Assistant Director, Academic Strategy and Quality
Springfield, IL, US, 62701
Job Requisition ID: 51752
Closing Date: 12/29/2025
Agency: Illinois Board of Higher Education
Salary: Anticipated starting salary between $80,000 - max $90,000/yr
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Sangamon; Adams; Alexander; Bond; Boone; Brown; Bureau; Calhoun; Carroll; Cass; Champaign; Christian; Clark; Clay; Clinton; Coles; Cook; Crawford; Cumberland; DeKalb; DeWitt; Douglas; DuPage; Edgar; Edwards; Effingham; Fayette; Ford; Franklin; Fulton; Gallatin; Greene; Grundy; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardin; Henderson; Henry; Iroquois; Jackson; Jasper; Jefferson; Jersey; Jo Daviess; Johnson ; Kane; Kankakee; Kendall; Knox; LaSalle; Lake; Lawrence; Lee; Livingston; Logan; Macon; Macoupin; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Mason; Massac; McDonough; McHenry; McLean; Menard; Mercer; Monroe; Montgomery; Morgan; Moultrie; Ogle; Other; Peoria; Perry; Piatt; Pike; Pope; Pulaski; Putnam; Randolph; Richland; Rock Island; Saline; Schuyler; Scott; Shelby; St. Clair; Stark; Stephenson; Tazewell; Union; Vermilion; Wabash; Warren; Washington; Wayne; White; Whiteside; Will; Williamson; Winnebago; Woodford
Number of Vacancies: 2
****A RESUME IS REQUIRED FOR THIS JOB POSTING****
Please attach a DETAILED Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV), a copy of your transcripts or diploma for all degrees earned, and a copy of any applicable professional licensures to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application. Please note that the Illinois Board of Higher Education must verify proof of higher education for any degree earned (if applicable) before any offer can be extended. You WILL NOT be considered for the position if you attach a CMS100, CMS100b or any other document in lieu of a Resume or CV.
About the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE)
IBHE has been supporting higher education in Illinois for more than 50 years. We are a dedicated team of professionals, overseen by a Board appointed by the Governor, who are working for a strong, equitable higher education system, which we believe is essential for the state to thrive. We work with leaders in colleges, universities, state and federal government agencies, governors, legislators, and other entities to strategically further this mission.
In its strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois: Higher Education Paths to Equity, Sustainability, and Growth, IBHE has identified three goals and 25 strategies to help achieve its vision of a higher education ecosystem that ensures individuals, families, and communities across the state thrive.
- Equity - Close equity gaps for students who have been left behind.
- Sustainability - Build a stronger financial future for individuals and institutions.
- Growth - Increase talent and innovation that drives economic growth.
About the position:
The Assistant Director of Academic Strategy and Quality functions with senior administrative oversight for the Agency’s consumer protection work, with authority to make recommendations to the Board to grant authorization to higher education institutions to operate in Illinois and grant degrees, approve changes to university academic programs and curricula, approve dual credit program offerings and out-of-state entities relating to distance education offerings; provides final resolution on student complaints; supports agency work to advance postsecondary access and attainment initiatives (including student transfer, early college, and online learning); responsible for oversight of the Illinois participation in the national State Authorization Reciprocity Act; contributes to advancing the IBHE role as a thought leader in the quality and integrity of postsecondary education and supports implementation of A Thriving Illinois.
IBHE offers the state's competitive benefit package
Position Requirements and Qualifications
Education/Experience:
Required:
- A minimum of a Master’s Degree in higher education administration, educational administration and leadership, instructional design, curriculum and instruction, higher education policy, policy studies, college teaching, or similar
- A Minimum of 3+ years related experience in higher education administration, educational administration and leadership, instructional design, curriculum and instruction, higher education policy, policy studies, college teaching, or similar
Preferred:
- Experience with accreditation, academic transfer, student retention and success initiatives, online teaching and learning, academic program development and implementation, early college initiatives
Required Skills and Traits
- Demonstrated ability to achieve identified outcomes in a fast-paced environment
- Demonstrated understanding of higher education quality, student access, retention, and completion within equity impact
- Demonstrated ability to act as a strategic thinker and rapid problem-solver to effectively handle all types of institutional cases related to their current or planned operations in Illinois; ability to research, gather, and analyze evidence to effectively apply statute and administrative rules in evaluating institutional applications
- Demonstrated ability to quickly grasp and effectively communicate complex, detailed information in a clear, concise manner for a variety of audiences
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong positive relationships with all internal and external stakeholders including other state and national regulatory bodies, as well as related professional organizations
- Demonstrated ability to work well in a collaborative environment
Major Duties and Responsibilities
- Functions with senior administrative oversight for the Agency’s consumer protection work; makes recommendations to the Board to grant authorization to higher education institutions to operate in Illinois and grant degrees; reviews and approves changes to university academic programs and curricula and new dual credit program offerings; approves out of state entities related to distance education for Limited Physical Presence; manages institutional closure process; works directly with college and university academic leadership, including Provosts, Deans, and Faculty
- Manages the agency’s authorization of out-of-state distance education exemption requests and enacts the state’s participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
- Analyzes the needs and priorities for higher education programs in relation to regional, state, and national workforce/employer demand and the needs of underserved and underrepresented students including working adults
- Supports student transitions, access, success, and completion by coordinating related initiatives; coordinates the agency’s work with the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI); partners with relevant stakeholders including ICCB and IAI staff to manage panels and IAI policy
- Reviews and provides final resolutions to student complaints
- Manages and completes statutorily required data tracking and reporting
- Ensures compliance with all relevant federal and state laws, legislation, rules, regulations, and developments in the field of institution and degree program authorization and approval
- Collaborates with counterparts at other agencies and other stakeholders to advance higher education initiatives related to agency goals and state priorities
- Researches and remains current on higher education policy issues related to the quality and integrity of postsecondary education, student success, and equity in alignment with A Thriving Illinois
- Provides staffing support for various advisory committees/councils as assigned
- Performs other duties as assigned, within scope of position
Organizational Relationship
Position reports to the Director of Academic Strategy and Quality.
There are no direct reports to this position.
Work Hours: 8:00am-4:00pm Mon-Fri
Headquarter Location: 1 N Old State Capitol Plz Springfield, IL 62701-1323* IBHE offers remote and hybrid work arrangements, based on position and supervisor discretion. Illinois residency is required. Travel within Illinois is expected, as required by the work.
Work County: Sangamon
Agency Contact: IBHE Human Resources
Email: HumanResources@ibhe.org
Phone #: (217) 782-2551
Posting Group: Education
The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:
- donotreply@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
- systems@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
Nearest Major Market: Springfield