Academic Division Dean, Language, Communication, and Deaf Studies

Ohlone College

Ideal Candidate Statement: Ohlone College is seeking an educational leader with a strong commitment to the diverse mission and ideals of the community college, to assume the position of Dean of Language, Communication, and Deaf Studies. The candidate is committed to leading in an equitable and culturally competent learning environment.
The ideal candidate will be skilled in motivating and assisting faculty in support of student learning. Innovative teaching strategies are encouraged at Ohlone, including collaborative learning, and the active use of technology. The successful candidate can cultivate an environment that supports enthusiastic interest in curriculum development and instructional improvement through ongoing critical thinking about student learning outcomes in courses and programs.
The ideal candidate has outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with students, faculty, and staff of varied backgrounds, demonstrates strategic thinking, and exhibits a flexible working style that is adaptable to change. The Dean has an understanding of budgeting, effective class scheduling practices, enrollment management, hiring processes, and relevant statewide initiatives (AB 705, Guided Pathways). The candidate will be a contributing member of a highly effective team of college-wide Deans and Directors. Ohlone prides itself as a Learning College and continuous professional development is highly valued.

Job Description Summary: Reporting to the Vice President/Deputy Superintendent, Academic Affairs, the Academic Division Dean of Language, Communication, and Deaf Studies is responsible for leadership, educational planning, enrollment and personnel management, and financial accountability for the division. Provides leadership and administrative authority for the division’s day, evening, weekend, and inter-session and summer programs. Works closely with vice presidents, other administrators, faculty, and staff to deliver integrated instructional programs to promote student success. Provides leadership for program development in accordance with the mission, vision, and goals of the College. Works to develop, foster and maintain strong collaborative working relationships with local high schools, public and community agencies.
The Dean is responsible for the following academic programs and services: English, English as a Second Language, Foreign Languages, Communication Studies, Journalism, Library Science, American Sign Language, Deaf Preparatory Program, and Interpreter Training.

Essential Duties:Oversee the coordination of personnel, curriculum, schedules, resources and data to meet the needs of the division and enhance the educational effectiveness of programs and services.
Participate in strategic and long-range instructional planning for the college and the district.
Recommend instructional and general policies, conduct meetings to facilitate planning and collegial decision-making and to keep staff informed about issues and projects for the overall college instructional program.
Maintain current knowledge of new trends and innovations in community colleges and higher education.
Provide leadership for accreditation, and program review, including improvement and development; systematic assessment of student progress and learning outcomes; and recommend changes to maintain the relevance of division programs and to meet student and community needs.
Promote excellence in teaching and learning; facilitate dual enrollment, non-credit curriculum development, instructional agreements, and guided pathways.
Foster excellence and innovation within the area of responsibility; develop partnerships that promote the college’s mission and advance shared college and community goals.
Work with faculty to plan for curriculum additions, modifications, and deletions and set priorities for resource needs under Program Review analysis.
Facilitate the maintenance of relevant and curriculum appropriate to the College mission.
Work with faculty to identify and implement learning outcomes and Program Review.
Facilitate academic partnerships between division faculty, faculty in transitional high schools and four-year transfer institutions and assure maximum course articulation for students.
Ensure compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements.
Develop and manage the division budgets consistent with District policy and sound financial management principles.
Identify and prioritize division needs, secure available funding, and strategically allocate and re-allocate resources.
Confer with faculty regarding ideas for program improvement to find resources for development through grants and special projects.
Complete faculty evaluations and tenure review for full-time faculty; conduct evaluations for all adjuncts in conjunction with peer faculty evaluators; evaluate the performance of assigned staff.
Interview and participate in selecting employees; orient, train, counsel, discipline and terminate personnel according to established policies and procedures and collective bargaining agreements.
Interpret and apply state and federal regulations and collective bargaining provisions as it relates to supervising staff and faculty.
Respond to student, staff and faculty complaints and adhere to all policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements related to grievances, unlawful complaints, and discipline.
Recruit and develop adjunct faculty pools.
Assess institutional data regarding enrollment and course offerings with a schedule mix of day, evening, and weekend as well as in-class, hybrid, and distance learning options to meet student needs and support student success.
Work with faculty and staff to assess students and continuously monitor progress for success using appropriate data and research tools.
Oversee and evaluate requests for: credit by exam, course waivers, and other student petitions.
Resolve student issues and assist faculty and staff to refer issues (disability accommodation, student behavior, grade changes, etc.) to appropriate departments.
Demonstrated sensitivity, knowledge, and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, gender, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of the students we serve and sensitivity to and knowledge and understanding of groups historically underrepresented, and groups who may have experienced discrimination.
Ensure program planning and development aligns with the College’s Student Equity planning progress to achieve successful outcomes.
Work to integrate diversity, as appropriate, into all major duties including the District’s hiring policy and through collegial and collaborative work with faculty in the areas of curriculum and instruction.
Partner in the efforts to implement the District’s Equal Employment Opportunity Plan.
Communicate with leaders in the private and public sectors and educational agencies to determine the needs for new courses and programs and establish advisory committees as appropriate.
Determine and oversee needs for other college sites and centers regarding instructional programs and services.
Facilitate academic partnerships between division faculty, faculty in feeder high schools, and four-year transfer institutions; assure maximum course articulation for students.
Ensure preparation of a schedule of classes to meet student needs and work with staff to produce accurate schedules, catalog information, program information and multi-year instructional plans.
Assign faculty to classes, monitor schedules, faculty and staff workload for accuracy throughout the semester.
Assure accurate and timely attendance reporting for all courses offered in the division.
Perform other related duties as assigned in all the above areas.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations including the Education Code especially on community colleges, District policies and operations, and Statewide initiatives from the State Chancellor’s office.
• Student learning outcomes and assessment activities at the program and course levels.
• Principles and practices on curriculum development, enrollment management and schedule building.
• Learning theory, teaching techniques and instructional delivery modalities for credit and non-credit curriculum.
• Budget preparation and administration.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.

