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Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs

Full time/12 months

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

POSITION SUMMARY: 
The Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs leads the faculty and the undergraduate academic program, graduate and non-traditional academic programs, and other areas designated by the President. The Vice President/Academic Dean encourages faculty development, provides creative leadership in new academic initiatives, oversees the recruitment and hiring of faculty and staff in academic affairs, and oversees the faculty promotion and tenure process.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Academic Leadership & Strategic Planning
      1. Provide overall academic leadership aligned with the institution’s mission and strategic plan.
      2. Serve on the President’s Cabinet and collaborate with senior leadership to set goals and academic priorities.
      3. Lead development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of academic programs.
      4. Support and further the mission of the institution by serving as leader of the faculty, ensuring a creative, vital and dynamic academic program, including faculty development, faculty evaluation, and faculty hiring.
  • Curriculum Development & Program Oversight
      1. Oversee curriculum planning, approval, scheduling, and evaluation of academic programs.
      2. Ensure instructional programs respond to community, workforce, and transfer needs.
  • Faculty & Staff Leadership
      1. Provide direction and supervision for academic department chairs and faculty including hiring, evaluation, and professional development.
      2. Oversee the following additional offices and functions of the university, including hiring, evaluation, and professional development:
        • Academic Affairs
        • University Registrar
        • Disability Services and the Learning Resource Center
        • Institutional Research
        • Musselman Library and University Archives
        • General and cross-cultural Education
        • The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center
  • Accreditation & Compliance
    1. Ensure compliance with institutional, state, federal, and accreditation requirements (e.g., HLC or other bodies).
    2. Work with or serve as the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) to lead accreditation initiatives.
  • Budget & Resource Management: Lead planning and oversight of academic budgets and resource allocation within Academic Affairs.
  • Program Assessment
    1. Direct assessment of student learning outcomes and academic program effectiveness.
    2. Use data to inform decisions on curriculum adjustments.
  • Policy & Governance: Develop, recommend, and implement academic policies and procedures in support of institutional goals.
  • Institutional Representation & Collaboration: Represent Academic Affairs internally and externally (with boards, partners, community or K-12 systems).

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Acting in Executive Leadership Roles
    1. Serve as principal institutional representative in the President’s absence.
    2. Assist President with institutional governance tasks or external affairs.
  • External Relations & Partnerships
    1. Develop educational partnerships with industry, community organizations, or other colleges/universities.
    2. Work on articulation agreements or cooperative programs with secondary and post-secondary institutions.
  • Fundraising & Advancement: Support philanthropic efforts by engaging donors or external stakeholders on academic priorities.
  • Special Initiatives & Task Forces: Lead or participate in campus committees, strategic task forces, accreditation self-studies, or broad institutional initiatives (equity, guided pathways, workforce projects).
  • Crisis or Compliance Work
    1. Respond to complex compliance issues.
    2. Prepare reports for oversight entities.
    3. Support legal/regulatory responses.

QUALIFICATION:
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties of this job.

Minimum:

  1. Education and Experience:
    1. Earned terminal degree (PhD, EdD, or equivalent) from an accredited institution, appropriate to the Bluffton University’s academic mission.
    2. 5-7 years progressive academic leadership experience with responsibility beyond a single department (e.g., department chair, associate dean, dean).
    3. Experience as a tenured faculty member or equivalent academic appointment with demonstrated understanding of faculty roles and expectations.
    4. Demonstrated responsibility for curriculum development, program review, and academic policy.
    5. Direct experience with regional accreditation processes, including self-study preparation and compliance reporting.
    6. Experience with budget development and resource allocation within Academic Affairs.

  2. Skills/Abilities:
    1. Demonstrated ability to provide institution-wide academic leadership aligned with mission and strategic priorities.
    2. Strong collaborative leadership skills, including shared governance and effective work with faculty senates.
    3. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to translate academic priorities for diverse audiences.
    4. Ability to analyze and use data to support academic planning, assessment, and decision-making.
    5. Knowledge of academic policy, faculty evaluation, promotion and tenure, and instructional best practices.
    6. Demonstrated commitment to academic integrity, student success, and inclusive excellence.

Preferred:

  1. Education/Certification:
    1. Doctorate in a discipline represented at the institution or in higher education leadership.
    2. Senior-level academic leadership experience (e.g., dean, associate provost, provost/CAO).
    3. Experience leading institutional change initiatives, such as curricular reform, program prioritization, or academic reorganization.
    4. Experience at an institution with a similar mission, size, governance model, or faith-based/values-based context (as applicable).
    5. Experience overseeing or collaborating with academic support units (library, advising, registrar, learning centers, online education).
    6. Experience working with boards of trustees or academic affairs committees.
    7. Experience contributing to or supporting fundraising and advancement efforts related to academic priorities.

  2.  Skill/Abilities:
      1. Demonstrated ability to lead through complexity and change, including periods of enrollment or financial pressure.
      2. Strong personnel leadership skills, including mentoring academic leaders and managing conflict constructively.
      3. Advanced skills in strategic planning, assessment of student learning, and continuous improvement.
      4. Ability to build external partnerships (consortia, articulation agreements, workforce or community collaborations).
      5. Cultural competence and demonstrated success advancing academic practices consonant with Bluffton University’s mission.
      6. Capacity to serve as a visible academic ambassador for the institution with external stakeholders.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Primarily a sedentary position with frequent attendance of group of individual meetings in other buildings on campus. Some off-campus travel required for conference attendance and off-campus meetings. Employment decisions are based on merit and university needs, and not on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status protected by law. As a religious institution, Bluffton University expressly reserves its right to appoint faculty and staff who share a commitment to the Christian faith which is consistent with the Mennonite/Anabaptist beliefs of the university’s founding and supporting church.

APPLICATION MATERIALS:
Applications are considered complete when the following materials are received at the office indicated below:

Review of applications will begin immediately in order to fill this position as soon as possible.

Send application materials to:
Human resources
Bluffton University
1 University Drive
Bluffton, OH 45817-2104

hr@bluffton.edu

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