Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

The Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs serves as the university’s chief academic officer. In this capacity, the incumbent is responsible for the overall administration, academic budget planning, planning and management of the curriculum, instructional programs, research centers and institutes and educational support services offered across the campus. The Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs leads a multifunctional integrated academic division consisting of eight independent academic colleges and schools as well as distance and continuing education. The incumbent also is responsible for faculty affairs and faculty development, graduate studies, institutional research, sponsored research and oversight of the Registrar’s Office, the Healey Library and the Office of Global Programs. The Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs ensures the development and enhancement of high-quality baccalaureate, certificate, master’s and doctoral-level programs through ongoing program review and assessment, maintenance of academic standards, and the expansion of research and other scholarly/creative activity. Works directly and closely with the deans and the UMass Boston fundraising team to identify new sources of revenue to support the mission of the university. Responsible for designing and implementing strategies to advance the university’s commitment to diversity in assigned areas of responsibility. Ensures that all academic programs, support services, and academic policies in assigned areas of responsibility reflect a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and models that commitment in decision-making. In partnership with Human Resources, oversees collective bargaining processes for unionized faculty, department chairs and graduate students.

Examples of Duties: 
• Provides executive level leadership and supervision for all academic and student service programs, including undergraduate, graduate, extended degree and continuing education programs. Provides direction, leadership, and motivation for all faculty and staff within the academic division. Works with and coordinates the team of senior staff who are responsible for achieving goals in support of the academic mission of the university.
• Sets quality standards for academic program assessments, curriculum teaching, and student learning outcomes.
• Reviews all evaluations and files regarding the reappointment, promotion, tenure or dismissal of faculty.
• Ensures that academic and student services data is current and integrated with the institutional mission statement, in consultation with others through the principles of shared governance.
• Establishes and maintains an effective plan that supports the recruitment and retention of highly qualified and diverse faculty. 
• Coordinates and manages the budget development of colleges and departments within areas of oversight.
• Advises the Chancellor on all matters relating to the academic functions of the university. Becomes involved in, and takes leadership responsibility for, other tasks as assigned by the Chancellor as needed.  Represents the university to assigned UMass system and external groups and individuals. Acts as an effective advocate for UMass Boston.
• Manages faculty personnel processes, including hiring, tenure and promotional decisions, in an orderly and equitable fashion.  

Qualifications: 
• Earned doctorate in an academic discipline or interdisciplinary field from an accredited institution and demonstrated record of distinguished research/scholarship and teaching that would support appointment as a tenured full professor.
• Highly motivated team player able to function effectively in a fast-paced environment, with strong interpersonal skills.
• Established track record of success in managing large and complex academic units.  
• Demonstrated ability to engage in and steward complex higher education finance and budgeting, including the ability to support university fundraising efforts.
• Strong record of commitment to diversity, equity, social justice and inclusion.
• Demonstrated commitment to affirmative action and equal opportunity in academic admissions, personnel actions and other relevant arenas.
• Established history of leadership in contributing to student success efforts for undergraduate and graduate education. Demonstrated receptivity to student input, feedback, and engagement.
• Proven ability to make, implement, and productively communicate the rationale for difficult decisions. 
• Experience in securing, managing and increasing external funding through sponsored research, fundraising, and innovative external partnerships that support the academic enterprise. 
• Understanding of and respect for the role of academic freedom in the academy.
• An academic leader with a collaborative and authentic approach to shared governance.
• Working knowledge and appreciation of a broad range of academic scholarship, student services and administration practices. Demonstrated ability to exercise inclusive and decisive leadership in higher education.  
• Substantial and successful executive and fiscal management experience, particularly in an environment of constrained resources.
• Commitment and demonstrated ability to manage a complex academic organization and work productively, both vertically and horizontally, with colleagues across all units of the campus to deepen the understanding and appreciation of the university’s core values, and to enact appropriate and timely responsiveness to the needs and concerns of students, faculty, and staff of a public doctoral university. 
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• A proven track record of building financially sustainable academic systems and infrastructure. 
• Strong interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience at the level of dean or higher.
• An academic leader with knowledge of UMass Boston, the UMass system, the city of Boston and the multiple communities UMass Boston serves, as well as an understanding and appreciation of the university’s unique urban mission.
• Successful experiences in the following areas: leading strategic planning, substantive and decisive evaluation of academic programs, learning outcomes assessment and accreditation, and developing interdisciplinary programs.
• Experience in collective bargaining and/or high-level administration in an institution with unionized faculty.
• Ability to function effectively in external and internal environments with sound judgment in the context of politics, public relations, and academe.
• Strong commitment to a collaborative and consensus-building environment.
• Understanding of the unique culture of an urban university with diverse commuting and residential student populations, including an appreciation of the unique needs of first-generation students, students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and students of color.
• Demonstrated achievements in supporting and expanding the development of mutually beneficial industry partnerships and innovative curricular change that support student success and economic development.

Special Instruction to Applicants:

Please apply online with your resume and cover letter. Preference will be given to applications received on or before September 30, 2020. https://employmentopportunities.umb.edu/boston/en-us/job/506262/provost-vice-chancellor-for-academic-affairs

UMass Boston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, genetic information, pregnancy or a pregnancy-related condition, or membership in any other protected class. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.