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Academic Program Manager Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

Academic Program Manager

Madison, WI ยท On-site

$70K - $86K/yr

Academic Program Manager Job Summary: The Department of Communication Arts is seeking an Academic Program Manager (APM) to support our undergraduate degree program and Digital Cinema Production ...

Academic Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Outreach Program Manager Job Summary: The Confectionery Program Manager oversees and manages the operations of the confectionery science outreach ...

Academic Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Research Program Manager (B) Job Summary: The successful applicant for this position will assist in the management of the various components of a ...

Manages student academic program(s) * Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding ...

Academic Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Data Scientist III Job Summary: We are seeking an experienced Data Governance Program Manager to support investigators by advancing the ...

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Academic Program Manager information

See Madison, WI salary details

$38.8K

$108.3K

$158.2K

How much do academic program manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for academic program manager in Madison, WI is $108,296.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,100.00 and $133,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Academic Program Manager do?

An Academic Program Manager oversees the planning, development, and administration of educational programs within an academic institution. Their responsibilities often include coordinating curriculum development, managing program budgets, ensuring compliance with institutional policies, and supporting faculty and student needs. They serve as a liaison between departments, faculty, and external partners to ensure the success and quality of academic offerings. Additionally, Academic Program Managers may analyze program performance data and recommend improvements for future growth.

What are some common challenges faced by Academic Program Managers when coordinating multiple academic programs, and how can they be addressed?

Academic Program Managers often juggle responsibilities such as scheduling courses, coordinating faculty, managing budgets, and ensuring program compliance. A common challenge is balancing the needs of students, faculty, and administration while adhering to institutional policies and accreditation standards. Effective communication, strong organizational skills, and the ability to prioritize tasks are essential for overcoming these challenges. Leveraging project management tools and fostering collaborative relationships across departments can also help streamline processes and ensure program success.

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

AspectAcademic Program ManagerAcademic Coordinator
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's degree, relevant experienceTypically similar, often requiring a Bachelor's degree
Work EnvironmentHigher-level planning, strategic oversightAdministrative support, daily operations
Employer & Industry UsageEducational institutions, universitiesSchools, colleges, educational programs
Search & Comparison IntentFocus on program management, strategic rolesFocus on administrative and support roles

The main difference is that an Academic Program Manager oversees the planning and strategic development of academic programs, while an Academic Coordinator handles daily administrative tasks and supports program operations. The Program Manager has a broader scope and higher responsibility level.

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

To thrive as an Academic Program Manager, you need a strong background in education administration, program development, and project management, often supported by a relevant degree and experience in higher education. Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), student information systems, and data analysis tools is typically required. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills help build productive relationships with faculty, students, and stakeholders. These skills are vital for ensuring academic programs run efficiently, meet educational objectives, and adapt to institutional needs.
What job categories do people searching Academic Program Manager jobs in Madison, WI look for? The top searched job categories for Academic Program Manager jobs in Madison, WI are:
What cities near Madison, WI are hiring for Academic Program Manager jobs? Cities near Madison, WI with the most Academic Program Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Academic Program Manager job openings in Madison, WI as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 60% Full Time, 36% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 75% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 24% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,296 per year, or $52.1 per hour.

Academic Program Manager

Wisconsin

Madison, WI โ€ข On-site

$70K - $86K/yr

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 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 ManagerJob Summary:

The Department of Communication Arts is seeking an Academic Program Manager (APM) to support our undergraduate degree program and Digital Cinema Production Certificate. This important role will provide holistic academic advising services for declared and prospective students as well as curriculum and operational management, including oversight of course proposals, timetable development, course equivalencies, and enrollment management. This position will supervise one academic advisor.

This position reports to the Department Chair and works closely with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, the Department Administrator, and other faculty and staff in the department, and serves on the department's Undergraduate Committee. As part of this position, the APM will act as a liaison for the undergraduate programs and the College of Letters & Science as well as other units on campus.

The APM will foster and promote a welcoming, equitable, and inclusive environment. The APM will need to be collaborative and able to work effectively with a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. To be successful, the APM must have excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

Key Job Responsibilities:
  • May manage the unit budget and approve unit expenditures
  • May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees
  • Assists stakeholders with preparing and/or maintaining documentation, financial management, and/or reporting requirements related to sponsored grants, contracts, or agreements
  • Serves as the liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups to identify and maintain academic program-related partnerships
  • Provides full service advising resources and services, provides information about educational options and academic requirements, and communicates directly with students regarding all aspects of the advising process
  • Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and academic program objectives
  • Manages degree programs and/or certificates, high impact practice programming and events, and curriculum development and implementation
  • Evaluates existing academic program strategy and makes recommendations to unit leadership for program enhancement
  • Leads the development and implementation of academic program initiatives
Department:

College of Letters & Science, Department of Communication Arts.

The Department of Communication Arts offers one of the largest majors on campus with approximately 600 declared majors as well as two undergraduate certificate programs, the Digital Cinema Production Certificate and the Digital Studies Certificate. The department is home to 50 faculty and staff and 70 graduate students. We offer four graduate programs, all of which showcase our faculty's cutting-edge research in media and communication. The Instructional Media Center in the Department of Communication Arts is the hub of all technical support and instructional technology for faculty, staff and students in the department. Communication Arts is home to many centers and programs, including the Center for Communication Research, the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research, UW Cinematheque, and the Wisconsin Film Festival.

Compensation:

The expected salary range for this position is $70,000 up to $86,259 for highly experienced candidates. Actual pay within this range will depend on experience and qualifications.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.

Required Qualifications:
  • Minimum 3 years of experience academic advising or related student services position
  • Experience using computer software/programs (e.g., Zoom/Teams, word processing spreadsheets, databases, etc.)
  • Experience interpreting and implementing policies/guidelines in higher education
  • Strong organizational, verbal and written communication, multi-tasking and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to interact effectively with a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, and external partners
Preferred Qualifications:
  • 1 year of supervisory experience
  • Experience working with course proposals & curriculum development
  • Timetable development and enrollment management experience
Education:

Bachelor's degree required

Master's degree in higher education administration or similar field preferred

How to Apply:

For the best experience completing your application, we recommend using Chrome or Firefox as your web browser.

To apply for this position, select either "I am a current employee" or "I am not a current employee" under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.

Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area. All listed application materials must be submitted for your application to be considered. Please submit only the materials specified; additional materials will not be reviewed.

To be considered for this recruitment, you must upload:

-Resume

-Cover Letter

The materials should address your experience relating to the qualifications referenced above. Specifically, applicants should describe why they are interested in this position and how their previous experience makes them qualified.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

Contact Information:

Grace Jezuit, HR Generalist, at grace.jezuit@wisc.edu

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. SeeRELAY_SERVICEfor further information.

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.