Bethel University
Adult, Graduate, & Extension Studies

Job Title: Director of Academic Operations
Department: AGS
Location: Adult and Graduate Suite
Reports To: Dean of BU-X and Online Learning
Prepared On: 8/12/2026
Position Type: Full-Time (non-exempt)/40 hours per week

Position Summary

The Director of Academic Operations for Online Programs supports the daily academic and administrative operations of the online division and serves as a key operational partner to the Dean. This position ensures that academic scheduling, registrar processes, adjunct contracting, onboarding, course readiness, and departmental workflows are completed accurately, efficiently, and in alignment with institutional expectations.

The Director exercises sound independent judgment in routine decision-making, manages operational projects for the team, and keeps the Dean informed of significant issues, risks, and recommendations. The role also supervises student workers and graduate assistants and works collaboratively with internal partners to support high-quality online academic operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Academic Scheduling and Course Operations

• Direct and maintain the online academic schedule in collaboration with the Dean, program coordinators, academic departments, the department, and the Registrar.
• Oversee course updates, instructor assignments, section changes, and enrollment adjustments to ensure course readiness for each session.
• Monitor scheduling accuracy, identify operational concerns, and communicate recommendations in a timely manner.

Registrar Functions and Student Information Support

• Oversee registrar-related functions for the online division, including course creation in J1, registration changes, administrative drops, faculty assignment updates, and student coding accuracy.
• Support key student records processes, including transcript evaluation for transfer credit, PLA workflow, internship forms, and registrar file organization.
• Ensure student, faculty, and course data are accurate, timely, and aligned with institutional policies and procedures.

Adjunct Contracts and Faculty Onboarding

• Prepare, issue, revise, and track adjunct contracts in coordination with program coordinators and the Dean.
• Coordinate with HR, IT, and academic departments to ensure adjunct faculty complete onboarding requirements and are cleared to teach prior to session start dates.
• Maintain accurate records of faculty assignments, contracts, onboarding progress, and related communications.

Textbook and Course Materials Coordination

• Coordinate with faculty, departments, and the bookstore to ensure timely adoption and accuracy of textbooks and required course materials.
• Follow up on missing, incorrect, delayed, or outdated textbook information and communicate necessary corrections.
• Help resolve textbook access, ordering, and distribution issues affecting students or faculty.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Monitor academic operations for accuracy, timeliness, and consistency across schedules, records, course setup, and faculty assignments.
• Support compliance with institutional policies and applicable external requirements related to academic records, registration, course documentation, and student file maintenance.
• Assist with documentation and process support for audits, accreditation, reporting, and operational reviews related to online programs.

Project Management and Departmental Coordination

• Manage operational projects for the online team, including timelines, task follow-up, process improvement efforts, and cross-department communication and collaboration.
• Serve as a central liaison among the Dean, Registrar, program coordinators, academic departments, HR, IT, bookstore, and the Office of Academic Affairs.
• Support recurring departmental projects such as catalog preparation, student manual updates, reporting cycles, and session launch readiness.
• Update documents, manuals, and resources for various programs across the department.

Supervision and Team Support

• Supervise student workers and graduate assistants by assigning tasks, monitoring work quality, and providing guidance and follow-up.
• Organize team workflows, help prioritize recurring responsibilities, and ensure operational tasks are completed on schedule.
• Provide day-to-day support to the Dean by tracking open items, coordinating follow-up, and helping move departmental priorities forward.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.
• Experience in higher education administration, academic operations, registrar support, online learning administration, or related areas.
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and independent decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain confidentiality.
• Christian Commitment: A personal relationship with Jesus Christ and an active Christian life.
• Institutional Duty: A commitment to the values and mission of Bethel University, including the stands outlined in the Community Life Covenant.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting online academic programs, adjunct faculty processes, student information systems, or registrar workflows.
• Experience supervising student workers, graduate assistants, or part-time staff.
• Familiarity with FERPA, transfer credit processes, academic scheduling, onboarding workflows, and cross-functional academic operations.

The role requires strong organization, discretion, attention to detail, and the ability to work with a moderate level of autonomy while keeping the Dean informed of important issues, decisions, and risks. Other job responsibilities may include additional duties assigned.