🚀 Vice President for Academic Affairs and CAO

Overview

Working Title: Vice President for Academic Affairs and CAO

This position provides visionary, strategic, and operational leadership for NOVA’s academic enterprise, ensuring that programs and services advance the College’s mission, values, and commitment to inclusion, excellence, and student success. The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer (CAO) oversees the quality, consistency, and integrity of all academic programs across NOVA’s six campuses, NOVA Online, concurrent enrollment high schools, and other instructional sites.

The role develops and evaluates NOVA’s transfer and technical education curricula in collaboration with faculty, deans, and campus provosts, and designs a unified academic schedule to support the College’s strategic enrollment goals. The VP/CAO leads academic services, practices, and policies that promote student success, equity, and anticipation of changes in higher education. The position also cultivates secondary and university partnerships and aligns NOVA’s technical education with regional workforce needs. As a member of the President’s Administrative Council, the VP/CAO works with colleagues across the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and reports directly to the President.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the College’s Chief Academic Officer, advising the President on all aspects of academic programs and college-wide academic planning and implementation.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership for NOVA’s instructional programs and courses, ensuring consistent quality and alignment with the College’s mission and student learning experience.
• Engage shared governance bodies to ensure inclusive and effective decision-making.
• Prioritize clear communications on all Academic Affairs actions and operations.
• Policy, Governance, and Compliance: Recommend and administer academic policies and procedures; ensure compliance with federal, state, VCCS, and College requirements.
• Oversee accreditation activities and ensure accurate records and timely reporting.
• Curriculum and Program Development: Coordinate program reviews and curriculum development with Provosts, Strategy, Research and Workforce Innovation, College Senate, and academic departments; ensure programs are relevant, responsive, and continuously improving to meet student, workforce, and community needs.
• Provide strategic oversight for faculty development through the Center for the Advancement of Teaching Excellence.
• Student Success and Partnerships: Lead efforts to improve performance indicators related to student success; oversee high school dual enrollment and articulation agreements with other colleges and universities; collaborate with Student Affairs on enrollment management and student services to align academic offerings with student success initiatives.
• Academic Operations: Provide leadership for NOVA Online and High School Dual Enrollment; supervise development and publication of the College catalog and academic schedule; represent Academic Affairs on boards and committees; solicit faculty and staff input through shared governance.
• Supervision and Leadership Development: Supervise, evaluate, and support assigned staff; participate in orientation, training, and performance management per College policies.

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Significant experience with progressively responsible academic administrative leadership in a community college and/or university setting.
• Demonstrated proficiency in using data, evidence, and analysis to inform decision-making.
• Several years of full-time teaching experience in a credit-bearing postsecondary curriculum.
• Strong understanding of and commitment to the community college mission.
• Proven ability to work with diverse stakeholders to achieve consensus.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse workforce and college community; maintain confidentiality on student and personnel matters; prioritize and manage multiple projects with deadlines.

KSAs (Required Qualifications)

• Knowledge of institutional, state, federal, and accreditation policies affecting postsecondary academic programs.
• Knowledge of the impact of technology on contemporary postsecondary learning environments.
• Skill in building and sustaining effective partnerships across diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Skill in interpersonal communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• Ability to synthesize, interpret, and present data effectively to varied audiences.
• Ability to analyze complex issues and make informed recommendations.
• Ability to work with a diverse workforce and college community; maintain confidentiality; and deliver high-quality results.

Additional Considerations

• Tenure or system equivalent within an academic discipline at the post-secondary level.
• Experience developing partnerships between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.
• Experience with strategic planning, academic program review, and institutional effectiveness.
• Support for faculty and staff development, mentoring, and evaluation.
• Experience building partnerships with business, industry, and educational institutions.
• Familiarity with large, complex, multi-campus community colleges or higher education systems.

Other Information

• Operation of a State Vehicle: Yes
• Supervises Employees: Yes
• Required Travel: Some travel is involved.
• Posting Number: FAC_1745P
• Recruitment Type: Agency Employee Only
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Job Open Date: 10/08/2025
• Job Close Date: 11/09/2025
• Open Until Filled

Note: This position is open to current NOVA employees only. Applications from external candidates will not be considered.

Benefits and Additional Information

NOVA offers a benefits package including health and dental insurance, paid leave, retirement plans, and other programs. For more information, visit

The security of our students, faculty, and staff is important. Please review NOVA’s Annual Security Reports. The offer is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background investigation and related checks. An I-9/E-Verify process will be required.

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