Dean, TWU GLOBAL

The Dean of TWU GLOBAL will be a dynamic and transformational servant leader of outstanding Christian character who is an effective ambassador of the mission, vision, and values of Trinity Western University (TWU GLOBAL is the academic division in the University that provides leadership and support for emergent and innovative approaches to higher  education. The Dean’s primary academic responsibilities relate to the oversight of the B.A. and M.A. in Leadership programs within TWU GLOBAL. GLOBAL is an acronym that stands for: Global learning connections; Leadership programs; Online learning support; Branch campuses; Adult learning support; and Leading innovation). As a member of the Deans’ Council, the Dean of TWU GLOBAL serves as a senior academic leader of the University and advisor to the Provost, and will responsibly represent and implement the academic and administrative policies and decisions of the University internally and externally. The Dean of TWU GLOBAL will demonstrate wise, strategic, and collaborative management of the pedagogical, and scholarly gifts of the faculty and students. Possessing emotional and cultural intelligence, entrepreneurial ambition, financial and managerial acumen, and theological insight, the Dean is able to work in a highly collaborative manner that values diversity in people and ideas. Capable of managing the day‐to‐day academic operations of TWU GLOBAL with a view to ensuring thriving programs, s/he possesses the commitment, personal characteristics, insights, and abilities of an effective administrative and organizational leader. The Dean of TWU GLOBAL fosters an academic  culture and program mix that delivers market‐relevant, high‐quality, innovative, student‐focused learning experiences. The Dean will oversee the work of chairs, directors and/or Assistant or Associate Deans as well as academic staff in TWU GLOBAL and provide effective mentoring of faculty in their professional development, the craft of teaching, the integration of faith and learning, and the advancement of scholarly pursuits, including being a leader in Christian scholarship in the fields represented in TWU GLOBAL.

In this context, the successful candidate will:

• Unreservedly adhere to and positively defend the University’s Statement of Faith and Community Covenant (available here);
• Demonstrate how his/her Christian faith affects leadership, teaching and scholarship for the disciplines in TWU GLOBAL;
• Provide a transformational model of leadership in setting and implementing academic goals and managing to institutional and board policies;
• Support a compelling vision and strategies to implement new and existing programs in response to market demand;
• Exemplify servant leadership with a spirit of humility;
• Demonstrate a high level of cultural and emotional intelligence;
• Effectively represent the academic administration and institutional matters to the faculty and serve as an advocate for faculty to the academic administration;
• Demonstrate a commitment to academic freedom in a faith‐affirming academic environment;
• Possess the ability to think critically, encourage new ideas, provide strategic direction, and sustain a flourishing teaching and scholarly culture;
• Demonstrate a collegial style of leadership with departments and faculty members under his/her jurisdiction; and
• Serve as an effective spokesperson for the University in academic, community and church circles.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIORITIES:

1. Academic Leadership

The primary responsibility of the Dean will be to provide academic leadership in TWU GLOBAL. The Dean will:

• Think, work, and act institutionally by prioritizing the achievement of the University’s mission, core values, and vision through a commitment to market‐relevant, high‐quality, student‐focused learning experiences;
• Provide visionary and innovative leadership that is responsive to changing market demands;
• Lead and leverage the gifts and abilities of TWU GLOBAL’s faculty in the course of seeking to fulfill TWU GLOBAL’s strategic plan;
• Honour and mentor TWU GLOBAL faculty’s ability to integrate faith and learning;
• Lead and develop academic programs of excellence that revitalize and cultivate Christian imagination and advance Christian scholarship within TWU GLOBAL;
• Seek opportunities to advance themes that are important to the University such as Indigenizing the curriculum, developing a global and culturally inclusive perspective, and encouraging interdisciplinary collaborations;
• Promote, monitor, evaluate, and provide support for the work of the faculty with respect to teaching, scholarship and research, and service to the University community;
• Establish effective relationships with external bodies (e.g., peer Dean associations);
• Work collaboratively with offices across the University;
• Monitor the academic programs in TWU GLOBAL relative to the academic and financial metrics established by the Office of the Provost;
• Support the development of new programs/courses and modes of delivery in TWU GLOBAL that have market demand, in collaboration with the Office of the Provost, the University Senate, and the University President, as appropriate;
• Represent TWU GLOBAL on Dean’s Council, and on other committees, as appropriate;
• Represent TWU GLOBAL’s interests within the broader context of the University’s priorities and the University’s policies, goals, and priorities to TWU GLOBAL; and
• Demonstrate academic expertise in an area encompassed by TWU GLOBAL by teaching a prescribed number of courses as approved by the Provost.

