Dean of Academic Success Programs

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) seeks a highly motivated and qualified candidate for the position of Dean of Academic Success Programs.

The Dean of Academic Success Programs reports directly to the Vice President for Instruction and is a member of the instructional administrative team responsible for planning, developing, implementing, supervising, and evaluating academic support personnel, courses, programs, and services to achieve the mission of the College. The Dean is the lead administrator within the Academic Success Programs division which includes responsibility for the library, tutoring, the Center for Teaching and Online Learning, eLearning, computer labs, College and Career Success courses, College in the High School, and other academic support operations and activities. The leadership responsibilities include promoting, budgeting, and scheduling; participating in community outreach activities; and ensuring qualified faculty and staff are recruited and assigned to achieve the college and division program goals and objectives. The work of the Dean requires continual collaboration with other instructional deans and representatives from student services, information technology, business office, facilities, foundation, public relations, and human resources.

South Puget Sound Community College is committed to increasing its cultural diversity with an emphasis on equity and inclusion among its professional staff. A firm understanding of anti-racist policy development coupled with the skills to eliminate barriers that harm underrepresented people is a college requirement. The students that we serve come from a variety of backgrounds. On average, 43% of SPSCC students are people of color. We strongly encourage members of the underrepresented groups, veterans, and bi- or multi-lingual individuals to apply for this position to help meet the needs of our diverse students and service district.

What You’ll Do:

1. Communicate effectively orally and in writing, with a variety of individuals and groups within and outside of the college.
2. Provide a vision for all academic support programs based upon best practice, trends, and data.
3. Lead projects with groups of people from different perspectives from inception to completion.
4. Mentor faculty and staff in the development of courses and programs with specific knowledge of information literacy, student learning outcomes, authentic assessments, and strategies that serve a diverse student body.
5. Develop effective local and state connections to support the creation of relevant programs and services to support changing student demographics.
6. Identify divisional staffing needs and collaborate in the recruitment and retention of highly qualified personnel.
7. Provide supervision, change management, team building, and conflict resolution.
8. Follow and enforce current collective bargaining agreements in the supervision of staff and faculty.
9. Work with a diverse student, staff, college community population and the community at large.
10. Promote diversity, equity, and accessibility in all planning and operational activities.
11. Professionally develop staff and faculty.
12. Delegate tasks to support staff and faculty members.
13. Plan, develop, manage, and assess program budgets.
14. Advocate for a group or organizational unit while also understanding that your group or unit is one among many that support an overall institutional mission.
15. Demonstrate multicultural competence (including an awareness and understanding of historically disadvantaged populations) and create an educational and work environment that affirms a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
16. Support the college’s mission by creating a work environment of mutual respect and fairness, while encouraging creative and critical thinking.
17. Contribute to the appreciation of diversity and foster a climate of multicultural understanding.

Qualifications You Possess:

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Master’s degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution with a preference for those with a Master’s degree from an American Library Association accredited program.
2. 2 years of teaching experience, preferably in higher education.
3. 3 years of supervision and leadership experience in an educational setting, preferably in higher education.
4. Experience in outcomes, assessment, and high engagement learning strategies.
5. Experience and/or leadership in serving, advocating for, collaborating with, and/or representing specific underrepresented marginalized communities.
6. Inclusive Pedagogy: Curriculum, Assignment Design, Assessment, and Classroom Culture, UDL.
7. Demonstrated experience or participation with persons from diverse backgrounds such as sexual orientation, racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, gender, age, socio-economic, physical and learning abilities, and a commitment to an inclusive and equitable working/learning environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Commitment to the mission and Core Themes of South Puget Sound Community College.
2. Understands the essential role of the library, eLearning, and academic support services for student success.
3. Demonstrates innovative approaches to support student success.
4. Culturally competent and able to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
5. Strong communicator with a demonstrated ability to bring together multiple perspectives to achieve a clearly articulated goal.

To Apply:

Applications must be completed online and include the following attachments:

1. Cover letter addressed to the Screening Committee highlighting your ability to perform the responsibilities and competencies described in the job posting.
2. Current resume/CV showing all educational and professional experience which demonstrates how you meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications.

Veterans Preference:

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and are wishing to claim Veterans Preference should redact their personally identifiable information from a copy of their United States Department of Veterans Affairs honorable discharge documentation and email to with the job number for which they are applying in the subject line.

Background Check Condition of Employment:

Employment with the college is contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive background check. Any adverse information will be considered on a case-by-case basis and does not automatically preclude a candidate from employment.

Bargaining Unit:

This position has been designated as a bargaining unit position represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees.

South Puget Sound Community College values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. South Puget Sound Community College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, or status as a veteran of war.