Dean of Education

Dean of Education, St. Mary’s University 

Calgary, AB 

St. Mary’s University, located in Calgary, Alberta, is searching for a Dean of Education to provide academic and institutional leadership as the institution grows.  

About St. Mary’s University 

St. Mary’s University is a dynamic and innovative teaching and research university located on a beautiful historic site. We provide affordable, accredited and highly valued degrees in the Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education. Founded in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, and as the only independent Catholic university in Canada, St. Mary’s University prepares its students to live with integrity, compassion and confidence while embodying a compassionate commitment to ethics, social justice, and respect for diversity of opinion and belief. St. Mary’s became a proud member of Universities Canada in 2022, and has over 1000 full- and part-time students, approximately 200 full- and part-time faculty and staff, and an average class size of 25. 

Located in Mohkínstsis (Calgary) on the ancestral territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, and, Piikani First Nations), the Tsuut’ina and Îyârhe Nakoda Nations, as well as the Métis Nation, District 6, St. Mary’s is focused on developing the whole person: mind, body and spirit. 

Consistent with our Catholic values, St. Mary’s University is committed to fostering an institutional culture that values, supports, and promotes equity, human rights, respect, and accountability within our community. St. Mary’s is a university where all are welcome and inclusive excellence is important.  

The Role 

As a member of the Academic Leadership Team and reporting to the Vice President, Academic, the Dean of Education is responsible for providing strategic and administrative leadership to the Education Program. They represent the faculty and staff of the Education department and embody the Catholic Intellectual Tradition as they work with both public and Catholic partners and constituents. 

Aligning with the University’s mission, vision and strategic plan, the Dean will develop, lead and manage student-focused academic programs and resources while fostering a positive learning and working culture.  They will implement sound educational planning and policies and effectively manage faculty personnel, programs and financial resources with a goal of maintaining and enhancing quality academic programs. The Dean provides day-to-day academic and administrative leadership, supervision, and support for faculty and staff. The Dean is responsive to the needs of faculty, staff and students, and upholds and models the values of St. Mary’s and the Professional Standards of Alberta Education. 

Key Responsibilities: 
 

Leadership and Program Direction: Provide clear, stable leadership for the BEd and MEd programs, ensuring high‑quality teaching, accreditation readiness, and alignment with Alberta Education competencies. Actively engage in institution-wide strategy, university governance, and initiatives on behalf of the Faculty. 

Team Leadership, Mentorship, and Culture: Foster a collaborative, caring environment by supporting faculty and staff through change, mentoring early‑career faculty in their teaching, research, and service, and modeling transparent, community‑minded leadership. 

Community Relations and Partnerships: Strengthen strong, credibility‑based relationships with public and Catholic school districts and support practicum partnerships across Calgary.  

Reconciliation and Indigenous Ways of Knowing: Contributes to the institutional Indigenous Strategic Plan through advancing respectful engagement with Treaty 7 communities and Indigenous peoples, supporting the integration of Indigenous knowledges across programs.  

Planning, Operations, and Communication: Collaborate to build structures, documentation, and communication practices needed for effective planning, smooth operations, and proactive decision‑making as the Faculty grows.  

The Ideal Candidate 

The successful candidate will be an experienced academic leader, with outstanding communication and interpersonal skills and a transparent and consultative management style. They are a leader with integrity with a track record of improving and innovating in academic settings. Expertise in academic administration, pedagogy, data analysis, managing staff within a unionized environment, and appreciation for teaching and learning technology are all required. They are an evidence-based decision maker that has a record of building strong and effective relationships across administration and faculty. 

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. 

• Graduate degrees, including a PhD or EdD, with preference given to candidates who also hold a BEd or teacher’s certification equivalent. 

• A positive record of teaching in K-12 classrooms with demonstrated curiosity for research in educational practice. 

• Significant experience in a senior leadership position in academics, K-12 education and/or educational research with significant managerial accountability for human and financial resources and knowledge of grant writing. 

• Proven leadership, project management and administrative experience as well as a very good understanding of Alberta K-12 systems, curriculum and policy environment. 

• A robust understanding of and attention to program quality assurance processes.  

• Knowledge of and commitment to building relationships with Indigenous partners. 

• Team building, consultative leadership, and conflict management experience. 

• Knowledge of and respect for St. Mary’s University’s Catholic identity. 

• Experience leading graduate programming is an asset. 

Skills and Attributes 

• A collaborative and steady leadership style grounded in respect, curiosity, and care. 

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to listen deeply, share information clearly, and bring people together. 

• Excellent planning, project management, and organizational abilities to build structure where it is needed. 

• Comfort making difficult decisions that align with institutional direction while maintaining trust and transparency with different interest holders. 

• Commitment to equity, inclusion, social justice, and safe and caring schools. 

• Enthusiasm for the mission of St. Mary’s and the desire to actively contribute to its future. 

Application review will begin on March 31, 2026. 

St. Mary’s University is passionate about building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive work environment for students, staff and faculty, where diversity in all areas is celebrated and valued. We encourage any and all qualified individuals to apply. Priority will be given to Canadians and permanent residents of Canada. 

We will provide support and accommodations to applicants with disabilities, upon request. If you need accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact accommodate@kbrs.ca or communicate your needs to the recruitment professional named in the job description. 

If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Abbey MacLeod at amacleod@kbrs.ca, Kyle Steele at ksteele@kbrs.ca, or Dr. Jennie Massey at jmassey@kbrs.ca, or submit your full application package online by clicking 'Apply Now'.