Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences in Tucson, Arizona at Pima Community College District (AZ)
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Job Description
Extended Job Advertisement to 4/15/2026
As part of the College’s Academic Leadership team, the Dean provides leadership for Humanities and Social Sciences, setting the division's direction and overseeing curricula and operations through the supervision and shared governance with division faculty, staff, Department Heads (DHs), and Academic Directors. The Dean partners to drive planning and continuous improvement focused on student success. The Dean provides oversight of Division Leadership and staff; supports hiring, onboarding, and development; and strengthens teaching excellence across modalities by translating outcomes and assessment evidence into improvements. The Dean aligns and supports schedules and curriculum changes developed by Department Heads, Program Directors, and faculty to meet College needs, ensuring right-sized offerings that protect program viability and strengthen student pathways. The Dean is a transparent budget steward, aligns resources to learning and student support priorities, and builds a healthy culture across diverse disciplines. The position requires a solution-focused candidate skilled in educational management technologies and adult pedagogies, capable of resolving conflicts, empathetic, and grounded in policy-based practice. The Dean works in a highly collaborative environment, consulting with peers and partnering with community entities.
The work schedule for this position is flexible and may include working evenings and weekends and requires local, state, national, and international travel.
Division Overview:
The Humanities and Social Sciences Division supports General Education and transfer with college-wide instruction across the humanities and social/behavioral sciences. We are innovation-forward and globally oriented, offering study abroad and other distinctive learning experiences. We value shared governance and working collaboratively. The division also houses key student-support and community-facing resources, including a Vote Center, Archaeology Center, and the ARC Food Pantry.
- Provide division leadership and direction through Department Heads and Program Directors to support faculty, adjunct faculty, and staff in sustaining Division programs aligned with College goals. Ensure program and student learning outcomes assessment is completed and used for improvement in accordance with College policy and practices
- Oversees the class schedules in partnership with division leadership; approves, deletes , modifies, and adds classes. Works in collaboration with faculty leadership in developing a data-informed and business & industry/student-centered master schedule to ensure clear pathways for student completion and employers' workforce needs
- Provide direction for the development, implementation, and review of curriculum, both new and existing, as well as new initiatives and programs. Collaborate with transfer partners and business and industry regarding program improvement, revision, and assessment
- Direct and coordinate division-wide work in collaboration with Division Leadership. Mentor, motivate, evaluate, and advocate for faculty within the assigned discipline(s). Monitor the performance and address faculty concerns through established processes in partnership with the Division and Academic Leadership
- Develop goals and objectives for programs within the area of assignment, and work with Division leadership and faculty to set goals. Participate in creating and implementing accountability systems to ensure program goals, objectives, policies , and procedures are met, including generating revenue in designated programs (e.g., contract and customized training) and meeting the needs of transfer and business and industry partners
- Supervises Division leadership (Department Heads, Program Directors, and support staff) by providing operational direction, strategic priorities, and evaluation of performance. Collaborate in developing policies and programs for the College. Communicate policies, standards, and expectations to assigned faculty and staff , and hold employees accountable
- Guide the Division’s strategic planning and continuous improvement processes in alignment with College priorities and the needs of the community and transfer partners we serve. Align planning efforts and key performance indicators to student success, transfer pathways, and program viability. Partner with Department Heads and program leaders to develop, monitor, and steward the divisional budget, including any grants, etc., in accordance with College policies and procedures
- Support Division Leadership in addressing student and employee concerns (e.g., grade issues/appeals and academic integrity) and manage escalated or complex cases as appropriate. Respond to safety concerns in accordance with College protocols. Apply College policies and procedures consistently to support mediation and conflict resolution with students, employees, and external entities
- Participate in accreditation reviews and reports as requested. Complete special projects as requested
- Serve on internal and external committees and task forces aligned with College priorities and division needs. Build and sustain relationships with community partners, including educational, business, governmental, nonprofit, and agency organizations
- Perform other related duties as assigned
- Master's degree in an Academic field and
- Three years of supervisory experience in higher education and
- Eight years of teaching experience in higher education and
- Ability to effectively communicate with division stakeholders
or
- An equivalent combination of certification, education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above
Preferred:
- Doctorate in Higher Education or a closely related field of study, or a field within the Humanities and Social Sciences
- Six plus years of supervisory experience in higher education
- Ability to be certified to teach within a discipline in the Humanities and Social Sciences Division
- Prior experience in a position of leadership at a community college, with a demonstrated record of effectiveness in terms of student and program success.
- Prior supervisory and budget experience in an educational environment
Additional Competencies:
To be successful in this role, the Dean must demonstrate credibility, sound intellectual leadership, emotional intelligence, and an understanding of the specific leadership needs of faculty and faculty leadership. The Dean will be experienced in overseeing
program development processes
- Demonstrate an empowering shared-governance leadership style —leverages department expertise, delegates appropriately, and provides clear direction and support without unnecessary oversight
- Lead a team (faculty, directors, and staff) that advances the short- and long-term goals of division departments in alignment with College priorities and the needs of the community we serve; assess performance. Set clear expectations. Ensure consistent, fair processes and procedures are implemented. Recognize strong performance and address performance issues. Provide constructive feedback, coaching, and developmental opportunities
- Support diversity; lead by example. Capitalize on diversity and differences to achieve goals. Create an engaging, collaborative work environment to support a diverse faculty, staff, and student community. Seek and attract diverse thoughts and perspectives . Work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and stakeholders to set vision and direction. Align priorities of the program with the mission and values of the College
- Ensure accountability and effectiveness of programs and personnel in alignment with the mission and values of the College and the adjoining strategic plans
- Interface with internal and external stakeholders to address key issues. Promote programs of study both inside and outside of the College. Serve as an effective advocate for the Divisions' programs. Practice good stewardship of College resources. Ensure financial decisions are aligned with College policies. Consider the impact of decisions on faculty, staff, students, and the budget. Make timely decisions after appropriate consultation, and the relevant data is analyzed
- Possess excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills , together with excellent listening skills; the ability to seek out, understand, and enable diverse viewpoints and approaches to achieve goals
- Appropriately and effectively use technology to accomplish the requirements of the division
- Demonstrated leadership experience in planning, curriculum and instruction, student learning outcomes and assessment, program development, and student retention
- Proven ability to set priorities and outcomes, delegate decision-making appropriately, and support teams through coaching and accountability.
- Demonstrated sensitivity to the diverse socio-economic, cultural, ethnic , and disability backgrounds of community college students and the community at large
- Ability to develop and maintain cooperative educational partnerships
- A collaborative, consultative , and inclusive management style
- The ability to use strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community
- 21st Century technology fluency and modality expertise appropriate to today’s higher-ed landscape (in-person, online, hybrid/HyFlex)
- Effectively develop and deliver presentations
- Experience developing, planning, and implementing short-and long-range goals
- Experienced in mediation skills
- Ability to meet due process requirements with respect to student disciplinary procedures
- Understanding of FERPA regulations and other applicable federal compliance issues
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to plan and implement meetings and programs
- Demonstrate and instruct others in service excellence standards and procedures
- Effectively organize resources and establish priorities
- Develop budgets, financial plans , and manage resources
- Support student recruitment and retention efforts
- Develop student support programs and services
- Establish, direct, and enforce policies and regulations pertaining to the areas of assignment