Academic Dean job description

Job brief

We are seeking a visionary Academic Dean to guide our faculty and staff toward academic excellence and transformative student outcomes. In this pivotal role, you will lead curriculum innovation, cultivate a culture of inclusive pedagogy, and manage the administrative infrastructure of our academic programs. You will serve as the primary advocate for faculty development and student-centered learning within our diverse institutional community. If you possess a deep commitment to educational leadership and institutional advancement, we invite you to help us shape the future of our learning environment.

What is a Academic Dean?

An Academic Dean is a senior educational administrator who orchestrates the strategic direction of academic departments and instructional programs. As a central pillar of an institution, an Academic Dean oversees faculty recruitment, curriculum assessment, and compliance with accreditation standards set by organizations like SACSCOC or WASC. By integrating pedagogical innovations and robust data-driven reporting, the Academic Dean ensures that academic programming remains rigorous, relevant, and aligned with institutional objectives.

What does a Academic Dean do?

The Academic Dean leads faculty committees in refining course content, reviewing student performance metrics, and resolving complex instructional disputes. They collaborate with executive leadership to manage department budgets, mentor department chairs, and spearhead initiatives for faculty tenure and professional growth. Using Learning Management Systems like Canvas or Blackboard and institutional research data, the Academic Dean monitors retention rates and learning outcomes to drive continuous improvement across the campus.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of academic policies, ensuring alignment with regional accreditation requirements and federal education regulations.
• Oversee faculty recruitment, onboarding, performance evaluations, and the promotion and tenure process for all department personnel.
• Analyze student retention, completion, and success data to implement evidence-based interventions that improve institutional performance metrics.
• Collaborate with department chairs to audit and update curriculum maps, ensuring programs meet industry demand and transfer standards.
• Manage the academic division budget, allocating resources to instructional technology, lab equipment, and faculty research initiatives effectively.
• Resolve high-level student grievances and faculty disputes by facilitating mediation and enforcing the student code of conduct.
• Represent the institution during internal governance meetings and external educational conferences to enhance the academic brand and community partnerships.
• Integrate emerging educational technologies into the classroom to support hybrid, online, and high-impact learning experiences for students.

Requirements and skills

• Earned Doctorate (PhD or EdD) in Educational Leadership, Higher Education Administration, or a related academic discipline.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education management, including significant faculty supervision.
• Proven expertise in managing institutional accreditation processes and self-study reports for regional or programmatic accrediting bodies.
• Proficiency in leveraging data analytics and business intelligence tools to track student progress and institutional KPIs.
• Deep understanding of pedagogical best practices, including Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and competency-based education models.
• Strong fiscal management skills with experience overseeing multi-million dollar departmental or divisional budgets.
• Expertise in navigating complex student privacy laws such as FERPA and institutional legal compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within faculty hiring and student support services.

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