Assistant Director for STEM Learning Support

Job Summary :

This position will provide discipline-focused pedagogical oversight for STEM academic support programming offered through Academic Support & Learning Advancement (ASLA), impacting nearly 7,000 undergraduates yearly.

The role manages training and continuing development for 230 STEM peer learning facilitators annually; provides coaching for staff in STEM pedagogy practices;

creates resources to support student learning in STEM; and provides outreach and consultation to STEM departments and faculty around supporting students who struggle in STEM courses.

The individual in this position is a member of a team providing academic support programs and services for undergraduate students across Northwestern, with the goal of enhancing student learning and development as well as academic performance.

Please note : Hybrid : generally in-office 4 days a week, remote 1 day a week; occasional on-campus work in the early evening, and very occasionally on weekends, may be required.

Specific Responsibilities :

Administration

• Directs and leads development of program / project strategic plan.
• Oversees & ensures that day-to-day operations are appropriately managed, efficient and effective.
• Operationalizes goals & objectives; ensures that resources are created or obtained.
• Manages customer service; creates associated practices & procedures & metrics to measure success.
• Analyzes data & recommends & implements changes & improvement to better ensure attainment of mission.
• Manages logistics requirements, including facilities, venue, scheduling, technology, instruction, catering, etc.
• Participates in developing IT strategy to meet the mission & needs of program / project.
• Ensures necessary hardware, software & network infrastructure technology services are appropriated from central or internal IT.

Communication, Outreach & Recruitment

• Identifies and implements short- and long-term strategies and plans to meet program / project goals.
• Engages in outreach / field relations serving a number of goals, including recruitment, participation, sponsorship, relationship building, etc.

to support continued program / project development & improvement.

• Interacts with internal / external resources & organizations to identify new markets & opportunities.
• Builds relationships with program / project alumni to develop and cultivate professional networks, financial resources, and sense of community among alumni.
• Manages outreach to, and creates, STEM pedagogy learning community among, STEM peer learning facilitators.
• Interfaces with STEM faculty to optimize linkages to departments and to determine best approaches for student support.

Evaluation

• Oversees development & implementation of evaluation processes, quantitative & qualitative measurements that ensure that program / project benchmarks are successfully attained and communicated in a timely and efficient manner.
• Manages evaluation processes; recommends & implements changes for enhancement; monitors effectiveness through follow-up evaluation studies.
• Collaborates with internal / external resources to develop meaningful outcome measurements and methods of program / project evaluation that will lead to enhancement.

Program Development

• Manages goals, objectives, outcome measurements and metrics, financial feasibility, marketing strategies and collaboration opportunities with other internal and external organizations.
• Manages the ongoing development and refinement of the program's / project's current and future curriculum and course offerings in consultation with subject matter experts.
• Provides leadership for planning, scheduling, delivering and maintaining program(s) / project(s) to sustain quality instruction in all educational activity.
• Manages for consistently high quality standards across all partner programs / projects, including admissions, teaching, grading, service levels, and facilities.
• Provides coaching to staff in STEM pedagogical principles and practices.
• Leads continuous improvement of STEM peer learning facilitator training program.
• Stays abreast of research and innovative practice in inclusive STEM pedagogy.
• Collaborates with faculty to design programming supporting higher-need students in STEM courses.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, local & NU laws, regulations, policies & procedures.
• Oversees creation & / or implementation of associated training.

Strategic Planning

• Creates & leads a coordinated program of activities designed to increase program / project objectives.
• Develops & executes strategies to involve internal / external constituents and cultivate new individual, corporate, institutional & / or foundation collaborations.

Student Support

• Oversees recruitment, application evaluation, interview, selection and notification of students or participants.
• Manages student orientation, registration, student life, graduation, etc.
• Addresses student matters, such as academic probation and other issues escalated from staff.
• Ensures that an advising system is in place to support all students, including working directly with prospective and enrolled students on issues ranging from qualifications for enrollment, course and placement planning, as well as career planning.
• Creates department strategy for structure, process, & staff support of students.
• Oversees academic year course schedule; monitors course registration & enrollments.
• Oversees 3 STEM pedagogy learning course sections; provides coaching and feedback and offers engaging development opportunities for STEM peer learning facilitators.
• Meets individually and in groups with students to provide STEM-focused learning support.

Supervision

Supervises 1-2 staff.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications :

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree;

OR appropriate combination of education and experience.

4 years program / project administration or other relevant experience.

Minimum Competencies : (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Expertise in a STEM discipline
• Expertise in learning theory and research and / or college student development theory and research
• Commitment to promoting equity and inclusion in educational spaces, and sensitivity to the experiences of a diverse population of students
• Exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and oral & written communication skills
• Flexibility & ability to perform well under pressure
• Ability to engage seamlessly and collegially with STEM faculty
• Creative thinking skills
• Excellent teamwork skills and ability to engage dynamically with a team

Preferred Qualifications :

• Master’s or doctoral degree in a STEM or STEM education discipline
• Teaching experience in a STEM discipline
• Expertise in STEM pedagogy
• Expertise in fostering inclusive learning practices
• Experience with administrative aspects of higher-education programming

Preferred Competencies : (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Knowledge of data collection and management, and analysis methods, for program evaluation
• Familiarity with Student Enterprise System or other student information system software, and with website content management systems

Benefits :

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness :

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior / adult care. Visit us at to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development :

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more .

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness.

More information can be found on the webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations.

We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.