Dean, School of Trades

Keyano College; Fort McMurray; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Pension plan (LAPP)

Northern Living Allowance

Paid holidays

Life insurance

Paid sick days

Tuition waiver

Employee discounts

Job summary

Keyano College is seeking a Dean for the School of Trades to advance skilled trades education in Northern Alberta. Based on Fort McMurray campus, relocation is required for non-residents, reporting to the Vice President, Academic.

The Dean will guide academic programming, develop industry partnerships and oversee budgets, people and operations; lead senior teams and strengthen pathways with Indigenous communities and regional partners.

Qualifications

• Red Seal Journeyperson certification or equivalent trade credential
• Minimum five years of senior leadership experience
• Experience in apprenticeship education or skilled trades environments
• Strong understanding of Alberta’s apprenticeship system and collaboration with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training
• Proven financial and operational judgment, stakeholder relationship building
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; Northern/rural/resource-based community exposure is an asset

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic academic and operational leadership aligned with the College’s plan
• Lead Chairs, faculty and staff; foster professional growth, collaboration and accountability
• Oversee apprenticeship programming and relationships with AIT, employers and regulators
• Assess workforce demand, capacity and funded seats for program expansion
• Develop sustainable trades and industry training opportunities
• Advance teaching quality, accreditation and continuous improvement
• Manage budgets, workforce planning, equipment and facilities
• Pursue grants and revenue opportunities with College departments
• Strengthen dual-credit and pathways with schools, Indigenous communities and regional partners
• Represent Keyano College with industry and community leaders

Job description

Keyano College is seeking Dean, School of Trades to join our team through Aeolus Staffing Solutions.

This is an opportunity for an accomplished trades and training leader to advance skilled trades education in Northern Alberta. Combining practical trades expertise with strategic leadership, the Dean will guide academic programming, develop industry partnerships and oversee the School’s people, operations and financial resources.

Reporting to the Vice President, Academic, the Dean serves on the College’s senior leadership team. The School delivers apprenticeship, trades, occupational certification, industry training and workforce development programs supporting the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and beyond.

The successful candidate will bring a collegial leadership approach, strong financial judgment and the executive presence to represent Keyano with industry, government and community partners.

This position is based on campus in Fort McMurray. Relocation is required for candidates who do not currently reside in the region.

About Us

Located on traditional Treaty 8 territory, Keyano College is a comprehensive post-secondary institution with deep connections to the communities and industries of Wood Buffalo. Its programs connect academic learning and apply training with career opportunities across trades, health, business, technology and other disciplines. The School of Trades is central to this mandate, preparing skilled professionals and supporting the workforce needs of a major industrial region.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, academic and operational leadership aligned with the College’s Academic Plan and institutional priorities.
• Lead and develop Chairs, faculty and staff, supporting professional growth, collaboration and accountability.
• Oversee apprenticeship programming and maintain productive relationships with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT), employers and regulatory stakeholders.
• Assess workforce demand, training capacity and funded seat allocations to support apprentice progression and appropriate program expansion.
• Develop sustainable opportunities for new and expanded trades and industry training programs.
• Advance teaching quality, program relevance, accreditation and continuous improvement.
• Manage budgets, workforce planning, equipment and facilities, ensuring responsible stewardship and safe training environments.
• Pursue grant and revenue opportunities in collaboration with relevant College departments.
• Strengthen dual-credit, pre-apprenticeship and other pathways through partnerships with secondary schools, Indigenous communities and regional organizations.
• Represent Keyano with senior industry and community leaders, coordinating partnership development with the College’s public engagement team.

Qualifications

• Red Seal Journeyperson certification and practical experience in a skilled trade.
• At least five years of senior leadership experience, including managing teams and budgets, developing strategic and operational plans, and leading organizational change.
• Experience in apprenticeship education, industry training, skilled trades or a related environment.
• Strong understanding of Alberta’s apprenticeship system, including experience collaborating with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT), technical training requirements and workforce development.
• Demonstrated financial and operational judgment, strong communication skills, and a record of productive stakeholder relationships with employers, Indigenous communities, industry associations, government, and community organizations.
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and experience in Northern, rural or resource-based communities are assets. An equivalent combination of education, trade certification and experience acceptable to the College may also be considered.

Compensation and Benefits

• We offer an attractive competitive compensation package.
• Employer paid comprehensive health and dental benefits, including a health spending account.
• Generous defined benefit pension plan though LAPP that starts on day 1 of your employment.
• This position qualifies for additional payment of the Northern Living Allowance of $1,040.00 per month (This allowance is reviewed annually and is subject to budget approval).
• Generous vacation entitlement and the bonus of paid holidays between Christmas and New Years
• Life insurance is 2.5 times your annual salary
• Paid sick days

We also offer various perks and discounts to our employees:

• Employee Service and Academic Achievement recognition
• Greatly discounted employee membership to the Syncrude Sports and Wellness Centre (our well-known gym and recreational facility).
• Tuition waiver for all employees and dependents to take courses at Keyano College to support your thirst for learning.
• Employee Discounts for the Keyano Theatre and the Keynotes Bookstore.
• Various other perks and discounts for insurance, hotels, car rentals, stores etc.

Additional Information

Keyano College welcomes qualified applicants whose diverse experiences, perspectives and backgrounds contribute to a safe, inclusive and welcoming College community.