Associate Director of Education

American Institute, founded in 1924 as the Hartford Secretarial School, provides hands-on training for careers in the world of business, legal, allied healthcare, diagnostic medical sonography, and information technology. Recognizing our single, well-defined teaching mission: reflecting job market demands with flexibility in identifying and incorporating new programs to give our graduates an edge in today’s competitive job market.

• Medical (including prescription), Dental, Vision (Company subsidized)
• FSA/HSA (Depending on Medical Plan chosen)
• $50,000 Life Insurance (Company paid)
• Additional Voluntary Life Insurance (Team Member paid)
• Employee Assistance Program – EAP (Company paid)
• Long Term Disability (Company paid)
• Short Term Disability (Team Member paid)
• Supplemental Insurance such as Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital (Team Member Paid)
• Paid Time Off – 15 days accrued in year 1, 9 holidays, and 1 day of Volunteering Time Off
• 401k (eligible upon completion of 90 days of employment and must be at least 21 years of age)
• Pet Insurance
• Identity Theft Protection

Purpose of the Position:

The Education Manager plays a crucial role in supporting academic success and administrative efficiency of the institution. This position manages and enhances academic services, ensuring seamless operations, and providing exceptional support to students, faculty, and team members. This role will manage academic programs & processes, facilitate communication between departments, and contribute to the continuous improvement of the education department to foster a positive and effective learning environment.

What You’ll Do:

1. Manage Academic Programs: Oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of academic programs to ensure smooth and efficient functioning. Administer and streamline academic processes, including course registration session scheduling, and student support.
2. Provide Student Support: Serve as point of contact for students, addressing questions, resolving concerns, and connecting them to appropriate resources. Assist students with processes related to attendance, satisfactory academic progress (SAP) appeals, leave of absence (LOA) requests, program transfers, background checks, and graduation requirements.
3. Support Faculty: Provide exceptional support to faculty, addressing inquiries and resolving education issues. Conduct trainingfor faculty in the development of instructional materials and methods.  Serve as point of contact for faculty, providing guidance and support.
4. Provide Academic Guidance: Assist students in understanding academic requirements, navigating online and in-person platforms, and setting up necessary technology for coursework.
5. Perform Outreach and Communication: Conduct regular outreach through various communication channels (e.g., phone calls, texts, emails, video messages) to identify students needing assistance and offer solutions early.
6. Facilitate Communication: Serve as a liaison between departments to ensure effective communication and collaboration related to education programs.
7. Maintain Academic Records: Ensure accurate and up-to-date maintenance of academic records and documentation.
8. Develop and Implement Policies: Assist in the development and implementation of academic policies and procedures to enhance service delivery.
9. Organize Events and Workshops: Plan and coordinate academic events, workshops, and training sessions for faculty.
10. Monitor Compliance: Ensure compliance with institutional policies, accreditation standards, and regulatory requirements.
11. Analyze Data and Generate Reports: Collect and analyze data related to academic services and generate reports to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
12. Contribute to Strategic Planning: Participate in strategic planning initiatives to enhance the quality and effectiveness of academic services.
13. Lead with Care: Lead, coach, and develop team members, fostering a culture of wellness, recognition, and engagement. Meet regularly with direct reports in one-on-one and group settings to provide feedback and cultivate/maintain a positive work culture.
14. Perform other duties as assigned.

Career Level Expectations:

• Lead, coach, and develop team members that are direct reports.
• Build and foster a strong culture of accountability, learning, trust, and high performance with assigned team.
• Execute functional strategy to achieve organizational goals for short-term results (1 year or less).
• Handle difficult to moderately complex problems.
• Influence others outside of own job area regarding policies, practices, and procedures.
• Desire for growth and professional development.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 years of experience providing student or faculty support, or experience streamlining processes and procedures.
• Skills – innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, time management and strong work ethic.
• Ability to effectively interact with students, faculty, and staff across various platforms. Strong relationship-building skills to foster trust and engagement with students throughout their academic journey.
• Ability to professionally communicate fluently in verbal and written English.
• Ability to contribute to a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• Computer literacy/basic computer skills to effectively navigate and utilize the technology required for the role.

Preferred Requirements:

• Advanced degree in Education or a related field.
• Experience in adult education or training.
• Demonstrated organizational skills.
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other business tools such as Microsoft Teams.

Compliance: 

• Demonstrate knowledge of and carefully follow all applicable state laws and rules, federal and state compliance requirements and regulations including those prescribed by the U.S. Department of Education, accrediting agencies, state regulations and internal policies and procedures.  
• Effectively communicate compliance requirements to other staff as appropriate and quickly escalate any compliance concerns to the Compliance department. 
• Participate in activities including, but not limited to, student recruitment activities and/or activities related to securing financial aid. 

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• This is an onsite position, with routine travel between campus locations and occasional travel required.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Ability to work from home when not on site, as needed, with appropriate home office set up.

OUR CORE VALUES

Caring
We believe every student has the potential to be successful in a rewarding career, with the right support. We partner with you from your first day of classes through your search for a job after graduation.

Respect
We view everyone who enters American Institute as a productive adult who deserves respect and the opportunity to excel. Our staff and instructors are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals and realize your potential.

Service
American Institute is committed to the professional and academic success of each student by actively seeking opportunities to provide service both within the campus as well as within the surrounding community.

Integrity
We look forward, not backward. No matter where you come from or what obstacles you’ve faced in the past, we believe your future is yours to create.

Accountability
When you commit to us, we commit to you. When you walk into American Institute, we focus on helping you continue to move forward, so you can create the life you want to live.

Innovation
We know that the sooner you have the knowledge and skills you need to begin your career, the sooner you can become successful. American Institute offers focused, practical training that gets you out of the classroom and on your way faster than you thought possible.