Associate Dean - Dental & CNA

Waukesha County Technical College • Wi 53072, WI

8d

About The Position

The Associate Dean provides administrative and academic leadership for dental and nursing assistant education programs within the School of Health. The role supports and develops faculty and staff, plans and manages instructional programs in alignment with College policies and strategic priorities, and ensures programs meet applicable accreditation, regulatory, licensure, credentialing, and clinical requirements. Programs serve student, community, and employer needs across classroom, laboratory, simulation, and clinical settings.

The position oversees curriculum and program review, schedules and faculty assignments, personnel supervision, budgets and resources, external funding, advisory committees, stakeholder partnerships, student support, records, and reporting. It supports alternative delivery models, including online and hybrid instruction, and monitors workforce trends and regulatory developments to keep programs relevant. Oversight includes safe and operationally ready learning environments, with attention to infection prevention, equipment readiness, documentation, and compliance. The Associate Dean collaborates with healthcare employers, clinical partners, faculty, student services, and external agencies to support clinical placements and graduate employment outcomes.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in a discipline related to the assigned academic department, higher education administration, or a closely related field; a bachelor’s degree with equivalent professional experience may be considered under the stated substitution provisions.
• Seven years of supervisory or management experience; substitutions may apply at Human Resources’ discretion, but the requirement cannot be reduced below two years.
• Teaching, training, or instructional design experience in K–12, corporate training, or an accredited postsecondary institution.
• Ability to lead curriculum development, program review, and evaluation using labor market information, advisory committee input, and student outcome metrics.
• Knowledge of academic policies, FERPA, faculty governance, regional accreditation standards, and programmatic accreditation processes.
• Ability to translate strategic priorities into measurable academic goals, action plans, and accountability structures.
• Ability to analyze enrollment, retention, completion, student learning, and workforce placement data and use dashboards, reports, and key performance indicators.
• Ability to apply contract provisions to faculty supervision, workload assignment, evaluation, and progressive discipline.
• Skills in conflict resolution, mediation, restorative approaches, faculty and staff recruitment and development, and collaborative team leadership.
• Ability to develop, monitor, and manage budgets, including personnel, supplies, equipment, and grant-funded programs, and to optimize schedules and resource allocation.
• Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills and ability to build productive stakeholder relationships and handle sensitive situations with discretion and judgment.
• Ability to foster an inclusive department culture and support culturally responsive teaching and service delivery.
• Proficiency with learning management systems, document and records applications, databases, spreadsheets, presentation software, and institutional reporting tools.
• Ability to evaluate and support emerging instructional technologies, including AI-enhanced tools, simulation, and discipline-specific platforms, and support online and hybrid instruction.
• Demonstrated knowledge of dental, health, or patient-care programming; sound judgment and commitment to student success, workforce alignment, safety, documentation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain authorization through employment; employment eligibility verification is required, and WCTC does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• At least three years of the supervisory or management experience in higher education.
• Earned doctorate in a relevant discipline or in higher education leadership for certain programmatic areas.
• Professional or industry experience outside academia in a field related to the academic department.
• Experience in healthcare education, clinical operations, workforce training, or a related field.
• Experience with regulated healthcare programs, clinical partnerships, and accreditation processes.
• Master’s degree in a related healthcare, education, or administrative field.
• One year of documented leadership of complex cross-functional projects, task forces, or institutional committees may substitute for up to one year of the supervisory or management requirement.
• A bachelor’s degree plus two additional years of directly relevant higher education leadership experience, for a total of nine years, may be considered in lieu of a master’s degree if equivalent professional competency is demonstrated through a portfolio of relevant accomplishments.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, evaluate, and improve curriculum and instructional programs, using labor market data, advisory input, and student outcomes to assess quality and relevance.
• Provide leadership in alternative instructional delivery systems, including online and hybrid models and the 8-week, year-round academic calendar.
• Develop class schedules and faculty assignments; monitor and approve work hours; and monitor or cancel classes as appropriate.
• Supervise assigned staff, including recruitment, selection, orientation, scheduling, evaluation, discipline, and recommendations for personnel actions.
• Encourage and approve staff development, and ensure faculty qualifications meet applicable Higher Learning Commission and Faculty Quality Assurance System requirements.
• Develop and manage program budgets, allocate funds and resources, manage expenses, and support program outcomes.
• Identify external funding opportunities, develop proposals, administer contract offerings, and pursue grants and partnerships aligned with program priorities.
• Serve on College, community, and statewide committees and coordinate advisory committees.
• Support public relations, program promotion, and student recruitment activities as needed.
• Oversee classroom, laboratory, shop, simulation, and clinical learning activities as applicable, including equipment and facility readiness and enforcement of safety and health requirements.
• Maintain relationships with accrediting agencies, employers, healthcare and clinical partners, community groups, educational institutions, government agencies, and other organizations.
• Coordinate program offerings and collaborate with internal stakeholders to integrate services and activities.
• Support students through advising, orientations, career exploration, job placement assistance, grade appeals, discipline, sanctions, and dispute resolution; refer students to appropriate resources.
• Support student organizations and extracurricular activities.
• Maintain required records and documentation and prepare reports as requested or required.
• Keep current with higher education, healthcare workforce, regulatory, and discipline-specific developments, technologies, tools, and practices; engage in professional development and continuous improvement.
• Monitor enrollment, retention, completion, learning outcomes, and workforce placement data to inform programming, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Support safe healthcare instructional practices, infection prevention, clinical placements, and compliance in dental labs, simulation spaces, healthcare skills labs, and clinical learning experiences.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, long-term disability, supplemental life, and flexible spending accounts.
• Generous time off and holiday schedule.
• Eligibility in the Wisconsin Retirement System (ETF).
• Professional growth and development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement and tuition waiver.
• Well-being activities supporting personal and professional well-being.
• Collaborative and supportive team environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager