Director, Center for Academic Achievement

Job Summary 

The Director of the Center for Academic Achievement (CFAA) provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for a comprehensive portfolio of academic support programs and services designed to advance student success, retention. persistence, and graduation in alignment with the university's strategic priorities. The Center supports undergraduate and graduate students through services including on-site and online tutoring in writing, mathematics, science, general education, and select upper-level courses; Supplemental Instruction in high-impact and high-challenge courses; academic coaching; and proactive academic support for students identified through early-intervention processes, midterm grades, institutional data, and referrals from faculty and staff.

The Director provides leadership and oversight for the Center's professional and student staff and is directly responsible for the supervision, development, and performance management of professional staff, including the Assistant Director and Office Coordinator. In collaboration with the Assistant Director. the Director ensures the effective development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of CFAA programs and services. The Director oversees the recruitment, training, supervision, and development structures supporting more than 100 graduate and undergraduate student employees and ensures the responsible stewardship of the Center's fiscal, human, and operational resources.

Using assessment data, institutional metrics, student performance indicators, and emerging student needs, the Director works collaboratively with the Assistant Director and other CFAA staff to evaluate program effectiveness, identify opportunities for improvement, and establish strategic priorities for academic support. The Director partners with academic departments, faculty, advisors, and student success units to identify courses and student populations that would benefit from targeted academic interventions, including tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, academic coaching, workshops, and other academic support strategies.

The Director serves as a university leader and subject-matter expert in academic support and student success, fostering strong partnerships with administrators, faculty, and staff across the institution. The Director represents the Center and university through campus committees, professional associations, conferences, and collaborative initiatives and promotes innovative, evidence-informed practices that strengthen student learning and academic achievement.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Knowledge of academic support, student success, retention, persistence, and academic intervention practices in higher education.
• Knowledge of evidence-informed practices related to tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, academic coaching, and peer learning.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills, including professional staff development, performance management, and team building.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives.
• Ability to use assessment data, institutional metrics, and student performance indicators to evaluate effectiveness and guide continuous improvement and KPI's for the center.
• Knowledge of fiscal and resource management, including budget development, resource allocation, and responsible stewardship.
• Ability to interpret institutional policies, exercise independent judgment, and effectively address complex or unique situations.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative partnerships with faculty, academic departments, administrators, and student support units.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse university and external stakeholders.

Required Qualifications 

• Master's degree or higher in education, student affairs, English, learning support, or a related field. 
• Three (3) years of leadership or supervisory experience in a higher education or comparable professional setting. 
• Experience supervising a large student employee workforce. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience managing tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, academic coaching, learning centers, writing centers, or similar academic support programs. 
• Experience with program assessment, student success analytics, or other data-informed program improvement. 

Compensation & Benefits

• Job Family – Student Services Management 2
• Market Range: 9 (Salary Schedules)
• For information on benefits please visit www.etsu.edu/human-resources/benefits/.

Application Instructions

• Exempt positions are only required to be posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. The closing date for this posting is subject to change without notice to applicants.
• Employment contingent on a satisfactory background check. 

ETSU is an equal opportunity employer.

University Overview

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is an institution with over 14,000 diverse students highly ranked graduate and undergraduate programs. Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Tennessee, ETSU serves as a hub for community, discovery, and service. Aligned with the institution's mission, we value efforts to engage in teaching, scholarship, creative activities, and service that involve community partners and address significant societal needs in our region and beyond. Recognized in 2024 as a Great College to Work For, recent strategic initiatives prioritize the institution’s focus on community engagement.

Disclaimer: The Job Summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work individuals perform in this classification. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require different tasks to be performed as assigned to reflect changes in the position. Employees must be able to perform the position's essential functions satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.