The Dean will enable all faculty and staff in TWU GLOBAL to exercise their duties effectively. The Dean will:

• Give leadership in the recruitment of faculty and staff who are strongly aligned with the mission and values of the University;
• Supervise, evaluate, and mentor all faculty in their teaching roles; assisting and inspiring them to improve their teaching skills;
• Encourage faculty in their scholarly and professional development, as well as in the success in attaining financial support for their scholarly pursuits;
• Provide and prepare annual professional development reviews/reports for each faculty member and annual performance reviews of staff;
• Review and assess, for the appropriate committees, all faculty applying for tenure, promotion, sabbatical leaves, and research funding within TWU GLOBAL;
• Meet regularly with and provide supervision to academic leaders within TWU GLOBAL and work with academic support staff in a spirit of warm interpersonal relations; and
• Regularly develop and manage a workforce plan for TWU GLOBAL by collaborating with the Office of the Provost when recruiting and/or appointing all full‐ and part‐time faculty and staff.

The Dean will provide effective and efficient administration of all matters pertaining to the operation of the academic departments in TWU GLOBAL. The Dean will:

• Effectively articulate and support University standards and policies, both orally and in writing;
• Administer all academic, operational, and human resource management policies;
• In cooperation with the Vice Provost, TWU GLOBAL, prepare and manage academic operating, capital, salary, and revenue budgets;
• Evaluate course viability (student demand and enrolment), Student Experience of Teaching and Learning reports, and grade distribution reports, and, when required, take corrective action;
• Assist the Assistant/Associate Dean in each semester’s course scheduling activities;
• Direct program reviews as determined by the Provost; and
• Handle student appeals pertaining to grades, dropping courses, changes in final examination schedules, exemption forms for graduation requirements, student discipline regarding academic dishonesty, and student complaints about faculty and staff as it relates to competence.

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE:

A dynamic and proactive servant leader of outstanding Christian character, the Dean is an important member of TWU’s leadership team, contributing to the strategic planning and achievement of the University’s shared objectives. Those objectives include sustaining the transformational TWU educational experience that is built on high‐quality teaching and learning; supporting faculty scholarship and research; offering innovative undergraduate programs; attracting outstanding students and faculty; and broadening and deepening community engagement.

Experience and Qualifications

• Terminal degree in a TWU GLOBAL related discipline;
• Academic administrative leadership experience (at least five years);
• Achieved Associate Professor faculty position, with demonstrated excellence in scholarship, teaching/learning, and service that is consistent with the mission of TWU;
• Leadership in faith integration demonstrated within one’s discipline;
• Proven commitment to the principles of servant and transformational leadership;
• Ability to develop effective working relationships that facilitate collaboration, trustworthiness, and integrity;
• Cultural competence, including demonstrated skills in creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace;
• Ability to assess and innovate, to look at the present and prepare in advance for the future;
• Ability to exercise business acumen and effective stewardship of resources and budgets;
• Superior written and oral communication skills;
• Strong problem‐solving capacity and exercise of good judgement;
• Ability to engage multiple stakeholders to accomplish strategic initiatives;
• A firm commitment to TWU’s Mission and Vision, Core Values, Statement of Faith, and Community Covenant;

Duties and responsibilities that do not constitute a major change may be added, deleted, or changed at any time at the discretion of the supervisor either orally or in writing.

Organizational Relationships

• Reports to the Vice Provost, TWU GLOBAL, who reports to the Provost.
• Provides supervision to all TWU GLOBAL full‐ and part‐time faculty and staff.

For more information on this position, please see the Executive Brief attached to the online application available here.

Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian University of the arts, sciences, and professions.  Recognized for quality, TWU is consistently ranked among the top two universities in Canada for Educational Experience by the National Survey of Student Engagement; holds four Canada Research Chairs; wins National Championships in U Sports; and emphasizes experiential learning to prepare graduates to make a global impact. TWU has been developing leaders of character and competence for more than 50 years. Interested candidates are asked to carefully review the TWU Mission Statement (available here), Statement of Faith and Community Covenant (available here).  Successful candidates must be willing to support these statements during their employment at TWU.

All prospective candidates are required to submit the following as part of their online application:

• a cover letter;
• a curriculum vitae;
• verification of terminal degree;
• signed Statement of Faith and Community Covenant; and
• a document (no more than two pages) which describes how you anticipate your Christian faith would influence your teaching, scholarship and leading others in your faculty as a Dean at Trinity Western University.

Please complete the online application available here; only complete applications will be considered. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found.

Trinity Western University encourages applications from all eligible candidates who are able to commit to the university’s mission, values, and Christian identity as articulated in its Statement of Faith and Community Covenant. We are committed to an ethic of inclusion and to the equal treatment of all persons without discrimination in accordance with human rights law. We particularly invite applications from indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations during the application process should contact Isabel Lopez (Isabel.Lopez@twu.ca) in the Human Resources Department. 

Trinity Western University is located on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Sto:lo people.