Full-time Faculty, PhD Cybersecurity and Academic Program Director

Compensation Range:

National University – San Diego, California

Position: Full-time Faculty, PhD Cybersecurity and Academic Program Director

Location: Remote, USA

National University is a veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible higher education to adult learners. Today, we educate a diverse student body from across the U.S. and around the globe, with more than 230,000 alumni worldwide. Our three schools and three colleges offer more than 200 accredited and licensed graduate and undergraduate programs. National University holds accreditation through the Western Senior College and Universities Commission (WSCUC).

Position Summary

The Department of Cybersecurity and Technology at National University invites applications for a Full-time Faculty (Open Rank) and Academic Program Director in the Ph.D. in Cybersecurity program. Rank is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of, or potential for excellence in, teaching and scholarship in their field and a commitment to serving the University’s adult student body. This position works closely with other faculty within the discipline and administration contributing to programmatic strategies that ensure program quality, student engagement, and success. We are especially looking for a candidate who can contribute to the development and enhancement of our cybersecurity curriculum ensuring it meets the latest industry standards and produces graduates capable of conducting independent, original research that makes a unique, substantial contribution to the body of knowledge. The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research approaches; show evidence of recent scholarly production via publication in ranked peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings; show potential of chairing dissertation committees and participating as an ancillary committee member; have the potential to pursue research or program grants; have the potential to oversee a portfolio of dissertation research endeavors; show the ability to perform administrative tasks and duties; and demonstrate community service. The ideal candidate will contribute toward internal assessments of program performance and annual reports; curriculum and course design; and accreditation efforts. The successful candidate will interact frequently with part-time faculty. Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess some amount of senior leadership experience with appropriate certifications. It is expected that the successful hire will contribute to pursuing and crafting industry and government partnerships toward growing the cybersecurity program and its research emphasis. Also, the successful candidate will possess the potential to start and maintain a cybersecurity research center.

The Academic Program Director (APD) is a full-time faculty member who directs the strategy, operations, and support for the degree program for which this role is responsible. As the primary spokesperson for all program (part-time and full-time) faculty and students, the APD will act as the primary source of information about specific programmatic strategies, needs and daily operations and initiate and approve changes to ensure program quality, driving student engagement and success. The APD serves as the lead discipline expert for the program as well as primary contact for multiple stakeholders. This position collaborates with program faculty in support of student success, as well as the Director of Assessment to conduct program assessment on a regular basis to ensure the program is meeting the needs of the student and the program’s related industries and where applicable, the programmatic accreditation requirements. This position ensures the incorporation of identified trends or changes into the curriculum, in collaboration with the Director of Curriculum, and serves in either a direct or consulting role during course development, updating, and maintenance. The APD meets regularly with the School/College leadership (Associate Dean and/or Dean) to ensure that the program aligns with University and School/College goals and priorities.

Essential Functions:

Candidates will be evaluated for their proficiency and potential in teaching, scholarship, and service. The main expectations of this position include:

• Overseeing a portfolio of graduate student dissertations involving quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches.
• Conducting internal program assessments.
• Contributing to curriculum and course design.
• Contributing to accreditation efforts.
• Contributing to internal studies for program improvement and institutional effectiveness.
• Performing administrative tasks and committee service.
• Interacting frequently with part-time personnel.
• Conducting market studies to retain, alter, or add new specializations within the doctoral degree.

Teaching

• Teach and develop online doctoral-level courses in cybersecurity.
• Maintain andragogical and subject matter expertise in the instructor’s field.
• Create an inclusive and positive learning environment for diverse learners.
• Ensure course and program practices align with compliance and accreditation standards.
• Adhere to the National University’s academic integrity policy.

Scholarship

• Maintain a productive scholarship agenda suitable to a teaching university.
• Engage in scholarly activities to maintain professional growth and accreditation expectations.
• Participate in professional development as outlined in faculty policies.

Service

• Participate in curriculum oversight, shared governance, and the student experience.
• Serve on the university committees and engage in community activities that promote program outreach and university goals.
• Participate in program meetings and advisory boards to integrate best practices and strategic initiatives.
• Create, modify, and update PhD Cybersecurity course material.

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

Education & Experience:

• Terminal degree in Cybersecurity or a master’s degree in cybersecurity with a doctorate in a related discipline required. A degree from a regionally accredited institution; AACSB/ABET is preferred.
• Evidence of research production, including ranked peer-reviewed journal publications and conference proceedings required.
• Experience serving as dissertation chair or experience participating as a dissertation committee member required.
• Familiar with ABET and WASC accreditation processes preferred.
• Leadership or program management experience required; director-level or higher experience preferred.
• Experience or demonstrated potential to obtain research or program grant funding preferred.
• Experience or demonstrated potential in establishing and maintaining a cybersecurity research center, with the goal of achieving Center of Excellence status preferred.
• Experience with the National Security Agency Centers of Academic Excellence programs preferred.
• Active involvement in the cybersecurity community is preferred.

Special conditions of employment include:

• Background check required.
• Travel is required at least once annually to attend the annual Commencement ceremony (if held onsite).
• Travel is required to attend cybersecurity-related events (typically 3-5 events/annually).

This position will be posted until filled.

For full consideration, interested candidates should provide the following:

A cover letter that includes the below:

• A description of how the above requirements are satisfied
• Teaching experience
• Research experience and agenda
• Funding experience and agenda
• A curriculum vita
• Statement of teaching experience online and/or onsite for a diverse student body

Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies. Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family. For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For part-time positions, please click here.

National University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a mix of highly talented, innovative, and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University.