Program Director of Student Success Services

LOCATION:

Newport, RI - United States Naval Academy Preparatory School

APPLICATION TIMELINE:

This position does not have a specific application deadline. Review of applications will begin on May 4, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

ABOUT THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY PREPARATORY SCHOOL:  

The Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS), located in Newport, RI, is a critical component of the United States Naval Academy (USNA) where we enhance midshipmen candidates' moral, mental, and physical foundations to prepare them for admission to, and success at USNA. 

NAPS is a ten month post-secondary preparatory school, emphasizing preparation in Mathematics, Chemistry, English Composition, Physics, and Information Technology. The students come from high schools across the United States and its territories or they may be prior enlisted members of the Navy and Marine Corps. The NAPS student body (the Battalion) is selected from applicants to USNA, with each candidate being required to complete the NAPS program before being admitted as a student at USNA. 

The Naval Academy has produced noted leaders, and its graduates (many of whom began their journey at NAPS) have excelled in every walk of life. As an historic officer accession program and premier undergraduate university, USNA has a unique place amongst American educational institutions. Our talented civilian faculty and staff are united by one common purpose - to develop the next generation of leaders for our naval service. In order to best execute that purpose, our faculty, instructors, and support staff are selected from all segments of society and are expected to model the highest professional standards. 

Those selected for employment at NAPS are tasked with ensuring a select group of candidates are best prepared to enter the Naval Academy. This task is challenging, but also rewarding as employees work within a coordinated program alongside other faculty and staff dedicated to inspiring excellence, while also receiving the benefits of federal employment and enjoying an exceptional quality-of-life. 

                  Additional information about the Naval Academy Preparatory School can be found at:  

                                Naval Academy Preparatory School https://www.usna.edu/NAPS/index.php

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) invites applications for the Program Director of Student Success Services position to be filled as early as June 2026. The position is located at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, RI where the overall mission is to academically qualify selected candidates for admission to the U.S. Naval Academy. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervisory Leadership
  • Directly supervise, hire, delegate assignments to, and evaluate a team of approximately 15 (mix of full-time and intermittent) faculty.
  • Conduct periodic performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to motivate and develop faculty and tutors.
  • Lead the orientation of new faculty in collaboration with the Academic Dean, emphasizing NAPS's educational philosophy and pedagogical excellence.
  • Collaborate and communicate with Academic Dean and Division Supervisors to manage the staffing for learning skills and subject specific support.
  • Ensure full compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program policies and objectives.
• Instructional Excellence and Mentorship
  • Serve as an exemplary classroom instructor, teaching Learning Skills courses. 
  • Provide focused instruction on time management, goal setting, prioritization, organization, test preparation, and other learning skills topics based on Battalion needs.
  • Teach, mentor, and coach NAPS faculty and staff on integrating effective learning skills within their specific academic domains.
  • Provide one-on-one or small-group counseling and mentoring to monitor student progress and support academic intervention.
• Curriculum Development and Innovation
  • Analyze student profiles and academic requirements to develop responsive curricula that evolve with student progress.
  • Oversee the design, maintenance, and revision of the Learning Skills Curriculum.
  • Collaborate and communicate with NAPS counterparts (i.e. USNA Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), and other departments at USNA and USCGA) to ensure alignment with NAPS Guidelines and parent academy standards.
  • Establish diverse learning skills course offerings, including workshops and individualized study plans, to meet varying student aptitudes.
  • Strengthen academic support and tutoring services through evidence-based practices, scalable delivery models, and targeted outreach to students at greatest risk.
• Institutional Mission Support
  • Provide leadership for assigned curricular and extracurricular activities.
  • Participate in ongoing professional development to stay current with pedagogical trends and training methods.
  • Conduct continuous analysis and special studies of training methods to initiate institutional improvements.
• Maintain confidentiality and respectful communication when dealing with students and colleagues around sensitive issues.
• Perform other duties as assigned.  

Essential Aspects of this Position: 

• Ability to work in person at Newport, Rhode Island. This position requires a consistent physical presence.
• Ability to maintain a non-traditional work schedule. Candidates must be available for evening hours as required by battalion training cycles (non-negotiable).

This is an onsite, 12-month compensation model, excepted service federal position with an approximate 3-year renewable appointment, a highly competitive salary, and full federal benefits.  The ability to fill this position is contingent upon the availability of funding.

