Continuing Education Associate Director

About the Role

The Center for Advancing Student Learning (CASL) at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee is the unified hub for lifelong learning and instructional excellence, dedicated to making a high-quality UWM education available to anyone, anywhere, at any time. We champion flexible, student-centered approaches that allow learners to move seamlessly across educational experiences—from youth programming and degree-seeking pathways to professional upskilling in continuing education. By partnering with instructors to design inclusive, technology-driven learning environments, CASL ensures that innovative learning extends beyond the traditional classroom.

As a strategic leader within CASL, you will oversee the operational and personnel aspects of continuing education. This role ensures the seamless integration of lifelong learning with CASL’s broader portfolio, including academic programs, teaching initiatives, business development, and educational technology. You will foster innovation in workforce alignment and professional development, specifically expanding access for working adults and non-traditional learners. By strengthening both internal and external community and employer partnerships, you will advance a cohesive vision that bridges the gap between credit and non-credit pathways, ensuring our offerings remain responsive to evolving industry needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of key strategies and initiatives that integrate continuing education across CASL's functional areas to enhance learning, access, and institutional impact.
• Contribute to strategic planning, policy development, and institutional initiatives related to lifelong learning.
• Supervise and manage staff, project teams, and program coordinators/managers, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and approving hours worked.
• Serve as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups, advising and providing continuing education information and representing the interests of the unit.
• Direct strategic planning initiatives and establish unit objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources, and alignment with the strategic plan.
• Develop and audit the unit budget.
• Develop operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and unit objectives.
• Identify emerging educational needs and workforce trends to guide program growth and innovation.
• Position the unit as a key contributor to institutional enrollment, revenue diversification, and community impact while fostering a collaborative, supportive, and innovative team environment.

Continuing Education & Program Development

• Oversee the development, coordination, and evaluation of continuing education and non-credit programs.
• Facilitate pathways between non-credit and credit-bearing programs, including stackable credentials, workforce-aligned offerings, micro-credentials, and credit for prior learning.
• Advance collaboration with academic departments to design programs responsive to community and employer needs.
• Work closely with business development staff to identify new markets, partnerships, and revenue opportunities.
• Strengthen partnerships with community organizations, employers, and public agencies to expand workforce-relevant programming.

Operations and Administration

• Assist in managing budgets, contracts, and resource allocation across continuing education program areas.
• Support the development of sustainable financial models, including grant, partnerships, and fee-based programming.
• Ensure compliance with institutional, federal, and state policies, and relevant regulations.
• Collaborate with marketing and registration teams to develop outreach strategies to strengthen the unit’s visibility and reputation locally and regionally.
• Use data, including labor market data, to inform decision-making and continuous improvement across program areas.

Work will be performed primarily onsite.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in higher education, public administration, business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4–6 years of relevant supervisory experience in continuing education, adult learning, workforce development, or a related area.
• Demonstrated leadership in program development, budgeting, and team management.
• Demonstrated experience working across functional areas or leading collaborative initiatives.
• Strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of labor market trends and employer engagement strategies.
• Experience managing budgets or revenue-generating programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in higher education, public administration, business, or a related field.
• Experience with workforce development, employer partnerships, or business development.
• Experience in a public, urban research university.
• Familiarity with online and hybrid learning modalities.
• Track record of securing grants or developing revenue-generating programs.

Pay

$115,000–130,000 annually. Salary will be determined by finalist's experience, training, education, and equity-based factors.