Title: Director of Professional and Continuing Studies

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday - Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Strategic Initiatives

Department: Office of Professional and Continuing Studies

Location: Elon - Charlotte Campus

Position Summary

The director provides leadership for Elon University’s innovative approach to lifelong learning for students, alumni, faculty, staff, university partners and employers, in the Charlotte and Greensboro metropolitan areas, as defined in the Boldly Elon strategic plan. In collaboration with a wide range of partners—including Academic Affairs, Alumni Engagement, the Student Professional Development Center (SPDC), University Advancement, Office of Leadership and Professional Development (OLPD), Collegiate Start, Life@Elon, and others across campus—as well as external partners and organizations, this leader designs and implements a full menu of learning opportunities under the umbrella of the ElonNEXT program platform. The director is responsible for planning, coordinating, and recruiting for competitive offerings for continuing education initiatives, workshops, short courses, certificates, and more. In partnership with Alumni Engagement and SPDC, this position conceives and directs alumni lifelong learning and professional development strategy. The director works closely with Elon’s and Queens University’s schools and colleges to develop programs, promotes and tracks learners’ success across all programs, and facilitates the functioning of a lifelong learning advisory board. This position reports to the Assistant Vice President of Strategic Partnerships.

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:
28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.
Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses
Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.
Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.
Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance.
Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions.
Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

Master’s Degree and 3-5 years of experience in higher education, professional development, continuing education or a related field.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Excellent leadership and organizational abilities, with demonstrated success in leading a cross-functional team of professionals and managing budgets.

• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Experience in marketing design and implementation.
• Experience in developing business strategy and making data-driven decisions.
• Proven knowledge of performance evaluation metrics in a business setting.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to demonstrate attention to details and accuracy, time management skills, and follow-through.
  

Job Duties

• Provide leadership for continuing education and professional advancement, emphasizing building, marketing, and implementing a variety of opportunities in partnership with the Alumni Office and across Elon’s schools and colleges.
  • Work with the university community to define and implement a strategic plan for professional advancement and continuing education that aligns with Boldly Elon 2030 strategic plan.
  • Provide leadership for the ElonNEXT effort, which serves as an umbrella for the delivery of learning modules focused on alumni.
  • Build the continuing education curricular offerings and manage enrollment efforts.
  • Coordinate with deans and department heads across all units at Elon and Queens to ensure the lifelong learning curriculum is meeting university goals and leveraging the strengths of faculty.
  • Develop a professional advancement advisory board to ensure that the continuing education curriculum is meeting hiring demands and professional training needs while leveraging the strengths of faculty.
  • Direct alumni lifelong learning strategy in partnership with the University’s alumni engagement goals.
  • Collaborate with the Student Professional Development Center and Alumni Engagement hosting regional alumni engagement activities, supporting on-going professional development, planning and coordinating social media and other engagement strategies.
  • Expand enrollment in continuing and professional education offerings by directing strategic outreach to companies, organizations, local communities, and other populations.
  • Collaborate with school system partners to develop methods to support literacy, college preparation, degree attainment, etc.
  • Partner with departments across both campuses (Registrar, Teaching Learning and Support, SPDC, OLPD, and Alumni Engagement) to build new programming and expand the reach of lifelong learning.
  • Provide strategic direction to coordinate learning outreach offerings to community with other entities on campus (e.g., Collegiate Start and Life@Elon).
  • Encourage the implementation of innovative approaches to ElonNEXT offerings (e.g., VR offerings and engaged online education).
  • Research and analyze market trends and potential for new and existing educational offerings.
  • Propose short- and long-range operating plans, including budgets, programs and services, personnel, technology, and space.
  • Build partnerships with corporations for customized corporate training programs.
  • Work with HR to design and execute Elon NEXT faculty contracts.
  • Coordinate faculty schedules for offering Elon NEXT classes.
  • Other duties as assigned.