Assct. Dean for Curricular and Academic Affairs

Job Description

Job Description

The New England Conservatory, an independent not-for-profit institution, is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools, educating and training musicians of all ages from around the world. With approximately 750 music students representing more than 40 countries, NEC cultivates a diverse, dynamic community for students, providing them with performance opportunities and high-caliber training by 225 internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC pushes the boundaries of making and teaching music through college-level musical training in classical, jazz, and Contemporary Improvisation. It offers unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships that empower students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC's mission to make lifelong music education available to everyone, the Division of Expanded Education delivers training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, and adults.

Associate Dean for Curricular and Academic Affairs

The Associate Dean of Curricular and Academic Affairs serves as a strategic and operational partner to the Dean and Chief Academic Officer, providing high-level management for the Conservatory’s academic infrastructure, curriculum, and institutional compliance. The Associate Dean manages the curriculum and oversees the Registrar, including course offerings and scheduling, leading assessment, accreditation, and reporting. In addition, the Associate Dean oversees the academic budget, manages academic Department Chairs, payroll operations, and the contracting process for academic faculty.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

1. Curriculum and Academic Operations

• With direction from the Dean and Chief Academic Officer, manage course offerings to align with institutional curricular goals, enrollment, and budget.

• Oversee the course-approval process.

• Oversee the annual revision of the Academic Catalog.

• Oversee the Registrar in developing the annual academic course schedule, including managing enrollment expectations and ensuring classroom space and faculty time are used effectively, efficiently, and in alignment with contractual obligations and budgetary guidelines.

• Oversee the Registrar and coordination with advising staff to ensure timely degree progress, completion, and auditing.

• Partner with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Academic Life to strengthen the Conservatory's academic advising program relative to curricular and educational goals and priorities.

• Partner with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Academic Life to ensure effective student leave policies in support of student retention, persistence to graduation, and curricular goals.

• Attend Faculty Council meetings and participate in Curriculum Committee meetings.

2. Strategic Academic Leadership and Management

• Identify, develop, and implement efficient and effective administrative processes related to academic operations.

• Act as a trusted deputy to the Dean, representing the academic leadership team in operational matters and mediating complex issues within the faculty.

• Serve as the primary administrative point of contact and supervisor for Academic Department Chairs, providing guidance on academic policies, faculty contractual obligations, and operational procedures.

• Develop and monitor all academic department operating budgets.

• In partnership with Human Resources, oversee the annual faculty contracting process for all academic faculty.

• Support the Dean & Chief Academic Officer in ensuring and implementing effective faculty evaluation.

3. Assessment, Accreditation, and Compliance

• Serve as the primary liaison with the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), ensuring institutional compliance with all accreditation standards.

• Coordinate data collection and report preparation for accreditation on-site visits; maintain and analyze data related to faculty workload and academic resource utilization.

• Develop and administer effective semesterly course evaluations.

• Hear, decide, document, and act on matters of academic integrity, as well as participating in the Academic Review Committee.

• In partnership with the Registrar, maintain and analyze data related to course enrollments, faculty workload, and academic resource utilization to support strategic decision-making.

• In collaboration with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Academic Life, develop assessment metrics to measure the success of advising systems and report on metrics related to student retention and persistence to graduation, providing actionable insights to academic leadership.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in higher education administration, arts administration, or a related field is required.

• Experience: 3 to 5 years of progressive experience in academic administration, ideally within a conservatory or arts setting.

• Technical Skills: Proficiency with Jenzabar J1 (ERP/SIS) and Watermark software (Curriculum Strategy and Course Evaluations) are preferred

• Core Competencies:

  • Demonstrated ability to inspire and manage a team of faculty and staff.

  • Knowledge of higher education legislation (e.g., FERPA, Title IX) and accreditation processes.

  • Exceptional judgment, discretion, and a commitment to fostering a healthy and welcoming campus culture.

  • Strong analytical skills, with experience in data-driven decision-making within budgetary constraints.

NEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

Annual Clery Report

In accordance with the federal Clery and Campus SaVE Acts, New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) commits to providing all current and prospective students and employees with access to the annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report. This report will provide the reader with a record of statistics regarding crimes that were reported in the NEC community during the previous three years as well as College policies and procedures, in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. This report may be accessed here. A paper copy can be requested by contacting NEC's Director of Public Safety at 290 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115.