excellent critical thinking and communication skills. 

• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with students, other professionals, staff, and the public.

 
Preferred Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Doctorate Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Demonstrated experience with medium to large scale change management efforts.
• Demonstrated experience pursuing and executing grant funding and factors that strengthen grant proposals to pilot or strengthen strategic initiatives.
• Curriculum governance (curriculum committees, catalog integrity, credit hour policy, learning outcomes, alternative credentialing methods, assessment cycles, program review).
• Secondary education, workforce education and employer engagement (curriculum alignment, labor market analysis, work-based learning design, apprenticeships/internships, industry-recognized credentials).
• Budgeting & resource planning (enrollment-driven budget models, cost-to-serve by site/modality, ROI for programs and delivery models).
• Institutional effectiveness & analytics (KPIs for access, retention, completion; program health metrics; scheduling efficiency; site scaling).

 
Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Successful candidate will be required to live in the taxing district (Newton or McDonald County) within one year of start date.

 
Information Technology Abilities

• Ability to operate a personal computer within the Crowder College Network environment using Microsoft Windows operating system.
• Ability to perform enterprise software (Jenzabar) and learning management software (Canvas) functions.
• Ability to use E-mail and associated calendaring/scheduling applications.
• Ability to perform word processing using MS Word.
• Ability to perform spreadsheet functions using MS Excel.
• Ability to use other computer programs as needed.

 
Positions Supervised
This position has direct supervisory responsibility for the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, the Associate Vice President of Career and Technical Education, Division Chairs, Instructional Design, Library Director, Coordinator of Teaching and Learning, faculty and staff within assigned divisions and Academic Affairs office staff. The role also provides functional oversight for Instructional Center Directors, and the Library Director.
 
Working Environment 

• Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting and may involve frequent interruptions and distractions. 
• May require extended periods of time viewing computer monitor or standing.
• May encounter occasional exposure to inclement weather during travel. 
• Normal college working hours but adjustment of hours involving evening and/or weekend work is required from time to time.
• Travel for professional development and services to staff, at all Crowder locations, is expected.  
• A neat appearance and appropriate business apparel are required.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

 
Physical

• Generally sedentary work involving sitting most of the time but will involve outdoor mobility within the campus and various sites (even in inclement weather) engaging in physical activities such as walking (sometimes long distances) when helping with campus activities.
• Input, access and distribute information using computers.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 
Creative and Analytical Skills

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to devise or modify methods or processes to solve specific problems.
• Ability to work with and apply mathematical concepts.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical and statistical material.

 
Language/Communication Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of people, including staff, students and the general public, in both written and oral mediums.
• Ability to read and understand technical journals, financial reports, and similar publications.
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions

 
***CROWDER COLLEGE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, INTERPRET, OR APPLY THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IN ANY WAY THE INSTITUTION DESIRES.  THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY DUTIES, INCLUDING ESSENTIAL DUTIES, TO BE PERFORMED BY THE EMPLOYEE OCCUPYING THIS POSITION.  THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS NOT AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE.  THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP REMAINS “AT-WILL.”  THE AFOREMENTIONED JOB REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE QUALIFIED DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. 
Crowder College offers a competitive salary complemented by an exceptional Total Rewards package. Employees enjoy participation in the PSRS retirement system, comprehensive health and life insurance options, and access to an Employee Assistance Program for both employees and their families. Additional benefits include tuition waivers for dependents, generous paid time off, college-recognized holidays, and a flexible summer schedule. Together, these benefits reflect Crowder College’s strong commitment to supporting the well-being, growth, and long-term stability of its employees.
 To apply send cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, copies of transcript(s), and completed employment application to Human Resources or email to hr@crowder.edu.
It is the policy of Crowder College to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristics under applicable law. Crowder College is an equal opportunity employer and provider of employment and training services. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.