Senior Advisor for Academic Strategy and Accreditation (Temporary Assignment)

Das ist der Job

This role is a specialized, fixed‑term engagement focused on clearly defined institutional priorities.

Darum lohnt es sich

The successful candidate will bring deep experience in academic leadership within the U.S. liberal arts context, real experience with U.S. accreditation processes, and international higher education environments.

Provide guidance on curriculum development processes, drawing on experience with the U.S. residential liberal arts education model and international academic contexts. Provide perspective on positioning academic programs within international and interdisciplinary contexts.

Experience in international or cross‑system higher education contexts is highly desirable.

Senior Advisor for Academic Strategy and Accreditation (Temporary Assignment) Franklin Switzerland – Sorengo (Lugano), Switzerland Franklin Switzerland is seeking a temporary, project-based appointment as Senior Advisor for Academic Strategy and Accreditation to support the institution during a defined period of academic planning, accreditation preparation, and curriculum alignment.

It is not a standing academic office or part of the permanent organizational structure. Reporting to the President, the Senior Advisor will work closely with members of the President’s Cabinet, academic leadership, and faculty committees to provide expert guidance on a set of defined academic initiatives.

The Advisor will contribute strategic insight, facilitate coordination across academic units, and support the development of key institutional deliverables. Experience bridging U.S. and European academic systems is particularly valuable.

Assignment Overview The Senior Advisor will support the institution through a defined set of academic priorities over a limited period of no more than one year. The assignment is structured around advisory, facilitative, and project‑based contributions.

The Advisor will not hold line authority over faculty or staff and will not serve as a formal member of the institution’s governance or administrative hierarchy.

Core Areas of Work Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness Provide expert guidance in the preparation of institutional self‑study materials and accreditation documentation for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Self‑Study process that must be completed during the 2026/27 academic year.

Support the ongoing alignment of institutional practices with Swiss quality assurance expectations. Assist in organizing, synthesizing, and reviewing academic documentation to create accreditation and institutional effectiveness alignments between U.S. and Swiss systems.

Curriculum Alignment and Academic Strategy Support ongoing work to align and strengthen the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, including interdisciplinary structures and shared academic frameworks. Facilitate structured conversations among faculty and academic leaders related to curriculum coherence and program development.

Academic Governance and Policy Advise the President and academic leadership on academic governance structures and policy frameworks based on best practices that facilitate Franklin’s effectiveness at the overlap of U.S./Swiss/Bologna regimes.

Provide expert advice toward the clarity and alignment of academic decision‑making processes, without exercising formal decision authority. Faculty Development and Academic Community Engage with faculty in a collegial, advisory capacity to support teaching development, curriculum design, and academic collaboration.

Where appropriate, conduct formative, non‑evaluative consultations with faculty focused on professional development and academic practice. These consultations are advisory in nature and do not form part of formal evaluation or promotion processes.

Research and Academic Positioning Advise on the development of research strategy consistent with expectations for a Swiss university institute and a U.S. university. Operating Structure Work directly with the President as primary point of coordination.

Collaborate with Associate Deans, program directors, and academic support units in an advisory capacity. Participate in meetings and discussions as invited, without formal membership in standing governance bodies. Maintain a defined schedule of engagement that may include a combination of on‑site and remote work over the course of the assignment.

Assignment Terms This is a fixed‑term, project‑based assignment of up to eleven months, anticipated to begin in August 2026. The assignment is a temporary engagement focused on specific institutional priorities and deliverables. It does not constitute a permanent or continuing role within the institution.

Qualifications Terminal degree from an accredited institution. Substantial experience in academic leadership within higher education at the Dean level or higher. Demonstrated expertise in U.S. accreditation processes, institutional effectiveness, or academic strategy related to accreditation.

Deep familiarity with the U.S. residential liberal arts educational model, including its pedagogical approaches, faculty roles, and student support expectations. Experience as a faculty member or academic leader within a liberal arts institution, including engagement with a residential learning community, is highly desirable.

Familiarity with or willingness to develop a strong understanding of the Swiss and European higher education landscapes, including expectations related to research output, grant funding, and institutional quality assurance.

Ability to work collaboratively in a complex academic environment and to support institutional processes through advisory and facilitative engagement. Equal Opportunity Franklin Switzerland is an Equal Opportunity / Aff…? #J-18808-Ljbffr