The Chief Academic Officer (CAO) is the most senior academic position in the university and, through the President, executes the strategic vision, leadership, and administrative direction for academic affairs. This role is accountable for the reputation and governance of the academy, as well as the effective administration, operations, curriculum design and development, program assessment, quality, and delivery of academic programs and products, and all institutional research.

Number of open positions: 1

Application Materials: Please submit a PDF version of your resume/CV and list of your current references. We need at least two professional references that have served in a supervisory role. Cover letter is optional, and not required.  If you would like to upload additional documents, please feel free to upload additional documents under the “Documents Section”. This section is located after “Links” and before “Questions” in the application. Note to applicant: The email address you use to apply with, will be your username for your account and all email notifications. Questions, please email careers@lapu.edu.

Compensation: Grade 24:  $194,569 – $243,212. This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position.

Primary work location – Remote: This position is classified as “Remote”. Employee’s home office must be located in a state LAPU is registered in (AZ, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, MN, MO, MT, NC, NM, NV, OH,OK, OR, PA, TX, TN, VA, WA, WI). The classification of this position is subject to change based on business needs, job performance, etc. If an employee changes their physical location/residence to another state, it could impact future employment.

Remote Expectation: We expect our employees to be able to fulfill their LAPU responsibilities with minimal distractions. While remote work does offer flexibility, employees should make arrangements for regular dependent care during work hours. This is a fully remote position; however, travel may be required to meet business demands, university needs or team meetings as necessary.

Required Experience / Education

• Christian Commitment: Vital Christian faith and lifestyle
• Supportive of the evangelical mission and purpose of Los Angeles Pacific University
• Earned doctorate in an academic field or discipline
• Minimum of eight years of combined teaching and administrative experience in higher education, including proficiency in online instruction.

Desired Experience / Education

• Minimum 10 years of combined teaching and administrative experience in an institution of higher learning, including involvement in curriculum development, accreditation, outcomes assessment, academic policy, and faculty/staff oversight

 Primary Accountabilities

• Awareness of trends in higher education and assessing their applicability to LAPU in light of its mission and goals
• Leading LAPU’s strategies and efforts to provide higher and further education opportunities for primarily post-traditional students.
• Developing and implementing a multi-year strategic plan for academic relevance within LAPU
• Providing administrative oversight of LAPU’s academic programs, policies, and personnel
• Ensuring that all academic programs and policies reflect the mission and values of LAPU, including a strong emphasis on faith integration and spiritual formation
• Representing LAPU as the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO), maintaining regional accreditation and professional accreditation and/or certification for LAPU programs, sites, and modalities
• Being accountable for the Educational Effectiveness efforts in LAPU, including ongoing assessment of student learning outcomes, regular program reviews, and course and program revision through the Academic team
• Directing the development and implementation of LAPU standards and best practices for online courses and services, including course components, formats, and technical support through the Digital Learning Solutions function.
• Being accountable for appropriate and peer-reputable academic policies and systems
• Building and managing the LAPU academic affairs operational budget
• Designing and implementing the academic affairs organizational structure, supporting the institution’s strategic priorities
• Being accountable for recruiting and retaining highly qualified and diverse academic personnel
• Directing the development of LAPU’s institutional research systems and services through the institutional research team
• Chairing the Academic Council
• Contributing and collaborating with the executive leadership team
• Required to work a Saturday commencement event each calendar year
• Carrying out other duties and responsibilities assigned by the President

Missional Expectations:

The Chief Academic Officer is responsible for carrying out LAPU’s Christian faith and mission by hiring Godly employees who embody the Christian faith in their daily living and by providing spiritual support and care to employees in their span of care through praying with employees regarding their dreams and challenges, sharing devotional messages and providing their team members with spiritual counseling. The Chief Academic Officer is assessed annually on their performance in accomplishing these vital tasks.

All employees play a critical role in the establishment and maintenance of a robust Christian community that seeks to serve with grace the needs of all employees and students. As a LAPU employee, you are called to engage with your colleagues and all those that the university serves by modeling Christ-like character in all of your interactions. You will celebrate and honor other employees and students as being made in the image of God; be thankful, expressing gratitude to God and one another; build others up with your words; and work as an instrument of God’s love, seeking to heal a lost and broken world.

 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, including the ability to organize, motivate, and work effectively with a diverse faculty, staff, and student body
• Strong command of the English language with excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational skills, detail-oriented, with an ability to plan and manage multiple projects concurrently in a timely manner
• Ability to be proactive, to work with little supervision, and meet deadlines
• Ability to develop, re-engineer, and implement organizational structures and strategies
• Ability to formulate, interpret, adapt, and apply policies and regulations in a complex university setting
• Ability to supervise employees in accordance with LAPU’s policies and applicable laws, including skill in interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, prioritizing, assigning, and directing workload; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; and addressing complaints and resolving problems
• Knowledge of general office methods, procedures, and practices
• Ability to develop and maintain recordkeeping systems and procedures
• Knowledge of standard budgeting and expenditure control procedures and documentation
• Skill in the use of personal computers and appropriate software applications (see below)
• A positive, cooperative, Christ-like attitude supportive of the University and its mission
• Self-starter with the ability to work in a team-based, fast-paced atmosphere
• Ability to be proactive, take ownership of assigned responsibilities, and work with little supervision
• A “servant’s heart” that delights in providing the highest quality academic support services

 Mental Demands

• Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports
• Ability to investigate, analyze information, and draw conclusions
• Ability to engage in critical thinking, exercise independent judgment, set priorities, and solve problems
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage confidential information

Physical Demands

This position typically includes the following physical demands. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods of time
• Sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment
• Visual acuity to read words and numbers
• Speaking and hearing ability sufficient to communicate in person or over the telephone
• Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force and occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds

Technologies

• Google Suite: Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Meet
• Microsoft Office Suite: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint
• Communication and collaboration: Slack, Zoom (or similar virtual meeting platform)
• Course management system—Moodlerooms

Non-discrimination Statement

The University seeks to provide equal employment opportunities and is dedicated to the principle that access to employment opportunities be accorded to all employees and applicants on the basis of individual qualification and without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles, including braids, locks, and twists), color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding, and related medical conditions), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member status and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age (40 and over), protected medical condition (including cancer and genetic conditions), genetic information, disability (mental and physical),medical leave or other types of protected leave (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The University is a Christian University of higher education. It is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The University reserves the right to maintain its heritage and destiny as a Christian witness in higher education and asserts its right to employ and retain only those persons who subscribe to and support Our Identity and Statement of Faith.

This job description is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee’s ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and Los Angeles Pacific University reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the University may deem appropriate.

Qualifications

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.