SKILLS TO:

• Plan, organize, develop, and evaluate the programs, activities, and curriculum of a college instructional division with faculty and staff to meet student and community needs.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with faculty and staff, students, and community members.
• Work effectively with students, faculty, and staff from multicultural backgrounds and promote access, success, and equity.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate personnel.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Plan and organize work to meet schedules and timelines.

ABILITY TO:

• Coordinate instructional programs and projects and set goals and priorities.
• Organize and chair meetings, lead workshops, facilitate group discussions, and involve faculty and staff in idea generation, goal setting, and decision making.
• Develop grants or special project applications.
• Manage and account for budget.
• Monitor and address enrollment management.

Education and Experience:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Title 5 Section 53420 – Minimum Qualifications for Educational Administrators)
Possession of a Master’s degree;
AND
One year of formal training, internship, or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrator’s administrative assignment;

AND

Commitment to community college goals/objectives of being an equity-based and anti-racist institution, and providing quality programs and services for culturally, socio-economically, ethnically, and academically diverse students and students with disabilities; personal qualities to work effectively and with sensitivity in a multicultural environment; awareness of and commitment to the needs of non-traditional and/or re-entry students with diverse abilities and interests;

AND

Must have evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices.

Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the minimum qualifications the ideal candidate will have five (5) years of responsible education related experience including two (2) years of teaching experience, preferably in a community college environment. Demonstrated success in the knowledge and ability areas listed above.

Salary Range:
$147,942.00 – $188,819.00 Annually (Range 230 – Management Salary Schedule)

Posting Number:
M0026-14

Close Date:
5/29/2023

Foreign Transcripts:
Transcripts issued outside the United States require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the filing deadline.

Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986:
Applicants selected for positions will be required to provide identification and employment eligibility as outlined in the federal Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986.

District Statement:
Founded in 1967, Ohlone College is named in honor of the early Ohlone People who inhabited the San Francisco Bay Area. Ohlone College is committed to providing a high-quality education to serve our diverse population of over 15,000 students per year. Ohlone College is nationally recognized for our Deaf Studies and Interpreter Preparation programs, and is widely known for our nursing, health sciences, liberal arts, biomedical science, and smart manufacturing programs. As a learning community, we embrace and champion inclusivity, integrity, student expression, global citizenship, and continuous improvement.

Ohlone College is one of the top-ranked community colleges in California, serving the cities of Fremont, Newark, and Union City. Our campuses in Fremont and Newark are centrally located in the East Bay between San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. This region is known as a hub of innovation and economic activity, and home to some of the most advanced manufacturing, biomedical research, and clean energy companies in California, including Tesla, Meta, Seagate, and Lam Research.

The main campus in Fremont is located near Interstate 680 at the base of Mission Peak, just south of the historic Mission San Jose, and is the primary gateway to year-round hiking, biking, and hang gliding in the Mission Peak Regional Preserve. The Newark Center for Health Sciences and Technology is located near Interstate 880 in a hub of new residential and commercial development. The two campuses are connected by shuttle to each other and the Warm Springs BART station, which offers convenient access to public transit throughout the Bay Area.

EEO Statement Summary:
The District is strongly committed to the principles of equal opportunity and to hiring qualified staff who reflect the diversity of our community. The District encourages a diverse pool of applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age (40 or over), medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, military and veteran status, pregnancy/childbirth/breastfeeding or related medical condition or any other protected basis in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. The college encourages applications from all qualified applicants.

If you have a disability and are in need of special services, equipment, or facilities in order to apply or interview for this opening, please call the Human Resources office at: (510) 659-6088.

Conditions of Employment: Offers of employment are contingent upon Governing Board approval. Employment with Ohlone Community College is not complete or official until applicants meet all pre-employment requirements. All new employees are required to submit official transcripts and proof of freedom from tuberculosis. In addition, you will be required to provide identification and employment eligibility as outlined in the federal Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986. Pre-employment tests and/or medical examinations may be required. Ohlone Community College does not sponsor H1B visas. Employees must sign the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance and submit fingerprints for CA Department of Justice clearance. Employees must be California residents on their date of hire and for the duration of their employment with Ohlone Community College District.

For full job description and to apply, visit: https://employment.ohlone.edu/postings/49069