Associate Dean, Trades & Technical Programs

Position Summary

Reporting to the Dean, Faculty of Trades and Technical Programs, the Associate Dean is responsible for the effective management of the College’s multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary Trades and Technical academic, technical, and vocational programs across multiple campuses and communities.

The Associate Dean is accountable for functional tasks and responsibility areas identified by the Dean including, but not limited to, program planning and implementation;

budget development and monitoring; credentialing, approval, and recognition / review processes; and management functions that facilitate successful working relationships with faculty, staff, industry, communities, and college administration.

The Associate Dean holds a pivotal role in the daily operations of the Faculty, day-to-day programming, logistics and operations, student matters, facility management, and capital and materials inventory acquisition and management.

The Associate Dean provides innovative and collegial leadership and possess a high level of commitment to partnership development, excellence in teaching and pedagogy, and a proven ability to progressively develop and operationalize new programming and sustained student initiatives.

Position Competencies Teamwork, Relationships & Collaboration

• Promotes teamwork, encouraging open dialogue and cooperation
• Values diversity and treats people fairly and equitably
• Builds and maintains effective working relationships by fostering open communication and trust
• Consistently recognizes individual / team achievements in line with NIC priorities and values

Communication and Change Management

• Presents information honestly, clearly and with conviction
• Listens actively, seeking understanding and receiving / providing feedback as appropriate
• Understands the impact of change on people and encourages two-way communication to support / adapt to change
• Uses appropriate communication methods to support engagement

Commitment to Organization and Culture

• Demonstrates alignment with the College’s vision, values and goals
• Understands the importance of serving internal and external members of the College community
• Promotes the building of a respectful workplace, modeling integrity and honest / ethical practices
• Shares concerns / critiques regarding organizational decisions with supervisor not direct reports

Leadership and Accountability

• Takes ownership of actions and decisions, sets high standards of performance, and focuses on achieving results
• Provides guidance, encouragement and constructive feedback to individuals, teams, or groups
• Supports others and is committed to self-development
• Uses organizational values to guide actions and create an engaging, collaborative work environment

Decision-making, Problem-Solving and Creativity

• Defines problems, assesses alternative course of action utilizing collaboration and evidence-based judgment
• Is solution-oriented, taking a pro-active approach to anticipate and respond to challenges
• Creates, introduces, or recommends new ideas or processes to improve quality & productivity
• Collaborates with supervisor and other colleagues when messaging and managing challenging information and decisions

Planning, Organizing and Prioritizing

• Establishes clear goals and objectives and ensures appropriate distribution and organization of work through systematic processes
• Demonstrates consistent and reliable work output, including quality and quantity
• Ensures follow-through on assessment for continuous improvement
• Sets, achieves and maintains communication, team-building and cultural goals Job Knowledge and Development
• Develops and maintains necessary technical and professional knowledge
• Demonstrates a clear understanding of factors that impact their work at the College
• Provides advice and coaching to others to support their own development
• Seeks out and uses mentoring relationships or other means for self-development Duties & Responsibilities This position requires effective relationship and partnership-building experience and demonstrated commitment to advancing learning technologies in support of student success and academic excellence.

The preferred candidate will have a proven track record managing multiple projects, working within tight time constraints, and the ability to work under pressure while sustaining programming, funding requirements, and supporting faculty and students.

Ability to work flexible schedule and varied hours.

KEY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

• Support strategic and operational planning, multi-year program planning, financial management, community and industry engagement, and the advancement of growth-oriented initiatives to meet the programming needs of North Island College’s domestic and international population
• Support the management of Skilled Trades BC, Advanced Education agreements, and other Ministry and Industry funded programs and initiatives
• Support program approval, accreditation, and review processes and management functions that facilitate successful working relationships with faculty, staff, college administration, community, industry, and funders
• Consult and collaborate with decanal and service departments, including Student Services, Student Affairs, Facilities, Purchasing, and IT, to support progressive development and sustained programming
• Support strategies for student engagement and success, managing student concerns, complaints, and appeals as required
• Demonstrate financial accountability while serving as an ambassador within the community and industry

RESPONSIBILITIES

Educational Leadership

• Provide educational and administrative leadership to implement the overall mission, vision, and values of the Faculty and North Island College
• Engage in proactive consultation and collaboration with faculty, staff, and other administrators to develop and achieve strategic and operational goals
• Advocate and promote each program and the value they bring to the Faculty and community, both internally and externally
• Collaborate with other administrators, faculty, and staff to develop and inform appropriate strategies and systems to actively support and advance programming serving industry, business, the community, and other clients
• Foster and support student satisfaction with programs, program delivery, and quality instruction
• Support current student activities and initiate new strategies to encourage and further develop student engagement and recognition
• Act as ambassador to NIC’s commitment to cultivating and celebrating a culture of inclusion and diversity, welcoming the unique contributions that students, staff, and faculty can bring in terms of culture, ethnicity, race, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, religion, disability, and sexual orientation
• Promote, develop, and sustain partnerships and joint ventures with other educational institutions, Indigenous communities and leaders, School Districts, funding agencies, government, business, industry, and community sectors
• Initiates, provides support, and manages processes for viable cost recovery programming activity.
• Work in support of the Dean and when required represents the Dean on program, industry-based, and senior education committees
• In collaboration with the Dean, Coordinator, Registrar, Marketing, and Recruitment, inform enrolment management priorities and strategies for the Faculty
• Initiate and support programs for teaching excellence; foster and support interdepartmental professional development, education, and collaboration
• Work with the Dean to plan, develop and implement expanded multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary programming, including proposal writing, financial planning, and liaison with subject matter experts, government, and industry.

