Dean, College of Rehabilitation Sciences

Industry
Academic
Location
Manitoba
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The University of Manitoba is actively seeking a collaborative and strategic academic leader to serve as the next Dean, College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

University of Manitoba
Recognized as Western Canada’s first university, the University of Manitoba is a place where students come to learn and be inspired. The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate and Dene, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. The University is honoured to have been chosen to host and partner with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. It is committed to Indigenous achievement and to making Manitoba a global centre of excellence for Indigenous education, research, languages and cultures.

The University of Manitoba is the province’s only medical doctoral institution and is a member of Canada's U15 group of research-intensive universities. The university offers a robust and diverse suite of nearly 150 graduate programs taught by award-winning professors and in partnerships with over 50 research centres and institutes. The University generates more than $1.7 billion in annual economic activity and attracts $210 million annually in sponsored research income. The university’s culturally diverse community is home to over 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students, of which over 21% are international students representing over 122 countries.

Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
The mandate of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences is to advance excellence in collaborative health care through innovative, socially accountable & just scholarship, education and service, improving the health of people and communities. The Faculty offers a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate educational programs in the health professions and basic medical sciences to more than 3,100 students each year. The Faculty reflects the health sector's evolving focus on interprofessional models of care and prepares students for team-based delivery of patient care. This dynamic Faculty comprises six Colleges, including the College of Pharmacy. The other Colleges are the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Max Rady College of Medicine, and Colleges of Nursing, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Community and Global Health.

College of Rehabilitation Sciences
The College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CoRS)’s mission is to cultivate knowledge, lifelong learning and leadership in the field of rehabilitation sciences in partnership with diverse communities to promote the cultural, social, and economic well-being and health of Manitoba, Canada and the world. CoRS is guided by a vision to serve Manitobans in a good way, drive innovation in rehabilitation sciences practice, research/scholarship and education while maintaining and growing partnerships. The College collaborates with communities globally and locally, including partnerships with First Nations communities in Manitoba with a goal to bring services of the College to the community, based on their self-identified needs and priorities.

CoRS comprises three academic departments: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Respiratory Therapy. The College offers both professional and graduate programs. Professional programs include Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) programs, as well as a Bachelor of Respiratory Therapy (BRT). Graduate students can pursue research-focused MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences or and a PhD in Applied Health Sciences.

Researchers in CoRS work to enhance the health, quality of life and participation of patients. Their focus is on individuals with mobility or physical activity challenges and those with chronic conditions or diseases. They are also engaged in research partnerships with Indigenous peoples to support health and well-being in their communities. The College boasts four research clusters and six research facilities, including virtual reality and AI-powered rehabilitation technologies.

The Position
Reporting to the Dean and Vice-Provost (Health Sciences) of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, the Dean, College of Rehabilitation Sciences is the head of the College and is the senior academic administrative officer of the College. The Dean provides leadership and guidance to foster unity and cooperation among faculty, staff, and community members while building and sustaining a culture that supports academic, research, and operational excellence. The Dean promotes excellence in rehabilitation sciences education, practice, research, scholarship and creative activity through strategic and visionary leadership. The Dean is accountable for creating a positive and inclusive work environment, which will serve as the foundation for the academic well-being of the College.

The Dean helps to advance the goals of the College and broader Faculty and to build on its strengths.  The Dean commits to creating an exceptional and relevant student experience across programs, preparing future rehabilitation sciences professionals, and furthering its priorities with respect to Indigenous achievement and engagement.  The Dean supports and enhances the College’s strong reputation in the community and continues to collaborate, advocate and build positive partnerships across the University, as well as locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate shall hold an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, or Respiratory Therapy, with clinical experience and eligibility for licensure in the respective regulatory body. They must be eligible for an appointment to the tenured senior ranks at the University.  A doctoral degree is required but this degree does not need to be in Rehabilitation Sciences. They will have a distinguished record of research, academic, teaching, administrative, and leadership experience, preferably in a unionized environment. As an administrator, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated success in leading a collaborative and collegial culture and in effectively mentoring and supporting research, teaching, and service in and with diverse communities.

The candidate should be able to articulate, enact, and show evidence of their commitments to equity, access, and participation, and anti-racism and decolonial practices, and understand and have a proven commitment to Indigenous engagement, achievement, and overall success with consideration of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. The Dean will be a principled and empathetic leader, with the ability to listen, learn, and lead with integrity. They will be able to build trust and rapport with students, faculty, support staff, and university leadership, as well as with government and professional partners. They will possess sound knowledge of rehabilitation sciences education, value interprofessional collaboration, and actively support initiatives that advance the field.

If you are interested in this opportunity, including receiving a copy of the Executive Brief, please contact Katherine Frank at kfrank@kbrs.ca or Lauren Wright at lwright@kbrs.ca, or submit your application online using the "Apply Now" button below.

Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the protection of privacy provision of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Manitoba). Please note that curriculum vitae may be provided to participating members of the search process.

The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities). The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences is committed to the social justice principles of equity, access & participation and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community, including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities).

An inclusive, open and diverse community is essential to excellence and fosters voices that have been ignored or discouraged. To address the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences commitment to equity, access and participation, and in recognition of the underrepresentation of members of historically and currently excluded groups, we take proactive measures including implicit bias training for all hiring panels. We strive for diversity and cultural safety throughout the hiring process (hiring panels, short-list of candidates, interviews). The University acknowledges the potential impact that Career Interruptions and Personal Circumstances can have on an applicant’s record of research achievement. Measures will be taken to ensure that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the evaluation process.

We encourage you to self-identify aspects of your identity that position you to bring currently under-represented viewpoints, expertise and forms of excellence to this role. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of Manitoba and KBRS will provide support in the recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact UM.Accommodation@umanitoba.ca or 204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.