Dean of Education

University of Maine System • Farmington, ME

19d

About The Position

The University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) invites applications for the position of Dean of the College of Education.
We are seeking a collaborative executive leader who understands that the future of Maine's schools begins in our classrooms. Reporting directly to the VPAA/Provost, the Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer for the College, championing faculty scholarships, fostering student success, and ensuring that our programs remain the gold standard for pedagogical innovation and professional accreditation.

Requirements

• Administrative Oversight: Proven experience in personnel management, curriculum development, and comprehensive program assessment.
• Collaborative Leadership: A collegial and inclusive management style that fosters strong partnerships with all university stakeholders.
• Strategic Problem Solving: Advanced decision-making skills with a focus on evaluating results and implementing innovative, data-driven solutions based on “lessons learned”.
• Advocacy: A commitment to promoting the College's reputation and value both internally and to the external community.
• Executive Communication: Evidence of superior verbal, written, and presentation skills across diverse platforms.
• Ethics & Integrity: Demonstrated ability to exercise principled judgement, make ethical decision, and maintain strict confidentiality regarding sensitive matters.
• Inclusive Excellence: A steadfast commitment to ensuring high-quality educational access for both traditional and non-traditional student populations.
• Pedagogical Versatility: Direct experience teaching in various environments, including in-person, online, and hybrid modalities.
• Technological Fluency: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and virtual tools, with the agility to master emerging technologies and social media.
• Earned Terminal Degree: A Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent form of an accredited institution.
• Administrative Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of successful academic administrative experience.
• Academic Record: Must be a tenured professor with a distinguished record of teaching, scholarship, and service, or possess comparable professional experience.
• Leadership Background: Experience as a mentor, supervisor, and faculty leader.

Nice To Haves

• Accreditation: Significant experience with regional and external accreditation processes.
• Strategic Planning: Practical experience in institutional strategic planning and implementation.
• Early College: Familiarity with Early College initiatives and high school-to-college pathways.
• National Trends: A deep understanding of the national trends, challenges, and evolving issues in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Academic Leadership & Curricular Excellence
• Visionary Leadership: Provide the primary Academic vision for the College, facilitating the creation and advocacy of forward-thinking programs in partnership with faculty and the VPAA/Provost.
• Quality Assurance & Assessment: Lead the rigorous implementation of academic program development, formal reviews, and comprehensive assessment process to maintain institutional excellence.
• Pedagogical Innovation: Approve the acquisition of cutting-edge instructional technology and equipment while assisting programs in adopting new tools to enhance educational delivery across all modalities.
• Professional Engagement: Maintain active professional development within your own academic discipline to stay at the forefront of educational scholarship.
• Faculty Advocacy & Personnel Management
• Faculty Development: Champion the teaching, service, and scholarship of the faculty and actively promote initiatives for undergraduate research.
• Recruitment: Coordinate the recruitment and orientation of full- and part-time faculty.
• Performance Management: Oversee appointments, tenure, and promotions in accordance with the UMF Faculty Handbook and collective bargaining agreements (AFUM/PATFA).
• Mentorship: Encourage and sustain high levels of professional engagement and scholarly activity among UMF faculty.
• Strategic Operations & Fiscal Stewardship
• Institutional Alignment: Collaborate with the Vice Presidents and other Deans to implement strategic planning that meets both university-wide goals and departmental needs.
• Fiscal Responsibility: Lead the development of budgets and resource allocations, approve expenditures, and represent the College's needs in institutional budget processes.
• Operational Management: Ensure effective management of the office, including office assignments and presiding over college-wide meetings.
• Academic Scheduling: Finalize complex academic schedules in consultation wit the registrar, advisors, admissions, and other Deans.
• Policy Governance: Develop and evaluate College policies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and system-level regulations.
• Student Advocacy & External Relations
• Student Success: Act as a primary student advocate by addressing academic concerns and fostering an environment conducive to student achievement.
• Co-Curricular Partnerships: Partner with the Dean of Students to develop activities that reflect the values and professional interests of the College.
• Community Representation: Serve as the College's ambassador to the University and broader community, supporting outreach and marketing efforts.
• Resource Development: Facilitate the acquisition of external grants and identify new sources of financial assistance to grow College Programs.

Benefits

• The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree