Vice President for Academic Affairs & Chief Academic Officer

Title: Vice President for Academic Affairs & Chief Academic Officer (Apex Technical School) 

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President for Administration 

Location: New York Metro Region

Salary: $150,000-$180,000

About Fedcap

For more than 90 years, Fedcap has been turning possibility into reality. As a global nonprofit serving more than 335,000 people each year across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, we open doors to economic mobility through innovative, evidence-based solutions in education, workforce development, health, and economic development. Join us and experience The Power of Possible, where your work creates real opportunities for people facing barriers to economic well-being and helps build stronger communities every day.

Position Summary

 

Apex Technical School, part of The Fedcap Group, is seeking a Vice President for Academic Affairs to serve as the academic leader of Apex Technical School and is responsible for the quality, consistency, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of all academic and technical training programs.

 

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President for Administration, the Vice President provides leadership for curriculum, instruction, faculty performance, academic operations, accreditation and regulatory compliance, and student learning outcomes. The position ensures that Apex programs maintain rigorous academic and technical standards while remaining closely aligned with industry expectations, employer needs, licensing requirements, and career opportunities for graduates. The Vice President will work closely with school leadership, instructors, student services, enrollment, operations, and employer partners to strengthen the student experience from enrollment through graduation and employment.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

Academic Leadership

• Provide institution-wide leadership and direction for all academic and technical education programs.
• Establish clear standards for instructional quality, curriculum delivery, student learning, and faculty performance.
• Ensure consistency in academic standards and program delivery across departments, schedules, and locations.
• Lead the development, review, and continuous improvement of academic programs.
• Ensure that technical programs remain current with industry standards, technology, equipment, and employer expectations.
• Evaluate opportunities for new programs, credentials, and instructional models based on student and workforce demand.

 

 

Faculty Leadership and Development

• Lead the recruitment, onboarding, supervision, evaluation, development, and retention of high-quality instructors and academic leaders.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability for faculty performance.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive faculty observation and evaluation process.
• Strengthen professional development for instructors in teaching practice, classroom management, student engagement, technology, and technical instruction.
• Identify and develop academic leaders and department heads capable of providing strong day-to-day instructional leadership.
• Work with Human Resources and school leadership to address faculty staffing needs, vacancies, compensation challenges, and retention risks.

 

Curriculum and Instruction

• Oversee curriculum development, course sequencing, instructional materials, assessments, and academic policies.
• Ensure that curriculum reflects current occupational competencies and prepares students for employment, industry certifications, and applicable licensing examinations.
• Regularly review curriculum with employers, industry experts, faculty, and other stakeholders.
• Promote effective instructional practices for students with different educational backgrounds and learning needs.
• Support appropriate use of educational technology, simulation, hands-on learning, and other instructional innovations.
• Ensure that required instructional hours, competencies, assessments, and attendance standards are consistently maintained.

 

Student Achievement and Outcomes

• Monitor student academic progress and identify barriers affecting persistence, completion, credential attainment, and employment.
• Use data to improve attendance, retention, completion, certification passage, and other student outcomes.
• Partner with Enrollment Management and Student Success leadership to create effective interventions for students who are struggling academically.
• Establish academic performance dashboards and regularly review results with school leadership and faculty.
• Ensure academic policies support student success while maintaining appropriate academic standards.

 

Regulatory and Accreditation Compliance

• Maintain strong academic compliance with all applicable federal, state, accreditation, licensing, and institutional requirements.
• Provide academic leadership for accreditation reviews, regulatory submissions, program approvals, and site visits.
• Ensure that faculty credentials, curriculum, instructional hours, academic records, and other academic requirements meet applicable standards.
• Work collaboratively with compliance, operations, and administrative teams to identify and address potential areas of regulatory risk.
• Maintain documentation necessary to demonstrate academic quality and compliance.

 

Employer and Industry Alignment

• Develop strong relationships with employers, trade associations, unions, licensing bodies, and industry leaders.
• Establish mechanisms for regular employer feedback on curriculum, graduate skills, and workforce needs.
• Ensure that programs prepare students for the skills and behaviors expected in today's workplace.
• Work with Career Services and employer partners to strengthen the connection between classroom instruction and employment outcomes.
• Identify emerging occupations, technologies, and credentials that may create new opportunities for Apex students.

 

Academic Operations

• Ensure academic schedules, instructor assignments, classroom utilization, laboratories, equipment, and instructional resources support effective program delivery.
• Work closely with Operations and Facilities leadership to ensure shops, laboratories, classrooms, equipment, and learning environments meet instructional requirements.
• Participate in annual academic budgeting and workforce planning.
• Develop appropriate staffing models based on enrollment, instructional requirements, and program schedules.
• Identify opportunities to improve academic effectiveness while using institutional resources responsibly.

 

Institutional Leadership

• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team and contribute to institutional strategy, planning, budgeting, and decision-making.
• Provide the Senior Vice President for Administration and Chief Operating Officer and other senior leadership with regular reporting on academic performance, faculty staffing, student outcomes, compliance, and emerging risks.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure that academic priorities are integrated with enrollment, student services, career placement, operations, and institutional growth.
• Support the development and launch of new campuses, programs, partnerships, and academic initiatives.
• Foster a culture of high expectations, accountability, continuous improvement, and commitment to student success.

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master's degree or other advanced degree preferred.
• Significant senior-level experience in career and technical education, workforce education, higher education, proprietary education, community colleges, or a related educational environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading academic programs, instructors, curriculum, and student outcomes.
• Strong understanding of career and technical education and the relationship between education, industry credentials, employer expectations, and employment outcomes.
• Experience with accreditation, regulatory compliance, or state education requirements strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to use data to evaluate academic performance and improve outcomes.
• Experience recruiting, managing, evaluating, and developing faculty.
• Strong organizational, communication, analytical, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple programs and priorities in a fast-paced educational environment.
• A practical, student-centered approach to academic leadership and a strong commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers.

 

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation: $150,000-$180,000

• Benefits: Medical, Dental & Vision | Life/AD&D & Long-Term Disability | Flexible Spending Account (FSA) | Commuter Benefits | 403(b) | Wellness Program

 

The Fedcap Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a respectful workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, provincial, or local law.

 

About Apex Technical School

 

Founded in 1961, Apex Technical School is one of New York City's leading career and technical education institutions, providing hands-on training that prepares students for high-demand careers in the skilled trades. For more than six decades, Apex has helped thousands of individuals gain the technical skills, industry knowledge, and professional confidence needed to enter the workforce and achieve economic mobility.

 

Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and licensed by the New York State Education Department, Apex is recognized as a 2024–2025 ACCSC School of Excellence and partners closely with employers and industry to ensure programs align with evolving workforce needs.

 

As part of The Fedcap Group's education portfolio, Apex is committed to expanding opportunity, strengthening industries, and creating pathways to meaningful careers through technical education and workforce development

About Us Apex Technical School is an adult vocational technical school located in Long Island City, New York, that provides top-tier vocational training in high-growth trades. Founded in 1961, Apex serves about 1,400 students annually with seven 900-hour certificate courses in skilled trades including refrigeration, automotive service, auto body, welding technology, electrical and advanced electrical, plumbing and construction. Apex certificate programs are highly regarded and have been shown to have a substantial positive impact on economic mobility—leading to entry level careers.

Apex is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, and licensed by New York State Department of Education Apex offers job placement assistance, financial aid and work-study jobs to those who qualify.