Professor of Practice & Executive Director, Professional Preparation & Workforce Partnerships (CT)

The University of Arizona College of Education is searching for an Executive Director of Professional Preparation & Workforce Partnerships to provide strategic leadership, coordination, compliance oversight, and operational management for educator and professional preparation programs across the university. This is a Full Professor of Practice position that will oversee teacher
certification and all other certification programs within the College of Education and serves as the lead liaison for educator preparation programs housed across multiple colleges, including Science, Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences (CALES), Fine Arts, and Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS).

The role also supports professional preparation and certification pathways in educational leadership, school psychology, rehabilitation and mental health counseling, special education, and related professional programs. Consistent with national models across Colleges of Education and educator preparation programs, the Director of Professional Preparation serves as a central coordinating leader responsible for certification compliance, accreditation support, data reporting, educator workforce partnerships, and continuous improvement efforts connected to educator and professional preparation.

This position aligns with national leadership models across Colleges of Education that emphasize integrated educator preparation systems, accreditation and compliance oversight, PK-12 partnerships, data-informed continuous improvement, workforce development, and innovative professional preparation pathways. The Director of Professional Preparation will help establish a coordinated institutional infrastructure to support program quality, educator workforce responsiveness, certification completion, and external partnerships across the university's professional preparation ecosystem. The position is intended to strengthen institutional effectiveness and strategically position the University of Arizona to respond to evolving state and national educational priorities through collaborative leadership and innovation.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this
position.

This career-track appointment is not
eligible for tenure.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and
vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation,
sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and
qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and
cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our
innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the
University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here

• Lead strategic enrollment growth initiatives, endorsement development and updates, and workforce pipeline partnerships across all professional preparation credentialing programs.
• Identify new and innovative external partnerships with school districts, community colleges, educational agencies, and workforce partners to strengthen educator preparation and placement opportunities.
• Develop an ongoing holistic strategy for professional preparation program growth that involves ongoing market analysis of state and national priorities.
• Provide centralized leadership related to broad strategies regarding educator certification, institutional recommendations, licensure verification, state and federal compliance requirements, accreditation support, and program approvals and renewals.
• Lead planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of academic program policies, processes, and schedules to optimize program quality, student experience, and operational efficiency.
• Work collaboratively with college leadership to support multiple staff and faculty members, including supervisors, directors, and managers within the college and across partnering colleges within the university where professional educator preparation programs are housed.
• Provide guidance, training, and direction to ensure work meets established standards and desired outcomes.
• Oversee program-level resource planning, including staffing, space, technology, and instructional support needs, and make recommendations to leadership on optimal allocation.
• Identify operational risks and compliance issues related to academic programs and implement controls, documentation, and training to ensure adherence to institutional and regulatory requirements.
• Co-lead educator preparation reporting and data management initiatives, including Title II reporting, state reporting, requirements, certification outcomes, graduate employment data, and continuous improvement metrics.
• Develop systems for collecting and analyzing candidate, alumni, employer, and stakeholder data to support program improvement, accreditation efforts, and strategic planning.
• Utilize data strategically and collaborate routinely with recruiters, faculty,
  advisors, curricular affairs, and student success teams to grow and strengthen
  educator preparation pathways, enhance retention efforts, and promote
  certification readiness.
• Work collaboratively with college leadership to establish and monitor program-level performance metrics, analyze enrollment and student outcomes data, and recommend operational changes to enhance program effectiveness.
• Lead major
  projects and initiatives related to program expansion, modality changes,
  curricular revisions, or new program launches, ensuring operational readiness
  and sustainability.
• Manage /Oversee
  accreditation and assessment efforts associated with educator preparation and
  professional licensure programs, including CAEP, AAQEP, CACREP, APA, and other
  applicable accreditation systems.
• Monitor changes
  in state licensure and certification policies, providing clear communication
  and direction as needed to faculty, program directors, advisors, and college
  and university leadership related to the changes.
• Serve as the primary university liaison to the Arizona Department
  of Education, Arizona State Board of Education, U.S. Department of Education,
  school districts, community colleges, and professional organizations.
• Oversee
  certification-related processes across approved educator preparation programs,
  including student and alumni support, alternative certification pathways, and
  communication regarding certification timelines and requirements.
• Ensure the
  timely completion of educator preparation program submissions, renewals,
  biennial reviews, and compliance documentation with state agencies and
  accrediting bodies, collaborating with faculty program directors as needed.
• Support educator workforce and grant initiatives designed to reduce barriers
  for students entering the profession and improve certification and employment
  outcomes.
• Oversee communication, timelines, memoranda of understanding,
  interagency agreements (IAG), field placement documentation, and compliance
  processes connected to educator preparation programs.
• Provide leadership in
  professional preparation governance by chairing or coordinating university-wide
  committees related to educator certification, curriculum alignment, compliance,
  program quality, and educator workforce development initiatives.
• Participate
  in all College Leadership Council meetings and in departmental faculty meetings
  and program meetings as needed to aid in meeting job directives.

• Earned Ph.D. or Ed.D.
• Experience teaching in K-12 schools and in undergraduate university-level courses in-person and/or online.
• A record of scholarship and leadership in professional development at the university level.
• Demonstrated expertise in state policy relevant to teacher certification and related professions.

• More than 10 years of leadership experience in educator preparation, academic, administration, and strategic
  program management.
• Experience leading educator certification, state approvals, licensure compliance, and regulatory reporting for higher education programs in the state of Arizona.
• Development and oversight of licensure aligned academic pathways.
• Experience with organizational leadership in accreditation, assessment, and data informed continuous improvement.
• Experience building strategic partnerships with school districts, state agencies, and community organizations to strengthen educator workforce pipelines and student field placement opportunities.
• Successful record leading new program development and curriculum redesign relevant to certified programs.
• Experience supporting in-person instruction, student mentoring, and partnerships with local school districts and/or state and national organizations.

For your application to be considered complete, please submit the following three
documents:

1. Cover Letter of Interest - Outlining your qualifications for this position.
2. Curriculum Vitae.
3. Name and contact information of THREE References (phone and email) in one PDF
   document (to be uploaded into the "Additional Document" slot).