Salary Details: 

• Pay Band: AD-01 Classification 12 
• Approximate Starting Salary Range: $95,000 - $110,000 annually
• Final Salary will be determined based on:
  • Experience and qualifications of the selected candidate

MINIMUM AND PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum:  

• Master’s Degree or higher
  • Required at time of application 
    
• 3 years of supervisory experience
• 3 years teaching experience in secondary or post-secondary education OR in academic support services. 

Preferred Qualifications (We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience or demonstrated interest in some or all of the following areas):

• A PhD or EdD degree in Education or a related field
• Deep familiarity with Learning Skills, academic intervention strategies, and student retention programs.
• Experience working with students from various backgrounds, skill sets, and educational experiences.
• Experience working within a military education environment,  federal service academy, or boarding schools.
• Experience making data-driven decisions that impact student success.
• Demonstrated success in leading organizational change or large-scale curriculum shifts.
• Ability to develop and guide the development of curricula and instructional aides.
• Ability and willingness to take initiative and to work with skill and judgement.
• Proficient in the use of digital technology including learning management systems, productivity software,  and other digital tools relevant to the education setting.
• Effective problem solving and achieving critical outcomes, even under demanding conditions such as multiple priorities and short-notice deadlines.

FINAL SELECTION FOR POSITION WILL BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING ASSESSMENTS: 

• Structured Resume Review
• 1st Round:
  • Virtual Interview
• 2nd Round:
  • In-Person Interview
  • Teaching demonstration 
  • Behavior scenario assessment 
  • Technology skills assessment
• Reference Checks
• Executive level interview

HOW TO APPLY FOR POSITION:

Please note these positions are in-person and physically located in Newport, Rhode Island.

Interested candidates should send an application package to the hiring manager and search committee, at ay26-naps-pdsss-group@naps.edu.   

• Application Packages need to contain:
  • Cover letter
    • Please clearly indicate your status as a U.S. citizen in the cover letter, as this is required for the position.
    • Required Statement: To be considered, please include a brief statement in your resume header confirming your availability to work on-site in Newport, RI, and your flexibility for non-traditional hours.
  • 2 - page resume (we can only accept resumes up to two pages in length)
    • This document must be sufficient on its own to assess whether the candidate meets all “Required Minimum Qualifications.”
  • Contact information for three professional references
  • Supplemental materials
    • Teaching statement/philosophy

Candidates should also submit a response to the narrative questions found here. Please note you will need to include the announcement number listed at the bottom of this announcement.

This position does not have a specific application deadline. Review of applications will begin on May 4, 2026  and continue until the position is filled.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Two-year trial period will typically be required. 
• All Civilian Positions at USNA are subject to a background investigation. The selected candidate will be subject to a security investigation leading to successful completion of a background investigation with a favorable adjudication. The selectee's failure to meet this requirement will be grounds for termination.  More information about the background investigation process can be found at the Academic Dean and Provost’s website here http://www.usna.edu/Academics/Faculty-Information/Background-Investigation-Info.php. 
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

NOTICE TO VETERANS: This is a Title 10 excepted service position and is not subject to the Title 5 veterans’ preference provisions. While there is no formal rating system for applying veterans’ preference within the Title 10 excepted service, the Department of War considers veterans’ status a positive factor in all stages of the hiring process. Veterans are encouraged to clearly indicate their status in their cover letter or elsewhere in their application materials. Please do not submit official documentation (e.g., DD-214) or any personally identifiable information at this time.

NOTICE TO CURRENT ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Separating service members will be eligible for employment to an excepted service position within 120 days of discharge given a Statement of Service can be provided.  If selected, you will be required to submit a Statement of Service indicating your branch of service, rate/rank, all dates of service, your expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service (Honorable, General, etc.) The statement of service must be printed on command letterhead and signed by your command.

NOTICE TO RETIRING MILITARY: Retired service members cannot be appointed to DOD civilian positions within 180 days of retiring. As such, they must observe a 180 day waiting period starting from their date of retirement. USNA does not waive this waiting period requirement for excepted service positions.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  

The Department of the Navy provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. Applicants with disabilities who believe they require reasonable accommodation should contact our Human Resource Office to ensure that the Department of the Navy can consider such requests. The decision to grant an accommodation will be made on a case by case basis.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

 

Announcement:  NAPS-2026-11

The U.S. Naval Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer