Academic Director Salary

Academic directors are responsible for developing and directing all academic programs and strategies for colleges and universities. Strong business and management skills are necessary in this position to provide leadership and guidance and interact with students and their families, and they're also tasked with developing curricula and hiring and training academic personnel.

Academic directors serve as liaisons for human resources (HR) employees and executive officers to establish outlines for academic programs, and they must develop strong business relationships with faculty, deans, and community leaders to promote their offerings. They may review employee promotions, appeals, and scholarships to verify requirements, and also help advertise and market their institutions in different regions to attract students. They typically work with academic managers, teachers, and specialists to achieve objectives in a timely manner, and some may also help write instructional materials.

Organization and close attention to detail are important in this position, as they may be responsible for providing orientations and reviewing and signing academic reports. They typically respond to correspondence and address concerns about academic processes and use a personal computer and office software to write reports, complete calculations, and oversee presentations. They usually work in an office environment during regular business hours and also assist in supervising facilities and planning and distributing department budgets.

A bachelor's degree in business management, education, or a related field is generally required for this position, and prior experience in the field may also be necessary. Industry and leadership certifications are also helpful. (Copyright 2017 PayScale.com)

Academic Director Tasks

• Oversee curriculum and content development, revisions, and evaluations.
• Review data to update strategies.
• Interact with the public, the media, students, faculty, staff, and prospective students.
• Manage staff to ensure course materials, instruction, reception, and facilities are up to standards.
• Research and make recommendations about technology and instructional delivery.