Chair, Allied Health & Life Sciences

Conestoga College School of Business; Kitchener; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Conestoga College is seeking a Chair of Allied Health and Life Sciences to provide academic, technical, and administrative leadership for daytime, evening and weekend programs in life sciences, medical imaging and allied health disciplines.

The role oversees program development, accreditation, budgeting and marketing, with on-campus work at Doon Campus in Kitchener and occasional travel to other campuses, in a hybrid arrangement.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in health-related field or equivalent.
• Minimum seven years of progressive experience in post-secondary education or a health environment.
• Knowledge of the polytechnic/college education model.
• Experience with curriculum development, teaching, and student recruitment is an asset.
• Strong leadership, financial planning and collaboration skills.
• Commitment to student-centred and outcomes-based education.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to faculty and staff in alignment with agreements and policies.
• Develop annual staffing plans with HR and Finance.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and assignments.
• Support employee growth through coaching and development planning.
• Foster an inclusive teaching and learning environment.
• Oversee accreditation processes and program reviews.
• Manage operating budgets and monitor enrolment trends.
• Build partnerships with industry and community stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Team development

Budgeting

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Master's degree in health sciences or related field

7+ years in post-secondary education or health environment

Job description

Position Summary

Full-time Administrative, replacement position

The Chair, Allied Health and Life Sciences is accountable for providing academic, technical and administrative leadership, supervision and direction to the faculty, support staff, students, and project partners in full- and part-time programs, including areas such as life sciences, medical imaging, and allied health sciences such as paramedicine, respiratory therapy, massage therapy and others.

The Chair is accountable for the research, planning, development, delivery, accreditation, budgeting, and marketing of daytime, evening and weekend activities, both on and off-site, including full-time programs in areas such as, but not limited to, allied health and life sciences. The Chair is responsible for planning space and equipment to support programming, including the design and operations of new specialized lab and clinical spaces. There is extensive contact with agencies, industry and professional organizations. The position is ultimately responsible for delivering a high-quality suite of programs that support the college’s overall academic direction and generate profit to contribute to the college's financial health.

Successful candidates will be required to conduct work in Ontario and must be available to work on campus as required. It is anticipated that this position will meet the department's needs through a hybrid work arrangement, with a minimum of three days on-site, primarily at Conestoga’s Doon Campus, located at 299 Doon Valley Dr, Kitchener, with occasional travel required to other Conestoga campuses, and additional presence as required for meetings and events.

Responsibilities

Team leadership and culture

• Provide leadership to faculty and staff in alignment with collective agreements and college policies
• Develop annual staffing plans in collaboration with Human Resources and Finance
• Lead recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and assignment processes
• Support employee growth through goal setting, coaching, feedback, and development planning
• Foster a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative teaching and learning environment, both in person and online
• Promote ongoing professional and pedagogical development opportunities
• Ensure compliance with Occupational Health and Safety standards

Program leadership

• Contribute to the School of Health & Life Sciences’ strategic planning and academic priorities
• Oversee program delivery, ensuring high-quality teaching and learning, and student outcomes
• Lead curriculum development and program review cycles (e.g., Annual and Major Program Reviews, PEQAB)
• Maintain compliance with academic policies, including student progression and academic integrity
• Guide accreditation processes and continuous improvement initiatives
• Collaborate with internal partners to support effective program operations

Program development and innovation

• Support the creation of new programs, delivery models, and technology-enabled learning approaches
• Lead the development and implementation of new programs through established college processes

Resources, planning and partnerships

• Develop and manage operating budgets across the program portfolio
• Lead financial planning for grant-funded initiatives involving programs in the portfolio
• Monitor enrolment trends and lead recruitment and conversion efforts to meet enrolment targets
• Ensure appropriate infrastructure, equipment, and learning environments are in place
• Build and sustain partnerships with industry and community stakeholders

Qualifications

• A master's degree in combination with a health-related diploma, advanced diploma or degree is required
• A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in post-secondary education or a related health environment, including teaching, program coordination, or academic leadership, is required
• Knowledge of the polytechnic/college education model is required
• Experience with curriculum development, teaching, and/or student recruitment in post-secondary settings is an asset
• Demonstrated experience leading teams, supporting performance and development, and contributing to financial planning
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and perspectives
• Knowledge of human resource practices, including employee relations and conflict resolution
• Experience with budgeting, analysis, and resource allocation
• Sound judgment, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement
• Demonstrated commitment to student-centred and outcomes-based education
• Ability to maintain laboratory facilities, equipment, and safety standards