Dean, Faculty of Health and Community Studies - Faculty of Health and Community Studies

Competition Number: 26.10.257
Category: Full-Time Continuing (35 hours per week)
Salary: A competitive compensation package, including an attractive base salary and excellent benefits, will be provided.
Closing Date: The competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

Reporting to the Provost & Vice-President, Academic, the Dean, Health and Community Studies is the chief academic and operational leader of the Faculty and is responsible for its academic and administrative direction. The Dean provides dynamic and visionary leadership and advocacy on behalf of the Faculty, within the University, and beyond. The role requires both intellectual leadership and organizational creativity.

The Dean promotes teaching and scholarly excellence, advances research, and nurtures mutually beneficial relationships internally and externally, and effectively manages the Faculty’s resources. The Dean will have the demonstrated ability to assess broad and diverse interests, show commitment across multiple stakeholder groups, and balance informed decision-making with consultation. The Dean will engage and inspire students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and have the capacity to develop collaborative partnerships with government and community partners throughout Edmonton and the surrounding area.

Recognized as an inclusive leader and excellent communicator, the Dean will support access to education that aligns with MacEwan’s commitment to the principles of Indigeneity and reconciliation, of equity, diversity, and inclusion, innovation, and of connection, partnership, and place.

Relationships

Reports to: Provost & Vice-President, Academic

Interacts with

• President and other Senior Administrators
• Students and Alumni
• Board of Governors
• Deans and Associate Deans of other Faculties and Schools
• Government and Community
• Agencies and Internship Partners
• Accreditation, Associations, and Regulatory Bodies
• Leaders in the Alberta Health Community

Direct Reports

• Associate Deans
• Department Chairs
• Administrative Team
• Faculty and Staff

Key Roles & Responsibilities

Leadership

• Through an inclusive consultation process, develop and articulate a vision in alignment with MacEwan’s values and goals.
• Foster a culture of collegial decision-making and guide the Faculty through a period of academic governance maturation.
• Proactively work across the Faculty to drive and support growth for all programs.
• Work collaboratively with faculty, departments, and other Deans, to develop innovative new credentials to remain competitive and relevant, and to differentiate the FHCS’s offerings in an increasingly competitive market.
• Facilitate the advancement of faculty and staff by involving them in opportunities for professional growth and mentoring them in their teaching, scholarly, and service activities.
• Provide a positive and supportive environment in which people from many different backgrounds can work and study, recognizing the diverse personal and intellectual cultures.
• Address the Calls to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and foster stronger ties with Indigenous Communities.
• Address personnel and student situations in an accessible and fair manner.
• Communicate regularly with faculty, staff, and students in ways that increase interest in common issues by capitalizing on connections among people, ideas, and opportunities.
• Foster faculty and student participation in interdisciplinary research and interprofessional education, practice, and community engagement.
• Foster an environment that promotes academic and practice innovation, including the development of new educational pathways and programs that support the needs of the community.
• Work with the Alumni and Development office at MacEwan to lead and develop fundraising priorities for the Faculty and be an active leader and participant in achieving those fundraising goals.

Student Success

• Promote a successful strategy for recruiting and retaining motivated and qualified students and supporting their academic and professional achievement.
• Work to continuously improve the student experience.
• Ensure a safe and accommodating learning environment for all, with particular focus on Indigenous, under-represented, and marginalized students.
• Understand and promote awareness of student services to students, including the importance of mental health supports.
• Encourage the participation of students on governance bodies within the Faculty and across campus.

General Management

• Plan and prioritize personnel needs for the Faculty and establish strategies to enhance recruitment, mentorship, retention, and equity of high-calibre faculty and staff.
• Foster a climate and culture that stimulates all to achieve the highest standards of the professoriate.
• Adopt effective and transparent processes to address personnel issues.
• Strengthen the Faculty’s financial position through effective budget management, entrepreneurial activity, and internal and external partnership development.
• Manage the Faculty’s financial and human resources; provide support and direction to professional and administrative staff.
• Able to work within the two collective agreements; comfortable working through those processes.
• Provide strong support in the accreditation process and understand the various needs within the differing accrediting bodies.

Advocacy and External Relations

• Cultivate relationships with community partners and agencies to provide opportunities for faculty and excellent practice placements for students as a key element in their educational experience.
• Foster excellent external relations with all relevant stakeholder groups locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally.
• Advocate for the Faculty on university committees and externally with professional bodies and provincial and federal governments; demonstrate political know-how and strategic approaches to interactions.
• Advocate for the Faculty within the institution.

