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Academic Department Chair Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Dallas College

$92.70K/yr

... Department Chair oversees the academic and operational activities of assigned programs within ... TheDepartment Chairprovides academic leadership and operational oversight for allAdjunct ...

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$66.5K

$102.7K

$155K

How much do academic department chair jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for academic department chair in the United States is $102,706.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $73,500.00 and $135,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Academic Department Chair, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Academic Department Chair, you need advanced academic credentials (typically a doctorate), leadership experience, and expertise in your discipline. Familiarity with academic management systems, budgeting tools, and accreditation processes is often required. Exceptional communication, conflict resolution, and strategic planning skills help foster collaboration and drive departmental growth. These abilities are crucial for effectively leading faculty, managing resources, and supporting both student and institutional success.

What are some of the common challenges faced by an Academic Department Chair, and how can they be addressed?

Academic Department Chairs often navigate the complexities of balancing administrative duties with faculty leadership and departmental advocacy. Common challenges include managing faculty conflicts, aligning departmental goals with institutional priorities, and handling budget constraints. Successful Chairs foster open communication, delegate responsibilities effectively, and engage in transparent decision-making to build trust within the department. Additionally, participating in leadership training and seeking mentorship from experienced Chairs can help address these challenges and promote a healthy departmental environment.

What are Academic Department Chairs?

Academic Department Chairs are faculty members who lead and manage an academic department within a college or university. They oversee curriculum development, faculty hiring and evaluation, budgeting, and departmental operations. Department Chairs act as a bridge between faculty, students, and higher administration, ensuring that the department meets its educational and research goals. They also represent the department in administrative meetings and play a key role in strategic planning.

What is the difference between Academic Department Chair vs Academic Program Coordinator?

AspectAcademic Department ChairAcademic Program Coordinator
Required CredentialsMaster's or Doctorate in relevant field, leadership experienceBachelor's or Master's, organizational skills
Work EnvironmentHigher education institutions, administrative officesAcademic departments, administrative support roles
Employer & IndustryColleges and universities, academic institutionsColleges, universities, academic departments
Primary ResponsibilitiesOversee faculty, curriculum, departmental strategyAssist in program logistics, coordinate schedules, support faculty

The Academic Department Chair typically holds a leadership role with strategic and administrative responsibilities, requiring advanced credentials and experience. In contrast, the Academic Program Coordinator focuses on supporting program operations and logistics, often with less seniority and credential requirements. Both roles are essential in academic settings but differ in scope and authority.

More about Academic Department Chair jobs
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What states have the most Academic Department Chair jobs? States with the most job openings for Academic Department Chair jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Academic Department Chair jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Academic Department Chair jobs are:
Academic Department Chair jobs near you
Infographic showing various Academic Department Chair job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, and 19% Part Time. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $102,706 per year, or $49.4 per hour.
Department Chair, Nursing

Department Chair, Nursing

Southeastern College

Columbia, SC • On-site

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

SUMMARY: The Department Chair is a member of the full-time faculty and serves as an academic leader within the nursing programs. The Department Chair reports to the Regional Director of Nursing and interfaces with campus academic personnel and campus presidents for the efficient and effective delivery of their assigned programs. The Department Chair shall be proficient in program administration, curriculum design, instruction, evaluation, student success, and faculty development. The Department Chair will work closely with faculty, staff, and program leaders to ensure curriculum is up to date and maintains the highest standards across the nursing profession. The Department Chair will assist faculty and academic leaders in developing programs and support services to help students succeed when taking the NCLEX examination. The Department Chair may also serve as a Program Director, faculty, and student mentor as needed. The Department Chair must possess strong leadership and communication skills to effectively meet the needs of students, faculty and the healthcare community at the five system campuses.
QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Doctorate in Nursing Education, minimum
  • Current, unrestricted State RN License
  • Full time nursing practice experience, minimum 4 years
  • Familiarity with State Boards of Nursing program requirements for each campus.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Drive program quality by partnering with Program Directors, Deans, Campus Presidents, and the Regional Director of Nursing, while proactively analyzing industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies to lead timely curriculum and course updates.
  • Supervise and write curriculum changes for the program.
  • Conduct regular curriculum meetings with faculty and program directors/coordinators to ensure state board of nursing regulations and accreditation standards in curriculum are achieved.
  • Conduct reviews with faculty to assess program textbooks, training materials, program evaluation tools, student projects, and assignments ensuring completeness of all student records.
  • Maintenance of course control documents (syllabi) for the nursing programs.
  • Maintenance of Canvas Blueprint course shells.
  • Assist in the cultivation of relationships with clinical sites, and evaluate and assure clinical education effectiveness as needed
  • Work with college Librarian to maintain current books, periodicals, and electronic resources relevant to the professional nursing discipline
  • Maintain current knowledge of the professional nursing discipline and educational methodologies through continuing professional development
  • Hold bi-weekly student At-risk meetings with campus stakeholders.
  • Play an integral role in the student recruitment process and growth of assigned programs.
  • Serve as a Student success mentor, to back-up of Nursing faculty and Program Director, as needed.
  • Support the maintenance, implementation, and evaluation of the Programs' Systematic Plan of Evaluations.
  • Assists with the development of NCLEX pass rate strategies.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Regional Director of Nursing.
  • Visit each campus in North and South Carolina at least bi-weekly to maintain appropriate oversight
  • Participate in activities and site visits for accreditation, state licensing boards, Veteran's Affairs, etc.

BUSINESS CONTRIBUTIONS:
The Department Chair utilizes their professional expertise to enhance, develop, maintain and deliver education experiences to students:
  • Create an inclusive process that engages faculty in curriculum enhancement and development
  • Facilitate student engagement and enhance participation in student governance
  • Assess student's academic progress and assist program directors in providing developmental feedback and/or customized remediation plans
  • Work collaboratively with other departments.
  • Collaborate with the RDN on the design and development of new program offerings.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands are those required in a professional office setting and higher education, demonstrating procedures and techniques, and getting to and from appropriate classes and offices.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Professional office setting: moderate noise levels and controlled indoor climate.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
LOCATION:
This position is an onsite position located at your campus unless otherwise determined by the Office of the Executive Director. Any changes must be reviewed by the Chief Academic Officer, and all final approvals must come from the Office of the Executive Director.
Note: Nothing in this job specification restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.

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