Director of Child Advocacy Studies

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) provides quality and affordable higher education to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas.

As the largest community college in Arkansas, NWACC is recognized as a leader in education. NWACC offers a full range of associate degrees, certificates and workforce training programs that prepare students for rewarding futures and careers.

NWACC employees are dedicated to fostering a diverse educational community and cultural learning environment that supports student success.

The Director of Child Advocacy Studies provides leadership, strategic direction, and administrative oversight for Child Advocacy Studies instruction, workforce training initiatives, and related activities of the Melba Shewmaker National Child Protection Training Center. The position is responsible for program administration, curriculum coordination, assessment, budgeting, grant management, workforce development, student support, and partnership cultivation to ensure program quality, sustainability, and growth. The director serves as the primary liaison with educational institutions, child advocacy centers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and workforce partners and may teach up to six credit hours per semester based on program needs and qualifications.

Essential Duties:

• Provide leadership for the planning, implementation, evaluation, and expansion of Child Advocacy Studies programs, certificates, workforce training initiatives, and grant-funded projects
• Manage program operations, including scheduling, enrollment management, recruitment, student support services, assessment activities, financial performance, and required reporting
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives that support program effectiveness, sustainability, growth, and alignment with institutional priorities
• Coordinate curriculum development, review, and integration of Child Advocacy Studies courses, certificates, and academic pathways
• Direct program review, accreditation, assessment, continuous improvement efforts, and compliance with institutional, state, federal, and grant requirements
• Develop, administer, and monitor program and grant budgets; identify funding opportunities; and ensure responsible stewardship of resources
• Establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with educational institutions, child advocacy centers, schools, governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and workforce development entities
• Lead workforce and professional education initiatives through the Melba Shewmaker National Child Protection Training Center and identify emerging workforce development needs
• Recruit, train, supervise, evaluate, and mentor assigned staff and adjunct faculty while fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment
• Teach assigned coursework, advise and support students, represent the College in professional and community settings, participate in institutional service activities, and perform other duties as assigned

Rate of Pay: $65,061 annualized *Higher compensation may be considered based on qualifications directly related to position

Completed applications received by 10/15/2026 will be assured full consideration. Late Applications will be reviewed as necessary to fill the position

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in social work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Education, Public Administration, Human Services, or a closely related field
• A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in child advocacy, child protection, social services, criminal justice, mental health, workforce development, higher education administration, or a related field
• Candidates with a bachelor's degree and extensive documented experience directly related to the responsibilities of the position may also be considered

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in Social Work, Law, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Education, Public Administration, or a related discipline
• Experience managing grants, budgets, workforce education programs, or externally funded initiatives
• Experience with higher education program leadership, accreditation, assessment, and curriculum development
• Experience developing partnerships with educational institutions, child advocacy centers, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations
• Supervisory and personnel management experience
• Demonstrated leadership or recognized expertise in child advocacy, child protection, forensic interviewing, social work, or a related field

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of child advocacy, child protection, social services, human services, criminal justice, education, mental health, or related disciplines
• Knowledge of higher education administration, curriculum development, accreditation standards, assessment practices, and institutional effectiveness
• Knowledge of workforce development, professional education, and community engagement principles
• Knowledge of grant administration, budgeting, fiscal accountability, and compliance requirements
• Knowledge of student success strategies, recruitment, retention, and advising practices
• Skill in strategic planning, program development, and organizational leadership
• Skill in budget management, grant oversight, and resource allocation
• Skill in supervising, coaching, mentoring, and evaluating employees and adjunct faculty
• Skill in project management, data analysis, assessment, and continuous improvement processes
• Skill in developing and maintaining collaborative partnerships with diverse stakeholders
• Skill in preparing reports, presentations, grant applications, and regulatory documentation
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to provide effective leadership and manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously
• Ability to build and sustain productive relationships with community, educational, governmental, and workforce partners
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, regulations, accreditation standards, and grant requirements
• Ability to analyze data, evaluate outcomes, and implement improvement strategies
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with faculty, staff, administrators, and external stakeholders
• Ability to support student recruitment, advising, retention, completion, and workforce placement efforts
• Ability to teach assigned coursework and facilitate student learning using approved instructional methods

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.
While performing the functions of this job, the employee is:
Frequently:
• Manipulate items with fingers, including keyboarding
• Sitting
• Standing
• Walking
Constantly:
• Hearing
• Repetitive motion
• Talking

The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and/or visual inspection at distances close to the eyes.

Environmental Conditions:
 

The following work environment characteristics are representative of those encountered by employees while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

The work environment typically consists of a professional office setting with a moderate noise level, including sounds from conversations, office equipment, and occasional movement of staff. Lighting is standard for office spaces, and the temperature is controlled to remain within a comfortable range. Employees may occasionally need to visit other areas, such as storage rooms, conference spaces, or outdoor locations, where environmental conditions may vary. Infrequently, exposure to louder noise levels or physical activities, such as moving lightweight materials, might be required.

NWACC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy.