Executive Director, Orlando, FL

Role Overview

Excelon Associates is conducting a search for an Executive Director on behalf of a growing private university in Orlando, Florida. The Executive Director is the senior leader responsible for the overall success of the campus. The role reports directly to the President and carries full responsibility for admissions, academics, student services, enrollment growth, financial performance, compliance, and campus operations. The position is full time, on site, and pays $110,000 to $120,000 per year.

This is an autonomous, results-oriented seat. The Executive Director develops and manages the campus budget and operational plan, directly leads the directors of each campus department, coordinates academic operations with the Regional Dean of Academic Affairs, and represents the institution with employers, agencies, and community partners across the Orlando market. Candidates need a Bachelor's degree, at least five years of progressive supervisory or management experience, and at least three years of experience in education.

What Does a Campus Executive Director Do?

A campus Executive Director is the chief executive of a single campus within a multi-campus university. The role owns campus enrollment, academic quality, student services, graduate placement, regulatory compliance, facilities, and the campus profit and loss statement, and reports to the institution's President. At this client, the Executive Director prepares reports that feed the Annual Report presented to the Board of Directors, maintains the government permits and licenses the campus needs to operate, and builds the management team that runs day-to-day operations.

In Florida, private postsecondary institutions are licensed by the Commission for Independent Education within the Florida Department of Education, and campuses that participate in federal student aid also answer to their institutional accreditor and to Federal Student Aid under Title IV. The Executive Director is the person accountable for keeping the Orlando campus in good standing with each of them while growing enrollment and holding academic quality. The Orlando campus sits in Orange County in one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the United States, and the role is expected to build the local employer and agency relationships that support recruitment and campus development.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic and Financial Management

• Develop, implement, and manage the campus budget and operational plan.
• Take accountability for campus growth, including enrollment, academic quality, financial performance, and the campus's reputation in the market.
• Prepare reports and contribute to the Annual Report presented to the Board of Directors.
• Oversee facilities, equipment, inventory, and other campus resources.

Academic Quality and Student Success

• Provide overall direction for academic programs, student services, and graduate placement.
• Coordinate academic operations with the Regional Dean of Academic Affairs to maintain educational quality and compliance.
• Work with department leaders to achieve enrollment, retention, and placement objectives.
• Oversee student life, including conduct, campus organizations, and student activities.

Leadership and Staff Development

• Directly manage, mentor, and evaluate the Directors of the campus departments.
• Recruit, train, and develop key management personnel.
• Establish a high-performance culture across admissions, academics, student services, and operations.
• Provide visible leadership to faculty, staff, and students and promote an ethical and collaborative campus environment.

Compliance and Community Relations

• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, accreditation requirements, and institutional policies.
• Maintain required government permits and licenses.
• Serve as the official representative of the institution in the Orlando community.
• Develop relationships with businesses, agencies, educational organizations, and other community partners that can support recruitment and campus development.

Qualifications and Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field.
• At least five years of progressive supervisory or management experience.
• At least three years of experience in education.
• Proficiency with campus information systems and technology.

Skills

• Strong leadership and persuasive, results-oriented communication skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• High ethical standards.

Availability

• Availability to work flexible or extended hours, including evenings and weekends when necessary.

Salary and Benefits

The posted salary range for the Executive Director position in Orlando is $110,000 to $120,000 per year. The client also offers the benefits package below to full-time employees.

Campus executive roles at proprietary and career-focused universities in Florida are typically benchmarked against the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics category for postsecondary education administrators (SOC 11-9033). This range sits above the national median for that group, which is consistent with a seat that owns a full campus and reports to the President rather than a departmental or associate-level role.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with 50% employer matching.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Life insurance.
• Education and professional development assistance.
• Employee referral program and additional employee benefits.

Who Thrives in This Role?

This role rewards an operator who has already run something. The strongest candidates have carried a budget, led a management team, and been measured on enrollment or revenue results, and they have spent enough time inside an education setting to understand how admissions, academics, student services, and placement depend on each other.

It is also a compliance seat. Campus leaders who do well here treat accreditation standards, state licensing, and Title IV rules as part of the operating plan rather than a separate function, and they build department directors who can do the same. The Executive Director is the name on the permits and the person the Board reads about in the Annual Report.

The autonomy is real and so is the accountability. The client gives the Executive Director the authority to hire, build culture, and set direction for the campus, and expects growth in enrollment, academic quality, and financial performance in return. Evenings and weekends come with the territory during start dates, graduations, and community events, and the best fit stays steady, ethical, and persuasive when several priorities compete at once.

About Excelon Associates and the Client

Excelon Associates is a retained and contingency executive search firm founded in 2007, headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida, and a dedicated higher education recruitment practice. This search is being conducted by Excelon Associates on behalf of a growing private university in Orlando, Florida, and the firm publishes its search fees and engagement terms so clients and candidates know how it works.

The client is a growing private university with a strong commitment to student outcomes and community engagement in the Orlando market. Its Orlando campus serves students across on-campus, blended, and online programs, and the Executive Director leads the campus team that supports that growth. The client's identity is shared with qualified candidates during the recruiting process. You can browse current open roles or review recent campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

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The client is an equal opportunity employer and values all applications. Excelon does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, marital or veteran status, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.