Job Details

• Reports to: Dean, STEM
• Department: Academics
• School: STEM
• Programs: Space, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Science, Geography, Geology, Meteorology
• Location: Remote
• Date Closing: Open Until Filled
• FLSA Status: Exempt

Synopsis of Role:
The Faculty Director is a key leadership position within the university. The Director promotes and supports a quality learning experience for students by ensuring an engaging classroom environment. This management position contributes to a range of activities related to excellence in teaching and student retention, and works closely with each of the APUS departments as well as relevant offices to manage systems and processes related to teaching effectiveness. The Director coordinates with the relevant Directors of Curriculum in order to remain aware of discipline content intent. The Director acts as a liaison to other departments including the Center for Teaching and Learning, Faculty Hiring, HR, faculty scheduling, student appeals, and student services.
Essential Functions:

• Responsible for management oversight of between 200-300 faculty (part-time and full-time) members to include:
• Teaching excellence:
• Coach/mentor and evaluate instructor performance in effective teaching practice.
• Regularly analyze and report on data to assess student learning and retention.
• Ensure APUS standards, policies, and priorities are reflected in course delivery.
• Support and promote instructor professional development to enhance teaching skills.
• Ensure instructors are aware of current and emerging classroom procedures and instructional materials.
• Advise instructors on use of materials and equipment.
• Instructional delivery:
• Research, evaluate, and prepare recommendations on instructional methods and materials.
• Assess effectiveness and efficiency of instruction according to ease of instructional technology use and student learning, knowledge transfer, and satisfaction.
• Leadership and communities:
• Recognize instructors for outstanding performance or accomplishments.
• Schedule and conduct regularly scheduled instructor meetings to promote community among faculty members.
• Attend school meetings as scheduled.
• Attend regular meetings with relevant discipline communities.
• Support and promote faculty participation in discipline professional organizations.
• Conduct annual performance reviews.
• Maintain discipline' knowledge by participating in discipline-related professional communities.
• Teach courses within program (150 registrations per year).
• Support APUS initiatives and departments.

Critical Skills and Job Complexity:

• Coaching and Developing Others Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communication - Ability to communicate information and ideas in writing and speaking so others will understand.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Education Knowledge of principles and methods for teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the assessment measures.
• Learning Strategies Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Monitoring Monitoring/assessing performance of yourself and instructors to make improvements or take corrective action.

Competencies Critical to this Position:

• Adaptability/Flexibility Open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Coaching and mentoring - Ability to be objective in evaluations and in making recommendations relevant to improving teaching techniques.
• Cooperation - Pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Initiative - Willing and able to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Innovation Creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Leadership - Willing and able to lead; take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Self-Control - Maintain composure, keep emotions in check, control anger, and avoid aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Stress Tolerance Ability to accept criticism and deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Required Education and Experience:

• Terminal degree in Engineering disciplines, Physical or Biological sciences, or Computational or Mathematical sciences or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution is required.
• Five or more years of teaching experience is required.
• Online teaching experience is preferred.
• Capability to support non-traditional students (adults/working adults/part-time students, etc.) in achieving the learning outcomes of the relevant programs.
• Ability to instruct and support students from a broad variety of backgrounds and prior experience.
• Ability to uphold academic rigor and integrity, and simultaneously assist students in achieving academic and practical success.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite programs required.

Preferred Areas of Expertise and Experience:

• Faculty and curricula management experience.
• Team building.
• Experience leading faculty to ensure that student learning outcomes are met.
• Knowledge of best practices in online, college-level instruction.
• Experience leading and managing multiple complex projects with remote teams.
• Academic or industry experience in a supervisory role or in leading teams with demonstrated success in delivering results in projects grounded in any of the following areas: Engineering disciplines, Physical or Biological sciences, Computational or Mathematical sciences.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• Remote / Online
• Requires attendance at meetings in Charles Town, WV, Virginia, or DC
• Sitting, extensive use of keyboard

* While this position is remote, most work will be conducted during traditional east-coast business hours. Participating in meetings with colleagues, students, and stakeholders is an important function of this position. Therefore, the successful candidate is expected to be available during regular east-coast business hours, as well as some evenings and weekends to support faculty and students.
*Please note: Full-time faculty members and directors are to consider APUS their primary employer. Full-time salaried faculty and directors may not be full-time employees of any university, school, college, or institution of higher education outside of APUS; this includes administrative, staff, and teaching positions.
*Please note: Applicants selected to proceed in the hiring process with conferred degrees from foreign institution(s) will require a course-by-course evaluation completed by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) approved agency. All charges associated with official transcripts and foreign transcript evaluations are the responsibility of the applicant and are not reimbursed by APUS.