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Higher Education Jobs in Silver Spring, MD (NOW HIRING)

Deloitte

Advise Manager - Higher Education

Rosslyn, VA · On-site

$129K - $132K/yr

Work you'll do Help clients in the higher education sector (primarily universities and public university systems) understand how to assess, prioritize, and plan to implement strategies and tactics in ...

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All JobsHigher Education JobsHigher Education Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

Higher Education information

See Silver Spring, MD salary details

$23.5K

$82K

$158.5K

How much do higher education jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for higher education in Silver Spring, MD is $82,033.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,088.00 and $108,915.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is higher education?

Higher education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, colleges, and other academic institutions after completing secondary education, such as high school. It includes undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs that prepare students for specialized careers or advanced scholarly pursuits. Higher education institutions often provide opportunities for research, personal development, and networking, in addition to academic instruction. Earning a higher education degree can open doors to more career options and typically results in higher lifetime earnings.

What are higher education jobs?

Higher education jobs are positions at postsecondary institutions, such as community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and research universities. There are many different kinds of jobs you can get in higher education, such as being an instructor or professor. Professors in academia perform both teaching and research duties, and they may also do some administrative work, such as chairing a department. You can also find purely administrative and support positions in higher education. Some of these include program directors, researchers, clerical workers, tutors, maintenance and facilities workers, and academic counselors.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in higher education roles, and why are they important?

To thrive in higher education roles, you generally need an advanced degree (such as a master's or doctorate), expertise in your academic discipline, and experience in teaching or research. Familiarity with learning management systems (like Canvas or Blackboard), academic publishing platforms, and data analysis tools is typically expected. Strong communication, mentorship, and organizational skills help professionals engage students and collaborate with colleagues. These skills and qualifications are crucial for fostering academic excellence, effective instruction, and institutional success.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in higher education, and how can these be managed?

Professionals in higher education often encounter challenges such as balancing teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities, adapting to rapidly changing technologies, and meeting diverse student needs. Time management and prioritization skills are crucial, as is staying current with best practices in pedagogy and student engagement. Effective collaboration with colleagues, ongoing professional development, and utilizing campus resources can help navigate these challenges and contribute to personal and institutional success.

What is the difference between Higher Education vs College Instructor?

AspectHigher EducationCollege Instructor
Required CredentialsMaster's or Doctorate degree in a relevant fieldBachelor's degree; often a Master's for adjuncts
Work EnvironmentUniversities, colleges, research institutionsColleges, universities, community colleges
Employer & Industry UsageAcademic institutions, research organizationsEducational institutions, private and public colleges
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding academic roles, career paths in higher educationTeaching positions, academic career options

Higher Education refers broadly to post-secondary education at universities and colleges, often involving research and advanced degrees. College Instructors are specific roles within higher education institutions focused on teaching students. While both are part of the higher education sector, higher education encompasses a wider range of roles including research and administration, whereas college instructors primarily focus on teaching responsibilities.

More about Higher Education jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Higher Education jobs in Silver Spring, MD?

The most popular types of Higher Education jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:

What are popular job titles related to Higher Education jobs in Silver Spring, MD?

For Higher Education jobs in Silver Spring, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Higher Education jobs in Silver Spring, MD look for?

The top searched job categories for Higher Education jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:

What cities near Silver Spring, MD are hiring for Higher Education jobs?

Cities near Silver Spring, MD with the most Higher Education job openings:

Higher Education jobs near you
Infographic showing various Higher Education job openings in Silver Spring, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $82,033 per year, or $39.4 per hour.

Senior Associate, Higher Education

Education Strategy Group

Washington, DC • On-site

$75K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

About ESG
At Education Strategy Group (ESG), we aim to open doors to economic opportunity for all individuals. We support districts, states, national organizations, and foundations committed to dramatically improving the capacity and performance of the U.S. education system to prepare students for workforce success. Our staff bring deep experience leading policy development, advocacy, and implementation in the K-12, postsecondary, and workforce sectors. We offer a flexible work environment to stay engaged with education leaders nationally and to enable our staff to work where they have built their lives.
Position
The Senior Associate will play an integral role in supporting the execution of high-stakes, multi-sector projects that bridge the gaps between higher education, workforce development, and economic systems. This position requires a sophisticated ability to understand the complex political and operational challenges inherent in supporting state and regional level solutions. The ideal candidate will support multi-year strategic initiatives, manage intricate partner dynamics, and deliver results within disparate policy and funding silos. Central to this role is the capacity to build solutions and provide support for collaborative strategies that prioritize strong economic return for students, policymakers, and citizens.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Senior Associate's primary duties and responsibilities will include providing direct support to higher education project directors and leadership teams while focusing on the following:
  • Problem solve on opportunities to efficiently deliver results on key tasks and milestones across the practice area;
  • Produce cutting-edge insights regarding state policy innovation and implementation, specifically as it pertains to collaborative strategies between higher education and workforce development;
  • Providing communications and analytical support to project leadership teams;
  • Design and lead quantitative and qualitative analysis of client work, including gathering information through data analysis, interviews, surveys, focus groups, and desk research;
  • Conduct policy analysis and design technical assistance on postsecondary education and workforce issues, including higher education value and return on investment, data systems, enrollment, and academic program innovation;
  • Support the responsible use of AI across the project team;
  • Produce data analysis, data visualization, and data insights with limited supervision to capture and share project insights for clients;
  • Help organize in-state and cross-state convenings of policymakers and practitioners;
  • Draft concept papers and proposals, using AI to accelerate research and drafting, to help ESG secure new projects;
  • Support grant/award administration and reporting for projects, including to funders and sub-grantees;
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have:
  • Proven expertise in contributing to execution of complex, multi-year strategic initiatives that bridge disparate policy and funding silos across sectors, and/or management of less-complex, shorter-term initiatives;
  • Sophisticated collaborative skills with a demonstrated ability to navigate high-stakes partner dynamics and build consensus among diverse executive stakeholders;
  • Deep operational understanding of the political challenges inherent in implementing state and regional level solutions within the education and workforce sectors;
  • Strong track record of providing strategic contributions and support to maintain momentum across multi-sector projects with high economic return goals;
  • Extensive knowledge of the intersection between higher education, workforce development, and economic systems to capture and share actionable insights;
  • Exceptional analytical skills to lead quantitative and qualitative research that informs collaborative strategies for students, policymakers, and citizens;
  • Aptitude for leveraging emerging technologies, such as AI, to accelerate high-quality project delivery while ensuring the integrity of technical assistance;
  • A minimum of five years' professional experience in a state education agency, intermediary organization, postsecondary institution, school district, workforce or economic development agency, or national nonprofit organization developing and leading work to build or expand career preparation and postsecondary attainment opportunities for students;
  • A master's degree in public policy, education policy, or related fields, or an equivalent level of knowledge and experience.
  • Ability to travel to support projects as needed, projected to be around 25%.

Location
Education Strategy Group is a virtual firm with a home base in Washington, DC. We have staff located in cities across the country. Our flexible work environment enables our professionals to live and work in locations where they can be most productive-both professionally and personally.
ESG is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran.

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