Academic Director Jobs
Academic Director jobs are open across higher education, K-12 networks, and corporate learning organizations, from program manager to senior leadership, with specializations in curriculum development, instructional design, and academic operations. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Job Summary:
Teach relevant law courses and lead the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of programs that promote academic success, professional skill development, and bar readiness for law students. Utilize expertise gained through legal practice, legal education, or related professional experience to help students strengthen legal analysis, critical thinking, writing, problem-solving, and exam performance skills. Provide leadership in designing student success initiatives, mentoring and coaching students, and implementing data-informed strategies that support retention, academic achievement, and professional development. Foster a collaborative and inclusive learning environment that supports diverse learning styles and prepares students for the successful practice of law.
Essential Functions:
- Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive student success initiatives that support law students from matriculation through graduation and bar examination preparation.
- Teach academic success and skills-development courses focused on legal analysis, legal writing, critical thinking, professional judgment, exam-taking strategies, and other competencies essential to success in law school and legal practice.
- Translate practical legal experience and professional competencies into effective student coaching, mentoring, and skill-building opportunities.
- Provide individualized counseling, academic coaching, and development planning for students, including those experiencing academic or performance-related challenges.
- Design and facilitate workshops, training sessions, and other educational programming that promote academic success, professional readiness, and bar examination preparedness.
- Develop and implement early assessment tools, targeted interventions, and evidence-based strategies to improve student performance, retention, and success outcomes.
- Utilize legal, industry, and educational best practices, as well as emerging technologies, to enhance learning, engagement, and student support services.
- Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate Academic Success Fellows, peer tutors, student assistants, and other assigned personnel.
- Collaborate with faculty, administrators, legal professionals, and other stakeholders to integrate academic and professional skill development throughout the law school curriculum.
- Track, analyze, and report student performance metrics and program outcomes to identify trends, assess effectiveness, and recommend improvements.
- Partner with the Director of Bar Success to align academic support initiatives with bar preparation and licensure success goals.
- Serve on committees and working groups focused on student achievement, retention, professional development, curriculum enhancement, and strategic initiatives.
- Build and maintain relationships with members of the legal profession and other external partners to identify best practices and support student success efforts.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean, Associate Dean, or Professor of Academic Success.
Additional Position Information:
Education:
Requires a Juris Doctorate Degree.
Licenses/Certifications/Requirements:
Law Licensure
Experience:
Requires a minimum of two (2) years of experience in legal practice, legal education, teaching, academic support, or a related field. Experience gained through private practice, judicial clerkships, government service, or other legal settings is highly valued. Prior bar preparation instruction is preferred. Demonstrated success in developing programs, mentoring or coaching individuals, improving performance outcomes, and supporting at-risk or underperforming populations is preferred. Ability to build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders is required.
Leadership:
Responsible for directing and monitoring the work of Academic Success Fellows, student assistants, peer tutors, and other temporary or student employees in support of Academic Success Program initiatives.
Physical Requirements:
Job is physically comfortable; individual is normally seated and has discretion about walking, standing, etc. May occasionally lift very lightweight objects.
Working Conditions:
No major sources of working conditions discomfort, standard working environment with possible minor inconveniences due to
occasional noise, crowded working conditions, minor heating/cooling or ventilation problems, and/or up to 40% use of PC terminal.
Application Instructions:
In order to be considered for this position, please complete the online application and attach your resume. Please note that you can add other documents to this list that your department requires, such as a cover letter, 3 professional references, and official transcripts, etc.
Application Deadline:
Review of applications will begin on November 18, 2026.
Compensation:
The compensation for this position is commensurate with experience.
FLSA Status (exempt/nonexempt):
Union Affiliation (if applicable):
For assistance with your application or attachments, please contact the Human Resources representative listed:
Cindy HarmEmail:
________________________________________________________________________
Background Check Statement
The University of Akron is committed to providing a safe environment for all students and employees. The University endeavors to protect the health, welfare and safety of all students, employees and visitors on our campus. As such, all offers of employment with The University of Akron are contingent upon verification of credentials, and satisfactory completion of a criminal background check. Some positions may require additional credit investigation and a pre-employment driving record search.
