Academic Dean

Position Overview

The Academic Dean acts as the chief academic officer and spokesperson for their college, facilitating communication among students, faculty, administration, and external parties. This role involves leading the college's academic and administrative functions, aligning them with the institution's mission, and ensuring a supportive and compliant academic environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the representative of the department to both internal and external audiences, including alumni and professional bodies, advocating resource needs to senior leadership.
• Develop, implement, and enforce policies, procedures, and standards that govern faculty, staff, and students, maintaining compliance with accreditation and institutional regulations.
• Guide academic program development with faculty collaboration, conduct regular academic assessments, and oversee instructional programming aligned with accreditation and state standards.
• Manage the department’s budget prudently to allocate resources efficiently and ensure competitive compensation to attract and retain quality personnel.
• Lead the recruitment, hiring, and evaluation of faculty and staff, fostering a positive work culture that emphasizes professional growth and compliance with accreditation documentation requirements.
• Promote student achievement by creating diversity-supporting initiatives, sustaining a conducive learning atmosphere, monitoring academic progress, and organizing retention efforts including new student orientation.
• Cultivate partnerships with external stakeholders to enhance the department’s reputation and collaborate on best practices with peer institutions.
• Oversee preparation and submission of detailed program reports to the college and accrediting organization (ABFSE) ensuring all data and documentation support continuous quality improvement and meet accreditation standards.

Required Skills and Attributes

• Comprehensive knowledge of academic administration, budgeting, and strategic leadership.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to inspire and lead diverse teams.
• Sound decision-making capacity, high emotional intelligence, flexibility, and professionalism.
• Openness to new ideas coupled with effective financial management capabilities.
• Experience in academic leadership roles, implementing educational initiatives, and stakeholder engagement.
• Familiarity with the standards and practices of the American Board of Funeral Service Education.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education or a related field; enrollment in a Master's program preferred, with a Master's degree being desirable.
• Extensive leadership experience in academic administration within higher education.
• Current licensure as a funeral director in the state or ability to obtain license within 90 days of employment.

Working Environment

• Standard office setting with light physical activity, including occasional handling of items up to 10 pounds and some walking or standing.
• Minimal exposure to physical hazards.

Additional Information

The role demands a full-time commitment with mostly standard work hours; occasional evening and weekend duties are expected during events or meetings. The organization values diversity and practices equal opportunity employment, actively supporting accommodations for disabilities and ensuring a discrimination-free workplace.