Management & Operations

• Ensure consistent application and compliance with college student policies and processing of complaints, investigations, and the appropriate course of action and sanction in all student discipline cases, except student suspension and expulsion, in the latter cases, advise and make recommendations to the Dean for review
• Provide administrative oversight as delegated by the Dean for program credentialing, accreditation, and approval processes
• Support the regular reviews of educational programs and the development of educational policy
• Initiate and provide support and manage processes for viable cost recovery programming
• Provide budget development and management support to the Dean and Faculty
• Manage capital budgets including planning, implementation, and monitoring (i.e., training shops, labs, and equipment) in consultation with appropriate departments, technical staff, and faculty
• Support the Dean with the Campbell River campus oversight and related priorities
• Support the Dean with oversight of trades facilities, shops, centers, equipment, vehicles, and related capital assets
• Steward the work of the Coordinator and Trades Assistants in areas of program schedules, program admission, waitlist management, and space utilization within the Faculty
• In collaboration with the Dean and Coordinator, establish and implement multi-year plans and strategic plans and communicate institutional directives and organizational developments with faculty and staff
• Work with the Dean to prepare and manage program and Faculty accountability reports
• Support the Dean and take a leadership role in the exploration and initiation of international education opportunities
• Represent the Dean and Faculty, as required.

Human Resources

• Promote and encourage teamwork and consult with and support faculty and staff
• Create a learner-centered environment and encourage faculty to innovate in developing both curriculum and programming, learning, and teaching
• Support faculty recruitment and coordination of search committees as needed
• Support the recruitment, orientation, coaching, and supervision of faculty and staff in collaboration with the Dean and Coordinator
• Take a leadership role in maintaining effective union and management relationships and work with Human Resources and union representatives to resolve problems effectively
• Ensure that the College’s policies, procedures, and provisions in collective agreements are observed and participate in the resolution of grievances as appropriate, work in consultation with Human Resources

Internal Liaison

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with support staff, Coordinator, and faculty, committed to programming and student success
• Foster and maintain relationships with advisory and College committees to inform current and future programming and formalize and sustain program recruitment
• Work with the internal and external college community to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate contract activity that furthers the goals of the Faculty and contributes to research and scholarly activity

Financial Management

• Develop feasibility assessments upon demand and in support for new programming, support the development of financial plans for annual and contract programming, and diligently support the management of program financials and required internal, ministry, and funder reporting
• Monitor enrolments and, with input from Coordinator and faculty, make recommendations to the Dean to optimize enrolments, student recruitment and retention, and ensure program viability and fiscal sustainability
• Develop business cases for innovative student initiatives and applied research aligned with programming while ensuring viability from a quality and financial sustainability perspective

Required Education & Experience The ideal candidate will hold a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, along with five years of progressive academic leadership and management experience in post-secondary education.

In addition, a Red Seal designation is preferred (industrial, construction, or motive power). The Associate Dean will have demonstrated experience as a strategic, collaborative, and solutions-oriented leader committed to program excellence and student success working with faculty, staff, community, and industry to support programming within a culture of inclusion and innovation.

This position requires effective industry relationship and partnership-building experience and demonstrated commitment to advancing learning technologies in support of student success and academic excellence.

The preferred candidate will have a proven track record managing multiple projects, working within tight time constraints, and the ability to work under pressure while sustaining programming, funding requirements, and supporting faculty and students.

Ability to work a flexible schedule is important. Required Knowledge Skills & Abilities Requirements

• Demonstrated expertise in program development and curriculum development within a post- secondary context
• A clear understanding of the disciplines and programs within the College’s Faculty of Trades and Technology
• Demonstrated understanding of the development of quality, competitive, sustainable, and innovative programming from concept to delivery
• Experience managing diverse portfolios, working with multiple funding bodies, community, and industry, and supporting faculty and program technical staff across multiple delivery locales and campuses
• Progressive experience working with Unions, Advisory Tables, Industry Bodies, and Government Agencies
• Demonstrated knowledge of apprenticeship and technical programming and credentialing
• Demonstrated experience in supporting and advocating for Faculty, staff, students and / or constituency groups
• Experience with non-base projects and applied research initiatives and demonstrated expertise in project management
• Experience with program approval and review / recognition processes (i.e., accreditation, quality assurance) as well as associated report writing and site visit coordination
• Socially and culturally aware and responsive with demonstrated experience in supporting equity, diversity, cultural safety, and inclusion in the activities of Trades and Technology
• Ability to identify, build, and foster relationships through industry partners, government, development initiatives, international partnerships, and other external sources
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement budgets, allocating resources in a climate of financial constraint
• Demonstrated ability supporting management and human resources in a complex unionized environment
• Experience interpreting, creating, and implementing policies and procedures

Competencies

• Ability to create, maintain and support a positive, learner centered work environment
• Ability to provide senior academic and administrative leadership in a diverse Faculty, and within a unionized work environment
• Demonstrated team building / maintenance skills
• Demonstrated change management skills and abilities
• Demonstrated competence with budget development, monitoring and expenditure control
• A thorough understanding of college governance and policy development processes
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in program development and curriculum within a post- secondary context
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills
• Demonstrated understanding and capability in the management of student issues related to the teaching / learning environment, course policies and procedures, academic conduct, and behavioral conduct
• Knowledge of Research Ethics protocols and policies
• Proven track record managing multiple projects, working within tight time constraints, and ability to work under pressure while sustaining programming, funding requirements, and supporting faculty and students.

Ability to work a flexible schedule is also important