Chief Academic Officer

CONTACT INFORMATION

Please email a letter of interest and CV addressed to employment@ralston.ac.

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION

This position description is a general statement of the essential and non-essential duties and responsibilities of the position. It contains the functions necessary to describe and clarify the position. The employer may extend, reduce, or modify the duties and responsibilities contained in this description.

Job Title: Chief Academic Officer

Department: Academic Affairs 

Location: Savannah, GA

Position Status: Full Time, Exempt

Travel Required: <15% 

Reports to: President  

Salary: 145k upward

POSITION SUMMARY

Ralston College is actively seeking a dedicated and experienced Chief Academic Officer (CAO) to play a central role in shaping the College's academic leadership in alignment with its mission to revive and reinvent the traditional university. As a groundbreaking institution challenging the current norms of higher education, Ralston College is committed to an intensive exploration of the Humanities in a community that values friendship and freedom of thought. The CAO, who reports to the President, will oversee and support the organization and implementation of Ralston’s academic provision across three areas: curriculum, teaching, and assessment. This role offers a distinctive opportunity to shape the future of Ralston College and contribute to the establishment of a vibrant academic community.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The CAO is directly responsible to the President, and in concert with the faculty and other academic administrators, is responsible for the quality of the academic program. The CAO’s essential duties and responsibilities include:

Strategic Vision and Planning

Academic Strategy: As the inaugural Chief Academic Officer of Ralston College, the CAO will lead the creation and execution of a foundational academic strategy. This involves formulating goals, objectives, and benchmarks aligned with the College's mission and strategic plan, shaping standards and guidelines to develop and direct the College’s academic programs.

Academic Initiatives: The CAO will be at the forefront of conceiving and implementing academic initiatives. This includes overseeing the development of curriculum and staffing for all new and existent programs, from collaborative development through to Board and regulatory approval. 

Faculty Recruitment: The CAO will be responsible to oversee and, where necessary, lead and organize faculty searches for candidates of the highest caliber in a range of fields including literature, philosophy, art, and both modern and ancient languages.

Global Academic Overview: Taking a global perspective, the CAO will play a pivotal role in closely monitoring the academic landscape of all programs both throughout each year and year over year. The CAO will oversee reviewing content, evaluating structure, and ensuring that execution aligns with the College’s mission and standards. The CAO will also provide guidance and support to faculty members, acting as a bridge between faculty and the President and Board for the formal approval of curriculum, teaching, and assessment, and to ensure that the College’s organizational and governance structures assure the integrity and quality of its academic programming however and wherever offered.

Operational Leadership

Faculty Supervision: The CAO will meet regularly with the faculty, as a whole and individually, chairing discussion and evaluation of teaching and student success. The CAO is responsible for the leadership, mentoring, and supervision of all members of faculty.

Academic Resources Management: In the capacity of shaping a new academic institution, the CAO will bear the responsibility for the effective management and allocation of academic resources. This encompasses faculty, budgets, and relevant infrastructure. Collaborating with various departments, the CAO will ensure optimal resource allocation to drive academic excellence.

Admissions and enrollment: The CAO will oversee the setting and implementation and review of standards of admissions as well as the execution and integrity of the admissions and enrollment cycle.

Regulatory Approvals: Working with the Registrar and other senior members of the College’s leadership, the CAO will oversee the College’s relationship with both its state regulator and accreditor.

Quality Assessment and Assurance: The CAO will institute and oversee, in collaboration with the faculty and other academic administrators, a robust quality-assurance framework, conducting regular evaluations to monitor, track, and report on the academic progress of programs, student learning, and experience. This includes establishing appropriate measures to analyze results, ensuring academic goals are met, and identifying areas for continuous improvement.

External Collaboration

Collaborative Academic Partnerships: The CAO, as a leader in academic strategy, will seek opportunities for collaborative academic partnerships with external institutions, organizations, and professionals. This role involves participating in relationships with key stakeholders, contributing to the enrichment of academic programs and the broader educational landscape.

Community Engagement: The CAO will represent Ralston College at conferences, forums, and other relevant events. This includes participating in discussions, sharing insights, and staying informed of emerging trends while actively setting–indeed, radically re-setting–high standards in higher education.

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• A doctorate or equivalent in the humanities.
• Relevant experience as a dean or other academic officer.
• A substantial understanding of and commitment to both the mission and curricular objectives of Ralston College.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a team of independent and extraordinarily talented individuals
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated success as a teacher
• Strong organizational skills and strategies
• Enjoys and fosters collaboration and collegiality
• Foresight in the planning and coordination of a variety of engagements and people
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to discern potential interrelationships among issues and synthesize information accurately, demonstrating sound judgment
• Ability to evaluate, organize, prioritize, and track complex issues
• Highly personable, engaging, and intellectually stimulating
• High level of attention to detail and excellence in execution
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and evolving environment.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, and Zoom required.
• Unimpeachable integrity, trustworthiness, and discretion. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Much of the work of this position is completed while sitting at a desk, using a computer and phone. Requires talking, hearing and visual acuity sufficient to perform these major functions. 
• Occasionally includes reaching above shoulder heights, below the waist or lifting up to 25 pounds for office equipment, supplies and materials.

   

EEOC STATEMENT

It is the policy of Ralston College to provide equal employment opportunities to all without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law.