Department Head – Communication and Humanities Studies

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Provide strategic and operational direction for the academic department.

• Guide faculty, programs, and initiatives towards excellence.

• Shape the vision of the department and cultivate a shared understanding of faculty success.

• Lead faculty workload planning, scheduling, performance evaluation, development, and contracts.

• Contribute to the success of students and the curriculum.

• Collaborate with faculty and administrative teams.

• Create a departmental vision and establish shared goals.

• Support external partnerships and relationships.

• Review departmental success metrics and develop continuous improvement strategies.

• Develop, organize, and oversee faculty success initiatives.

• Mentor and assist faculty in achieving their goals and career outcomes.

• Review the quality of faculty teaching and development plans.

• Support divisional initiatives for curriculum success and strategic planning.

• Participate in department, college, and university meetings, shared governance, and committees.

• Lead search and hiring committees, making departmental hiring decisions.

• Create and manage the departmental budget in collaboration with college leadership.

• Oversee program review, accreditation, and licensure efforts.

• Develop and enhance courses and innovative teaching practices in collaboration with instructional designers, assessment specialists, and other experts.

• Implement initiatives aimed at improving student learning and success outcomes.

• Develop and refine course materials, texts, media, assessment tools, and instructional modalities.

• Review, support, and mentor associate faculty on instructional quality.

• Lead continuous improvement efforts in curriculum and instructional design.

• Coordinate holistic student support initiatives alongside student success and academic support teams.

• Monitor, organize, and report on student connection in an online environment.

• Deliver engaging and high-quality online instruction in asynchronous courses.

• Connect learning experiences to workforce skills and professional growth.

• Foster a supportive learning environment for adult learners.

• Prioritize student learning, achievement, and timely feedback.

• Maintain communication with students and respond promptly to inquiries.

• Ensure academic integrity and uphold university policies.

• Collaborate with academic support teams to enhance the student experience.

⛳️ Requirements

• Earned doctorate degree in a field relevant to the academic program.

• Experience in academic leadership, including faculty development, curriculum oversight, or departmental operations.

• Evidence of sufficient training, depth of knowledge in a specific area, and ability to deliver high-quality teaching and service.

• Collaborative and student-oriented approach to leadership and instructional support.

• Experience in contributing to or leading strategic planning and implementation in academic programs.

• Capacity to provide visionary and strategic leadership to direct academic programs and faculty towards institutional excellence.

• Proficiency in managing faculty workload planning, performance evaluation, and development in an online academic environment.

• Ability to oversee academic operations, including course scheduling, faculty contracts, and resource allocation.

• Strong organizational and decision-making skills.

• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships.

• Skills in resolving faculty concerns.

• Knowledge of best practices in teaching and learning, curriculum development, and assessment strategies, particularly in virtual settings.

• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.

• Strong organizational and time management skills.

• Demonstrated capability to lead programmatic initiatives, mentor faculty, and promote continuous improvement.

• Knowledge of scaling innovative teaching practices and supporting holistic student development in online learning environments.

• Applied professional experience in the field is preferred.

• Experience teaching in both on-ground and online higher education, including faculty development, instructional design, and continuous improvement is preferred.

• Experience working with adult, non-traditional, and post-traditional learners is preferred.

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

🏝️ Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Life insurance and disability programs.

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Tuition reduction for the employee and eligible family members at U of A/ASU/NAU.

• Retirement plans.

• Access to U of A recreation and cultural activities.

• Innovative work-life programs.

• Relocation services.