Dean Of Social Sciences And Business

Mount Allison University is searching for a Dean of Social Sciences and Business to provide senior academic leadership to this innovative and unique Faculty.

The Organization

Mount Allison University is located within the territory of Mi’kma’ki, the unceded, ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq. The University has been recognized by Maclean's annual university rankings as the top primarily undergraduate university in Canada 23 times in the past 32 years — a record unmatched by any other institution. Mount Allison offers more than 50 programs to choose from so students can create their own unique bachelor's degree. Mount Allison prides itself on providing a high-quality academic experience, combined with a variety of hands-on learning opportunities in a close-knit community. The Faculty of Social Sciences and Business includes the departments of Commerce, Economics, Geography and Environment, Politics and International Relations, and Sociology.

The Role

Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research, the Dean of Social Sciences and Business is accountable for academic, research, and administrative leadership while maintaining the delivery of high-quality education, and sustainable fiscal performance. The Dean is responsible for providing both strategic and operational leadership, advocacy, advice, and mentorship to staff and faculty, and for fostering a positive culture that welcomes creativity and innovation. They advise, coach, support, and provide clear direction to ensure compliance with University’s policies, procedures, and directives, in addition to ensuring collective agreements are respected. They are responsive to the needs of faculty, staff, and students, and uphold and model the values of Mount Allison.   Acting as a member of the senior academic leadership team, they partner with fellow Deans on strategic projects, initiatives, and advising.

Responsibilities

• Academic leadership and advocacy, setting direction and ensuring quality of learning experiences and research excellence.
• Operational leadership including fiscal accountability, people management, and supporting the growth and development of faculty, staff, and students.
• Fostering a positive culture and acting as a steward of and advocate for Faculty and University values.
• Consulting and communicating widely with faculty, departments, partners, and leadership throughout decision-making processes.
• Relationship building with internal and external colleagues and partners.
• Continued growth of a strong internal and external collaborative network including industry and community partners.
• Actively leading the Faculty in the university’s integrated academic planning exercises.
• Fostering excellence in scholarship and research.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a strategic academic leader, with outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, and a transparent and consultative management style. They are a compassionate, caring leader with integrity. They will have a strong track record of service, scholarship, and facilitating improvement and innovation in academic and research settings with a commitment to serving students. Expertise in academic planning, collaborative budgeting, data analysis, and managing employees within a unionized environment is an asset. They are an evidence-based decision maker who fosters positive culture through strong and effective relationships across constituents.

Qualifications and Experience

While the Search Committee recognizes that no one candidate is likely to meet all qualifications in equal measure, those listed below are desirable and will be used to compare candidates.

• A PhD in a related discipline, with a strong track record of research, scholarship, and teaching.
• Relevant administrative and/or service experience including performance evaluation, project management, and budgeting and annual reporting.
• Experience working collegially and effectively within a unionized environment, building trusting relationships both internally and externally.
• Ability to manage complex situations in a calm, clear, and consistent manner.
• An understanding of the current provincial funding landscape and opportunities.
• Skills in strategic planning and implementation.
• Team building, consultative leadership, and conflict management experience.
• Interest and willingness to develop external partnerships.

Attributes

• Creativity, empathy, compassion, and curiosity.
• A strong and capable leader who can be successful in an academic environment.
• Authenticity and exceptional communication skills, with the ability to listen, understand, and translate knowledge to the students, faculty and staff.
• A highly relational leader with excellent emotional intelligence.
• An entrepreneurial innovator, seeing opportunities where others may see problems.
• The ability to face challenges, and to exercise integrity, flexibility, and wisdom.
• A facilitative style, with the ability to make timely decisions while exercising good judgment.

If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Debra Clinton at dclinton@kbrs.ca, Dr. Jennie Massey at jmassey@kbrs.ca, or Kyle Steele at ksteele@kbrs.ca, submit your full application package by clicking on the ‘Apply Now’ button below.