Accreditation and Policy Specialist

Position: Accreditation & Policy Specialist 

Reports to: Associate Executive Director 

Payroll Status: Salaried, Exempt  

Travel: up to 25%  

Location: Remote  

Hours: Standard work week is Monday – Thursday, Friday availability as needed 

Summary: The Accreditation & Policy Specialist manages NAAE accreditation operations as assigned by the Associate Executive Director of Accreditation. As a member of the accreditation team, the Accreditation Specialist serves as a liaison to assigned schools, supporting Members to ensure their submissions meet NAAE technical expectations. A primary focus for this individual will be policy management and regulatory monitoring to ensure NAAE policies remain effective and aligned with external expectations. 

Role Responsibilities:   

The list below is not meant to be comprehensive, but to provide an overview of the types and level of responsibility expected for this role.   

• Oversees policy development and renewal processes, including engagement of appropriate stakeholders, broad communication of changes, document control and maintenance, and managing data-driven review processes 
• Engages in continuous research and regulatory monitoring to ensure NAAE Standards remain in compliance with statute and regulations across the higher education regulatory triad, providing regular updates and analysis on potential impacts to NAAE operations. 
• Serves as the accreditation liaison for member schools as assigned. In general, this role: 
• Serve as the primary contact for questions and requests from assigned schools  
• Serve as a coach, fielding questions and providing objective guidance to Members regarding NAAE Standards, policies, and accreditation and reporting processes 
• Conduct effective technical reviews, providing subjective feedback on self-studies, interim reporting and other Member submissions 
• Ensure accurate recordkeeping of accreditation records and Member data 
• Serves as the NAAE representative on candidacy, accreditation, mentor and other site visits 
• Partners with other members of the accreditation team in the continuous quality improvement of its standard operating procedures and administration of its accreditation processes to enhance Member experience and streamline staff protocols 
• Partners with other members of the accreditation team to develop and implement an effective training program for staff, volunteers, Commissioners, Members, and relevant stakeholders 
• Provides end to end operational oversight, managing projects to final resolution by developing strategic and tactical action plans to ensure achievement of established benchmarks  
• Collect and analyze data, developing reports as needed 
• Contributes to the delivery of the NAAE annual conference and other events 
• Duties as assigned to support successful Commissioner meetings, deliberations, assemblies 
• Partners with the NAAE staff to support implementation of the strategic plan 

Qualifications/Skills: 

While not all required, following is a list of traits, skills and experience that NAAE considers to be essential to ensuring success for this role: 

• Master’s Degree 
• 5 years in higher education academics or accreditation, including direct experience in academic assessment 
• 3 years of policy management in a highly regulated industry  
• Experience working for a higher education accrediting agency preferred 
• Demonstrated experience directly related to the responsibilities outlined 
• Experience working with government agencies 
• Highly developed communication and presentation skills 
• Working knowledge of higher education regulatory environment 
• High-level project management skills to successfully direct, manage, and complete multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously 
• Proven ability to work independently and effectively in a distributed team environment