Non-Discrimination Statement
The University of Akron is an Equal Education and Employment Institution. View our Non-Discrimination Statement for more information. Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans.
State of Residence Statement
It is the expectation of the University of Akron that all work performed as an employee of the University will be performed in Ohio.
Job Summary:
Teach relevant law courses and lead the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of programs that promote academic success, professional skill development, and bar readiness for law students. Utilize expertise gained through legal practice, legal education, or related professional experience to help students strengthen legal analysis, critical thinking, writing, problem-solving, and exam performance skills. Provide leadership in designing student success initiatives, mentoring and coaching students, and implementing data-informed strategies that support retention, academic achievement, and professional development. Foster a collaborative and inclusive learning environment that supports diverse learning styles and prepares students for the successful practice of law.
Essential Functions:
- Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive student success initiatives that support law students from matriculation through graduation and bar examination preparation.
- Teach academic success and skills-development courses focused on legal analysis, legal writing, critical thinking, professional judgment, exam-taking strategies, and other competencies essential to success in law school and legal practice.
- Translate practical legal experience and professional competencies into effective student coaching, mentoring, and skill-building opportunities.
- Provide individualized counseling, academic coaching, and development planning for students, including those experiencing academic or performance-related challenges.
- Design and facilitate workshops, training sessions, and other educational programming that promote academic success, professional readiness, and bar examination preparedness.
- Develop and implement early assessment tools, targeted interventions, and evidence-based strategies to improve student performance, retention, and success outcomes.
- Utilize legal, industry, and educational best practices, as well as emerging technologies, to enhance learning, engagement, and student support services.
- Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate Academic Success Fellows, peer tutors, student assistants, and other assigned personnel.
- Collaborate with faculty, administrators, legal professionals, and other stakeholders to integrate academic and professional skill development throughout the law school curriculum.
- Track, analyze, and report student performance metrics and program outcomes to identify trends, assess effectiveness, and recommend improvements.
- Partner with the Director of Bar Success to align academic support initiatives with bar preparation and licensure success goals.
- Serve on committees and working groups focused on student achievement, retention, professional development, curriculum enhancement, and strategic initiatives.
- Build and maintain relationships with members of the legal profession and other external partners to identify best practices and support student success efforts.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean, Associate Dean, or Professor of Academic Success.
Additional Position Information:
Education:
Requires a Juris Doctorate Degree.
Licenses/Certifications/Requirements:
Law Licensure
Experience:
Requires a minimum of two (2) years of experience in legal practice, legal education, teaching, academic support, or a related field. Experience gained through private practice, judicial clerkships, government service, or other legal settings is highly valued. Prior bar preparation instruction is preferred. Demonstrated success in developing programs, mentoring or coaching individuals, improving performance outcomes, and supporting at-risk or underperforming populations is preferred. Ability to build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders is required.
Leadership:
Responsible for directing and monitoring the work of Academic Success Fellows, student assistants, peer tutors, and other temporary or student employees in support of Academic Success Program initiatives.
Physical Requirements:
Job is physically comfortable; individual is normally seated and has discretion about walking, standing, etc. May occasionally lift very lightweight objects.
Working Conditions:
No major sources of working conditions discomfort, standard working environment with possible minor inconveniences due to
occasional noise, crowded working conditions, minor heating/cooling or ventilation problems, and/or up to 40% use of PC terminal.
Application Instructions:
In order to be considered for this position, please complete the online application and attach your resume. Please note that you can add other documents to this list that your department requires, such as a cover letter, 3 professional references, and official transcripts, etc.
Application Deadline:
Review of applications will begin on November 18, 2026.
Compensation:
The compensation for this position is commensurate with experience.
