Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs

CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Chief Academic Affairs Officer/Provost

DEPARTMENT: Academic Programs

POSITION LOCATION: Durham, NC or Morganton, NC

POSITION NUMBER: 60087746

POSTING DATE: Monday, December 22, 2025

CLOSING DATE: Friday, January 23, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m.

POSITION TYPE: Permanent, 12-month, Senior Academic and Administrative Officer (SAAO), FLSA exempt, 1.0 FTE

HIRING SALARY RANGE: Commensurate with education and experience.

Hiring salary will be determined based on education, experience, budget, and market considerations.

NCSSM and the Academic Programs Division foster an environment of collaboration across departments and divisions and support a rigorous academic environment, excellence in teaching, community-engaged service, and research. The Academic Programs Division is the largest Division in the school and the work of the Division is critical in creating NCSSM’s unique living and learning environment which encourages and supports students in “Accepting the Greater Challenge.”

Description of Duties:

The Provost serves as the chief academic officer of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), providing strategic leadership and oversight for academic programs across both the Durham and Morganton campuses, as well as NCSSM’s online program. As a key member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet, the Provost ensures academic excellence, promotes innovation in teaching and learning, and fosters a collaborative academic culture that supports NCSSM’s mission to educate and inspire talented students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and become innovators and leaders.

Specific duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Academic leadership and program oversight.


• Supervision of academic divisional leadership, including all academic departments, admissions, enrollment services, and libraries.


• Faculty and Instructional Staff support.


• Strategic planning and institutional effectiveness.


• Accreditation.


• Resource management and budgeting.


• Promoting collaboration within Academic Programs and across institutional divisions.


• Strategic engagement and institutional relations.


• Representing NCSSM with external partners and within the UNC System.

Location: Durham, NC or Morganton, NC

Management Preferences:

• Deep understanding of best practices in STEM education, education innovation, and academic leadership.


• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build consensus across constituencies.


• Commitment to cultivating a learning environment that values academic inquiry, student voice, and faculty excellence.


• Strategic thinker with the ability to manage complex organizational change.


• Familiarity with the unique academic, developmental, and social needs of high-achieving students in a public residential school setting.

Education and Experience:

• Graduate degree (preferably doctorate) from an accredited institution, preferably in a STEM discipline or education-related field.


• A minimum of five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in academic administration, including supervision of faculty, staff and/or other administrative positions and academic programs.


• Demonstrated success in leading academic innovation, curriculum development, instructional improvement, long and short-range planning, and accreditation.


• Experience working in a residential or boarding school, or higher education environment is strongly preferred.

NCSSM has been named the #1 Public High School in America three of the Past Four Years.

Learn more about NCSSM and join our winning team!

Team NCSSM Benefits

NCSSM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being, growth, and work-life balance of our employees. Highlights include generous vacation and sick leave; 12 annual holidays; paid parental, family medical, and community service leave; and flexible work schedules where applicable. Leave is earned monthly and pro-rated for part-time employees and those working less than 12 months. Employees also enjoy access to the State Health Plan, multiple retirement options (including TSERS and ORP), supplemental retirement savings plans, tuition waiver benefits across the UNC System, and free access to on-site facilities like a gym, library, and cafeteria. Additional perks include life insurance, disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, and membership eligibility with the State Employees Credit Union.

Please visit NCSSM Employee Benefits for more information.

Supplemental and Contact Information:

Please complete your application in full. All required Competencies, Work History, and Credentials must appear on the application in the Education and Work Experience sections of the application to receive consideration during the selection process. CV/Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the State Application form in its entirety. “See Attached Resume or an Embedded Text Resume” will be considered incomplete and will not be processed. Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Along with completing the application, please also include a Curriculum Vitae or Resume and a cover letter.

Final candidates are subject to criminal and sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require a motor vehicle check. If the highest degree is from an institution outside of the U.S., final candidates are required to have their degree equivalency verified at www.wes.org or equivalent service. NCSSM participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.