ACADEMIC SPECIALIST

About the company

National Defense University (NDU) supports the joint warfighter by providing rigorous Joint Professional Military Education to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and select others in order to develop leaders who have the ability to operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world. This is a Title 10 Excepted Service Appointment. Appointment is not to exceed 2 years with the possibility for extension.

Your tasks

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Academic Program Administration - 60% Manages, coordinates, and supports recurring academic processes required to execute CISA's academic programs, particularly at Fort McNair. Develops, integrates, maintains, and coordinates the CISA College calendar and the academic calendars and schedules for CISA's McNair-based programs. Reconciles College and program requirements with NDU academic calendars, holidays, major institutional events, and other scheduling constraints; identifies potential conflicts and recommends solutions to academic leadership; coordinates approved changes with faculty and affected offices; and maintains the official College and McNair program calendars throughout the academic year. Coordinates course and student academic processes, including course offerings, enrollment, registration, and related academic actions with academic leadership, faculty, the NDU Registrar, and other responsible University offices. Tracks recurring academic requirements, actions, and deadlines; identifies process issues; and recommends courses of action when academic leadership decision is required. Maintains documentation and tracks academic actions requiring review or decision by designated academic officials. Coordinates staffing of actions, ensures required documentation is completed, monitors actions through disposition, and maintains associated records in accordance with applicable CISA and NDU policies and procedures. Coordinates the academic components of student and faculty orientation, in-processing, and out-processing in conjunction with operations support staff. Provides guidance to students and faculty on academic systems, calendars, deadlines, and other program processes within the incumbent's assigned responsibilities. Coordinates course administration, including maintenance of required course information and documentation; ordering and distribution of required books and other instructional materials; maintenance of the purchased course-book orders and inventory for CISA's McNair-based programs; and coordination of copyright permissions and related requirements with faculty and responsible College and University offices, including the NDU Library. Administers assigned academic information and learning-management systems, including establishing and maintaining courses and associated information within those systems and assisting with enrollment in conjunction with the Registrar's office and service chairs. Works with applicable CISA and NDU offices to coordinate user access, address system-related issues, and provide guidance to faculty and students on system use. 2. Academic Policy, Governance, and University Integration - 25% Coordinates implementation of NDU academic policies, processes, and requirements within CISA's McNair-based academic programs. Reviews applicable University academic guidance and requirements, identifies implications for College academic processes, coordinates required actions with responsible University offices, and recommends actions when academic leadership decision or direction is required. Develops and maintains academic procedures, business rules, and standard operating procedures within assigned areas and consistent with established CISA and NDU policy. Reviews existing processes to identify gaps, inconsistencies, or inefficiencies; recommends improvements; and coordinates implementation of approved changes. Coordinates Academic Policy Council processes and other assigned academic governance activities, including preparation and staffing of agenda items, maintenance of academic policy and decision records, tracking of actions and decisions, and coordination of approved actions with responsible College and University offices. Works collaboratively with other CISA academic-management personnel to coordinate common academic processes, share effective practices, and provide continuity and mutual support. 3. Curriculum and Academic Program Support - 15% Supports academic leadership and faculty with curriculum management, program assessment, program review, and other academic program requirements. Coordinates associated processes, documentation, necessary adaptation, and actions within assigned areas of responsibility. Coordinates preparation, staffing, tracking, and maintenance of curriculum and program actions, including curriculum proposals, course changes, program reviews, and related documentation. Tracks actions through established College and University review and approval processes and coordinates implementation and documentation of approved actions. Supports recurring institutional academic requirements, including applicable accreditation and Joint Professional Military Education requirements. Coordinates and maintains associated information, documentation, and actions as required.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required. Knowledge of administrative processes, organizational procedures, and coordination requirements in a professional, governmental, or educational environment. Ability to interpret and apply established academic policies and requirements in support of effective academic administration. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent processes in accordance with established policies, procedures, and supervisory guidance; maintain accurate records and documentation; track requirements and deadlines; identify emerging issues; and elevate matters requiring supervisory direction and decisions, with appropriate recommendation. Ability to coordinate effectively across organizational boundaries and work collaboratively with leadership, faculty/subject matter experts, staff/peers, students/customers, and supporting enterprise offices. Proficiency with common productivity, collaboration, spreadsheet, and data-management applications, and the ability to learn specialized academic information and learning-management systems. Skill in written and oral communication sufficient to explain academic requirements and processes; prepare policies, procedures, reports, and decision-support materials; conduct orientations and training; and communicate effectively with varied stakeholders.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS A master's degree from an accredited institution, regardless of academic discipline. Demonstrated experience supporting the administration and execution of academic or educational programs, including academic calendars and scheduling, course administration, enrollment and registration, curriculum processes, or other institutional requirements. Experience using learning-management systems, academic information systems, or comparable systems to support administrative processes and maintain institutional records. Experience with Joint Professional Military Education or other professional military education programs. Knowledge of accreditation requirements applicable to graduate education.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education Requirement:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required.

Official Transcripts:

• Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if the position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified PRIOR to appointment, if selected for the role.
• An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION:

• Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements.
• You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program.
• It is your responsibility to provide such evidence PRIOR to appointment.
• Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities.
• Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree.
• You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation upon request.
• Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
• For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education.