Title: Senior Director of Academic Support

Institution: Volunteer State Community College

Job Summary:

This position provides strategic and operational leadership for an integrated portfolio of academic support and digital learning services. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Senior Director aligns library services, tutoring and academic support, online learning, instructional design, and related technologies to advance student access, learning, retention, and completion. The position leads cross-functional planning, assessment, personnel, budgeting, compliance, and continuous improvement while ensuring consistent, high-quality support for students and faculty across all locations and instructional modalities.

Job Duties:

Develop and implement an integrated vision, annual priorities, and measurable outcomes for the Library, Learning Commons, and Distance Learning in alignment with the College strategic plan and Academic Affairs priorities. Advise the Vice President for Academic Affairs on academic support services, digital learning strategy, emerging technologies, and resource needs. Lead coordinated planning among the three functional areas to improve the student and faculty experience and reduce duplication or gaps in service. Serve on institutional and Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) committees and participate in initiatives, professional organizations, and community partnerships as assigned. Use enrollment, utilization, learning, retention, completion, and satisfaction data to evaluate effectiveness, establish priorities, and guide resource allocation. Provide senior oversight for library operations, collections, research assistance, information literacy, archives, systems, and services delivered at all College locations and online. Ensure library resources and services support curriculum, accreditation, faculty scholarship, open educational resources, and the evolving research needs of students and employees. Guide the development, evaluation, and consistent application of library policies, service standards, collection priorities, and technology plans. Promote access to reliable information and strengthen students’ information and digital literacy skills in collaboration with faculty and academic leaders. Provide oversight for tutoring, academic coaching, learning support, and other Learning Commons services offered in person and online. Establish service models, staffing plans, referral processes, and operating schedules that respond to student demand across campuses, centers, and instructional modalities. Collaborate with academic deans, faculty, advising, student affairs, and institutional research to identify achievement gaps and implement targeted academic support strategies. Assess the effectiveness of academic support programs and use findings to improve student engagement, course success, persistence, and completion. Provide oversight for online learning operations, instructional design, faculty support, course development, learning management system administration and governance, and online course quality. Lead the development and implementation of standards and processes for online and technology-enhanced instruction, including course design, review, delivery, accessibility, and continuous improvement. Coordinate professional development and consultation that help faculty use evidence-based teaching practices and educational technologies effectively. Partner with Information Technology, academic divisions, and other offices to evaluate, implement, support, and govern academic technologies. Monitor developments in online education, artificial intelligence, instructional technology, and student support, and recommend responsible institutional responses. Ensure compliance with applicable College and TBR policies; accreditation requirements; federal and state regulations; copyright and licensing obligations; digital accessibility standards; and state authorization requirements for distance education. Maintain accurate documentation, procedures, reports, and evidence supporting accreditation, program review, audits, and institutional effectiveness activities. Coordinate with academic leaders to establish and monitor service-level expectations, faculty and student communications, and continuity plans for critical academic support functions. Address concerns and resolve issues involving services within the portfolio or refer matters to the appropriate office when needed. Supervise, support, and evaluate assigned leaders and employees; establish clear expectations; promote professional development; and foster a collaborative, student-centered culture. Develop and manage budgets, contracts, licenses, technology investments, and resource requests in accordance with institutional priorities and procedures. Evaluate staffing, organizational structure, operating hours, facilities, and technology needs, and recommend adjustments based on evidence and available resources. Other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in library or information science, education, instructional technology, higher education administration, or a closely related field.
Five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education.
Three years of supervisory or management experience, including responsibility for personnel, budgets, programs, or services.

Preferred Qualifications:

Doctorate from a regionally accredited college or university or a master’s degree in library or information science from an American Library Association-accredited program.
Leadership experience in the following areas: academic libraries, learning commons or tutoring, online learning, instructional design, or academic technology.
Community college experience.
Experience with learning management systems, online course quality frameworks, state authorization, digital accessibility, and accreditation requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must be a willing advocate of the mission of the college.
Knowledge of current practices and emerging issues in academic libraries, learning support, online education, instructional design, and educational technology.
Ability to lead complex operations, establish priorities, manage multiple projects, and make sound decisions in a collaborative environment.
Strong supervisory, team building, conflict-resolution, and change-management skills.
Ability to analyze data, evaluate outcomes, and communicate findings and recommendations clearly.
Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to build productive relationships with students, faculty, staff, administrators, external partners, and vendors.
Commitment to academic quality, student success, access, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and maintain the highest standards of professional judgment and integrity.

Pay Rate: $84,800 - $105,999 annual salary depending on experience

Volunteer State offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to the following:

• Insurance:  Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability (long and short term), FSA/HSA
• Wellness Incentive Program (if enrolled in Health)
• Educational Assistance:  Fee Waiver, Spouse/Dependent Discounts, Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Longevity Pay
• Retirement Options:  State of TN Pension (TCRS), 401a, 401K with up to $50/month match, 403b, and 457
• 14 Paid Holidays/Year
• Annual Leave (if applicable)
• Sick Leave
• Sick Leave Bank
• State Employee Discount Program with over 900 merchants

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon hire.

Applicants may be subject to a background check.