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Academic Program Director Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Academic Program Specialist Job Summary: The Department of Medical Sciences at the University of ... Work with the Ambulatory Coordinators and ECE Director to coordinate practice participation, liaise ...

Academic Program Manager Job Summary: The Department of Communication Arts is seeking an Academic ... This position reports to the Department Chair and works closely with the Director of Undergraduate ...

AT - Program Director - CDL

Arcadia, WI ยท On-site

$60K - $65K/yr

The CDL Program Director provides subject matter expertise and actively participates in curriculum ... Provides academic advising as needed to students. Provides referrals to outside resources when ...

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Academic Program Director information

See Wisconsin salary details

$29.8K

$78.9K

$138.3K

How much do academic program director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for academic program director in Wisconsin is $78,927.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,500.00 and $93,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Academic Program Director, you need expertise in curriculum development, program management, and a relevant advanced degree, often at the master's or doctoral level. Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), accreditation processes, and data analysis tools is typically required. Exceptional leadership, organizational skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with faculty, students, and administration are critical soft skills. These competencies ensure the effective delivery, assessment, and continuous improvement of academic programs, supporting institutional goals and student success.

What is the difference between Academic Program Director vs Academic Coordinator?

AspectAcademic Program DirectorAcademic Coordinator
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire academic programs, develops curriculum, manages faculty, and ensures program quality.Supports daily program operations, assists with scheduling, and coordinates student activities.
Required CredentialsTypically requires a master's or doctoral degree in education or related field, with experience in program management.Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with experience in administrative or educational support roles.
Work EnvironmentWorks in academic institutions, administrative offices, and collaborates with faculty and staff.Works in academic offices, assisting faculty and students, often in a support capacity.

The Academic Program Director focuses on strategic oversight and curriculum development, while the Academic Coordinator handles day-to-day operations and support tasks. Both roles are essential in educational settings but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What are some common challenges Academic Program Directors face when managing curriculum updates?

Academic Program Directors often encounter challenges such as balancing the diverse needs of faculty, students, and accreditation bodies when updating curricula. They must ensure that course content remains current and relevant while aligning with institutional goals and compliance requirements. Coordinating input from multiple stakeholders and securing necessary approvals can be time-consuming, but strong organizational skills and proactive communication help facilitate a smooth revision process.

What does an Academic Program Director do?

An Academic Program Director oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs within a college or university. They are responsible for curriculum development, faculty coordination, and ensuring that the program meets institutional standards and accreditation requirements. Additionally, they often manage budgets, assess student outcomes, and work to improve the quality and reputation of the academic program. Program Directors also serve as a primary point of contact for students, faculty, and external stakeholders.
What are the most commonly searched types of Academic Program jobs in Wisconsin? The most popular types of Academic Program jobs in Wisconsin are:
What are popular job titles related to Academic Program Director jobs in Wisconsin? For Academic Program Director jobs in Wisconsin, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Academic Program Director jobs in Wisconsin look for? The top searched job categories for Academic Program Director jobs in Wisconsin are:
What cities in Wisconsin are hiring for Academic Program Director jobs? Cities in Wisconsin with the most Academic Program Director job openings:
Infographic showing various Academic Program Director job openings in Wisconsin as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, and 9% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $78,927 per year, or $37.9 per hour.

Academic Program Specialist

Wisconsin

Madison, WI โ€ข On-site

$41K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.Job Category:Academic StaffEmployment Type:RegularJob Profile:Academic Program SpecialistJob Summary:

The Department of Medical Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine is seeking a dynamic professional to serve as a central administrative and operational partner for the department. This role provides high-level administrative, programmatic, and business support while acting as a key liaison among the Department Chair, Administrator, faculty, staff, education and research leaders, students, and affiliated programs. The position requires synthesizing complex information from a variety of sources to help identify, advise on, and resolve issues. The successful candidate will engage daily with School of Veterinary Medicine staff, departmental faculty, and other stakeholders while managing multiple complex projects. As part of a fast-paced clinical department that supports a wide range of educational and outreach programs, this role is ideal for someone with strong organizational, technical, and multitasking skills who thrives in a dynamic environment where priorities evolve regularly. This position operates with a high degree of independence and requires sound judgment, initiative, and adaptability.

Key Job Responsibilities:
  • May supervise the day to day activities of one or more academic programs and resolves issues exercising discretion to meet unit goals. (20%)

  • Coordinates program components and evaluates program effectiveness and provides recommendations for improvement. (20%)

  • Identifies program, needs, contributes to the development of unit workflows, schedules logistics and secures resources for meetings, events, and interviews. (20%)

  • Provide administrative support to faculty in the Department including travel arrangements, expense submission, maintaining academic files, managing trainings, updating CVs, bios and biosketches and ensuring credentialing is current. Manages and tracks Department finances, to include travel and CE budgets and spending. Reconciles Department credit card. Ensures university policies are followed. Provides supervision of student hourlies. Serves as point person for special visitors, visiting faculty, and other invited guests ensuring that arrangements are organized and that the logistical expectations of the Department are being met (5%)

  • Manage faculty and staff recruitment: In conjunction with Department leadership, coordinate the recruitment efforts of faculty and staff including requesting reference letters, coordinating interview itineraries and travel plans for candidates, and onboarding (5%)

  • Manage Department Promotion Packets and Faculty Annual Activity Summary (FAAS) Preparation: Facilitate completion of faculty documents for promotion; Oversee the Course Evaluations for the Department; Compile teaching evaluations for FAAS preparation (5%)

  • Administration of the Ambulatory Program and Early Clinical Education (ECE) Program: Work with the Ambulatory Coordinators and ECE Director to coordinate practice participation, liaise with clinic leaders, revise MOUs and student assignments annually; secure housing accommodation for students, maintain courses in Canvas and summarize eValue collected ambulatory statistics. Track student assignments and grading. Serve as a resource and point of contact for the participating practices and DVM students. May conduct site visits to maintain relationships and ensure compliance (5%)

  • Utilizes independent judgement regarding development, implementation, promotion, and evaluation for one or more academic programs, initiatives, or events. (20%)

Department:

Department of Medical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine

Compensation:

Min $41,244 , negotiable based on experience and qualifications

Required Qualifications:
  • At least 1-2 years of experience in an administrative or operational support role required; experience in an academic and/or medical setting preferred.

  • Demonstrated strong organizational, technical, and leadership skills.

  • Ability to actively listen, ask thoughtful questions, and analyze stakeholder input to identify both stated and underlying needs, and recommend appropriate solutions and resources.

  • Experience in a customer service-oriented role, with a proven ability to address concerns and resolve issues effectively.

  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and maintain positive working relationships with diverse groups, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, and the public.

  • Working knowledge of project coordination and management principles, including experience using project tracking tools or systems.

  • Familiarity with operational, personnel, financial, and procurement policies and processes.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience in program development and space or facilities management.

  • Ability to develop detailed plans and reports, evaluate existing processes, and improve operations through organizational design, policy development, and implementation of new procedures.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter who demonstrates initiative and the ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.

Education:

Bachelor's degree is preferred.

How to Apply:

Click "apply now" and upload a resume and cover letter outlining your experience and qualifications. Please also include three professional references.

Contact Information:

For questions about this position, contact Rachel Adams, rachel.adams@wisc.edu

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying to.Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.