Teaching and Learning

• Promote and support the Faculty’s reputation for teaching excellence as the core element of faculty career success and student academic achievement.
• Oversee the development and regular evaluation of new credentials with a view to encouraging improvement and innovation while ensuring their relevance and quality.
• Find new opportunities to incorporate hybrid learning and innovative delivery models throughout the Faculty, ensuring strong support for programming excellence and teaching throughout.

Research and Scholarship

• Promote excellence and integrity in research and scholarship. Foster a climate that uncovers new threads of inquiry and prominence. Encourage and enhance FHCS’s capacity and reputation for diverse and significant scholarly productivity.
• Promote and develop capacity for innovation in interdisciplinary research and programming, knowledge translation, and professional skills training.
• Recruit new faculty whose research agendas support the areas of prominent scholarship in FHCS.
• Communicate and celebrate research in FHCS across campus, the province, and the country.
• Support and mentor new tenure-track faculty in a shared commitment to community-based research and an emphasis on the scholarship of teaching and learning.

The Person

The ideal candidate will have excellent academic qualifications, a strong record of administrative and leadership experience, and a passion for advancing education, research/scholarship, and professional activity.

Professional Experience and Qualifications

MacEwan University recognizes that no one individual is likely to meet all the following criteria in equal measure; however, the following background, experience and personal qualities will be sought in candidates:

• Outstanding leadership skills, with an ability to inspire and mobilize others.
• Demonstrated commitment to the well-being, academic advancement, and success of students.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in education and ability to mentor and encourage faculty in scholarly and professional activity.
• Ability to think strategically and to communicate effectively.
• A proven record of community engagement and community-engaged scholarship.
• Demonstrated experience working with one or some of the professional regulating bodies in which the programs of the Faculty operate.
• Experience and/or an understanding of the accreditation process.
• Experience as an administrator and supervisor in a student-focused institution.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to encourage others to participate in collegial governance and decision-making.
• Experience working in a unionized environment.
• Experience in developing or contributing to academic planning at the Faculty or institutional level.
• An open communication style that inspires, engages, and encourages collaboration and partnership.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills and an ability to foster a positive and supportive work environment.
  Demonstrated success in fostering innovative solutions to address academic or administrative challenges.
• A strong record of teaching, scholarship, and service to qualify for an appointment as full professor, with a terminal degree in a field related to the areas of study in the Faculty.

Personal and Leadership Attributes

Strategic and Values-Based Leadership: A principled, thoughtful leader who approaches decisions through a values-based lens, guided by ethics, honesty, integrity, and accountability. Demonstrates sound judgment and balances collaboration with decisiveness, seeking input from others while confidently making difficult decisions when circumstances require clear direction.

Relationship-Centred and Collaborative: An exceptional relationship builder who establishes trust and credibility with a diverse range of partner groups internal and external to the faculty. Skilled at finding common ground and fostering meaningful partnerships within the Faculty, across the university, and with external communities and organizations. Leads through respectful engagement, open communication, and a genuine commitment to shared success.

People Leadership and Influence: A strong people leader with proven abilities in team development, influence, coaching, and conflict resolution. Creates inclusive and supportive environments where individuals feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute their best. Accessible, approachable, and highly engaged, with a leadership style that encourages collaboration and strengthens organizational culture.

Visionary, Innovative, and Forward-Looking: An innovative and intelligent thinker who embraces new ideas while remaining grounded in practical realities. Combines optimism with pragmatism, identifying opportunities for growth and improvement while maintaining focus on achievable outcomes. Energetic and enthusiastic, with a natural drive to move initiatives forward and inspire momentum across teams.

Adaptable and Organizationally Savvy: Comfortable navigating complexity and working effectively in dynamic and evolving environments. Politically astute and diplomatic, with a strong understanding of organizational contexts and various perspectives. Demonstrates the agility and resilience needed to lead through change while maintaining alignment with institutional priorities and goals.

Commitment to the FHCS Mission: Deeply appreciative of and respectful toward the breadth, diversity, and unique strengths of FHCS and its service offerings. Champions the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and is committed to advancing the Faculty's mission through partnership, innovation, and a shared sense of purpose.

Authentic and Engaging Presence: Leads with authenticity, humility, and a positive outlook. Brings enthusiasm, approachability, and a healthy sense of humour to the workplace, fostering strong connections and creating an environment where people enjoy working together toward common goals.

How to Apply

Leaders International values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our operations. Candidates are invited to contact us directly with any accommodation requests.

To apply, please email your cover letter and resume (PDF or Word document only—preferably as one document) to Ardyce Kouri or Olesia Linkevych at apply@leadersinternational.com, indicating the job title in the subject line.

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