FLSA Status (exempt/nonexempt):
Union Affiliation (if applicable):
For assistance with your application or attachments, please contact the Human Resources representative listed:
Cindy HarmEmail:
________________________________________________________________________
Background Check Statement
The University of Akron is committed to providing a safe environment for all students and employees. The University endeavors to protect the health, welfare and safety of all students, employees and visitors on our campus. As such, all offers of employment with The University of Akron are contingent upon verification of credentials, and satisfactory completion of a criminal background check. Some positions may require additional credit investigation and a pre-employment driving record search.
Non-Discrimination Statement
The University of Akron is an Equal Education and Employment Institution. View our Non-Discrimination Statement for more information. Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans.
State of Residence Statement
It is the expectation of the University of Akron that all work performed as an employee of the University will be performed in Ohio.
See All 116+ Academic Director Jobs
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Find Academic Director JobsAcademic Director Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in academic director jobs.
- Master's or doctoral degree in education, curriculum, or a related field
- 5 or more years of academic leadership or department management experience
- Experience with accreditation processes and regulatory compliance in education
- Demonstrated ability to design and oversee curriculum development initiatives
- Proficiency with learning management systems such as Canvas or Blackboard
- Strong faculty recruitment, supervision, and professional development experience
Tips for Your Academic Director Job Search
Tailor your resume to accreditation outcomes
Academic director postings frequently require demonstrated experience with accreditation processes like HLC, SACSCOC, or CAEP. Pull specific outcomes from your record, such as successful reaccreditation cycles or compliance audits, rather than listing accreditation as a generic skill.
Quantify curriculum scope, not just titles
Hiring committees care how many programs, credit hours, or instructors fell under your oversight. Reframe your resume bullets around scale and measurable academic outcomes, like completion rate improvements or new program launches, rather than role descriptions alone.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists academic director openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter openings by institution type strategically
Corporate learning, community colleges, and research universities each weigh different competencies. When searching, narrow by sector so your application materials stay focused. A cover letter written for a for-profit education company reads very differently from one written for an R1 research institution.
Prepare a teaching philosophy for panel interviews
Many academic director searches use multi-stakeholder panels that include faculty, deans, and student representatives. Expect a formal teaching or leadership philosophy presentation. Prepare a concise, evidence-based statement you can adapt for academic versus administrative audiences in the same interview day.
Negotiate start date around academic calendar constraints
Academic director roles often have fixed start dates tied to semester or fiscal year cycles. If you have competing timelines, raise this during the offer stage rather than after acceptance. Institutions with spring searches frequently have more flexibility on a July or August start than they initially signal.
Academic Director Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most academic directors?
Indiana University Health, KIPP Texas Public Schools, and City University of New York are hiring the most academic directors right now, with openings concentrated in California, Texas, and Massachusetts, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially active at institutions expanding online programs and at corporate learning organizations building internal academies.
How many academic director jobs are remote?
About 64% of academic director openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote availability concentrated in online-only institutions and corporate learning and development divisions. Roles tied to campus accreditation oversight, faculty management, or student-facing operations are more likely to require an on-site presence.
How do you become an academic director?
Most academic directors start in teaching, instructional design, or department coordination roles and move into leadership after building curriculum and faculty management experience. Earning a master's degree is a standard threshold, and many institutions prefer a doctorate for senior positions. Gaining experience with accreditation cycles, budget oversight, and cross-departmental collaboration significantly strengthens a candidacy before applying.
How do you get hired as an academic director with little experience?
Candidates with limited direct leadership experience can strengthen their candidacy by taking on interim or acting director assignments, leading accreditation sub-committees, or coordinating a curriculum revision project. Framing these contributions with measurable outcomes, such as a program launch or compliance milestone, compensates for a shorter formal management history when applying to associate or assistant academic director roles.
What does the academic director interview process look like?
Most academic director searches involve a screening call with HR or a search committee chair, followed by a full-day campus or virtual visit with panel interviews across faculty, administrators, and sometimes students. Candidates are typically asked to deliver a leadership philosophy presentation or propose a curriculum initiative. Reference checks and a background review follow the final round before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to academic director jobs?
You can find and apply to academic director jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from institutions and organizations across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and apply directly to each one that fits your experience and goals.
See All 116+ Academic Director Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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