Director of Education
A Director of Education oversees the academic department of a campus, managing instructional staff, curriculum development, and student management to ensure high-quality education and student satisfaction. This is a sample job description from Excelon Associates that you can adapt as a template for your own hire.
What does a Director of Education do?
The Director of Education is responsible for overseeing the academic department of the campus, including managing instructional staff, curriculum development, and student management to ensure high-quality education and student satisfaction. The role sits at the intersection of academic leadership, operational management, and student advocacy, requiring both a strategic mindset and a hands-on presence in the day-to-day life of the campus.
The Director works closely with Program Supervisors, Instructors, and campus leadership to uphold academic standards, drive continuous improvement, and ensure that students have the resources and support they need to succeed. This position is central to accreditation compliance, faculty development, and the overall quality of the student learning experience within higher education.
Post-secondary education refers to career schools, community colleges, and trade institutions serving students after high school. Accreditation compliance is the work of meeting the standards of accreditors and regulators, covering curriculum, faculty credentialing, and documentation. Re-enrollment is the effort to retain at-risk students and support their return to active study.
Who does the Director of Education work with?
Key responsibilities of a Director of Education
- Collaborate with Program Supervisors and Instructors to monitor student attendance, academic progress, grades, and individualized support plans.
- Prepare and maintain necessary documentation including leave of absence paperwork, withdrawal processing, and academic records.
- Manage the campus academic budget, ensuring programmatic needs are met within approved financial parameters.
- Develop, implement, and revise the curriculum in coordination with the Dean of Academics and Program Supervisors to align with industry standards and accreditor requirements.
- Coordinate and participate in academic committee meetings, ensuring institutional compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards.
- Assist with developing and submitting regulatory responses and accreditation-related documentation.
- Manage, train, coach, and supervise instructors and program supervisors, fostering a culture of instructional excellence and professional growth.
- Coordinate and plan internal academic training programs and faculty professional development initiatives.
- Conduct regular classroom observations to ensure teaching standards, delivery methods, and student engagement meet institutional expectations.
- Oversee employee relations within the academic department, handling performance management, coaching, and corrective action processes.
- Provide direct guidance to students in meeting their educational goals and resolving academic grievances in a timely and supportive manner.
- Review student satisfaction surveys and work with program supervisors to address concerns and implement program improvements.
- Lead the campus re-enrollment committee, developing strategies to retain at-risk students and support their return to active enrollment.
- Ensure adequate tutoring services, academic support resources, and intervention programs are available to all enrolled students.
- Organize and participate in student orientations, graduation ceremonies, and key campus events that support student success and institutional culture.
- Schedule and coordinate student activities, field experiences, and program affiliations that supplement classroom instruction.
- Oversee the College Success Center in compliance with institutional and accreditation standards.
- Verify that faculty credentialing is completed and maintained in compliance with applicable accreditor and regulatory standards.
- Serve as a substitute instructor when operational needs require coverage, maintaining continuity of instruction.
What qualifications does a Director of Education need?
- Bachelor’s degree in Education, Business, Leadership, or a related field. A master’s degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, or Higher Education Administration is preferred.
- Three or more years of instructional or formal training experience, combined with three or more years of progressive academic leadership responsibility in a post-secondary setting.
- Flexible within a standard 40-hour work week, adjusted to meet the operational needs of campus students and staff, and may include evening or weekend hours.
- Demonstrated proficiency with student information systems, learning management platforms, and academic reporting tools. Experience with accreditation processes strongly preferred.
Why is the Director of Education role important?
The Director of Education is the academic anchor of a campus. Student outcomes, faculty performance, curriculum quality, and accreditation standing all depend on the effectiveness of this leader. When the role is filled well, the entire campus benefits: students are better supported, faculty are better developed, and the institution operates with greater academic integrity and purpose.
For institutions focused on career education, this role carries particular weight. Students are investing significant time and money with a clear expectation of employment-ready preparation, and the Director of Education is responsible for ensuring that promise is kept. Academic quality is built systematically, one classroom observation, one curriculum review, and one student interaction at a time.
A hiring note from Excelon
Since 2007, Excelon has placed Directors of Education and senior academic leaders at career schools, community colleges, trade institutions, and post-secondary organizations across the United States through our higher education practice. The candidates who stand out pair instructional credibility with a clean record on accreditation and retention. We support each search with a structured, confidential process, national candidate outreach, and deep sector knowledge.
Academic quality does not happen by accident. It is built one classroom observation, one curriculum review, and one student interaction at a time.
Related sample job descriptions
Director of Education: frequently asked questions
What does a Director of Education do?
A Director of Education oversees the academic department of a campus, managing instructional staff, curriculum development, and student management to ensure high-quality education and student satisfaction. The role is central to accreditation compliance, faculty development, and the student learning experience.
What qualifications does a Director of Education need?
This sample role requires a bachelor’s degree in Education, Business, Leadership, or a related field, with a master’s preferred. It also calls for three or more years of instructional experience plus three or more years of progressive academic leadership in a post-secondary setting.
Who does a Director of Education work with?
The Director of Education works closely with Program Supervisors, Instructors, the Dean of Academics, and campus leadership to uphold academic standards, develop curriculum, support students, and maintain accreditation compliance.
Why does accreditation matter for this role?
Accreditation compliance sits at the center of the role. The Director of Education ensures curriculum, faculty credentialing, documentation, and academic processes meet accreditor and regulatory standards, which protects the institution’s standing and the value of its credentials.
Why is the Director of Education role important?
The Director of Education is the academic anchor of a campus. Student outcomes, faculty performance, curriculum quality, and accreditation standing all depend on this leader, and in career education the role carries particular weight in delivering employment-ready preparation.
Hiring a Director of Education?
Excelon Associates places academic leaders at career schools, community colleges, and post-secondary institutions nationwide through our higher education recruitment practice. Retained executive search since 2007, headquartered in Asheville, NC, with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL.
More Sample Job Descriptions
Templates you can adapt for your own roles.