Dean, Trades & Apprenticeship

School of Business - Continuing Education at Conestoga College; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in Cambridge is seeking a Dean of Trades & Apprenticeship to provide strategic and operational leadership. Responsibilities include academic planning, program development, managing staff, and fostering partnerships. The ideal candidate will have a master's degree and significant leadership experience in a post-secondary environment. This role offers a unique opportunity to impact trades education and apprenticeship training.

Qualifications

• Minimum of nine years of relevant leadership experience in a post-secondary environment.
• Proven ability to lead academic teams and manage complex operations.
• Strong understanding of curriculum development and teaching processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of multi-year academic plans.
• Foster a culture of learning and recognition among students and employees.
• Ensure compliance with college policies and accreditation standards.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Conflict resolution

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Master's degree in engineering, business, or related field

Post-secondary credential or journeyperson certification in a trade

Job description

Position Summary

Full-Time Administrative, replacement position

Reporting to the Executive Dean, the Dean of Trades & Apprenticeship provides strategic and operational leadership for the School. This role is responsible for academic planning, program development, faculty and staff management, and external engagement. The Dean ensures alignment with Conestoga’s strategic priorities, fosters student success, and promotes innovation in trades education and apprenticeship training.

The Dean represents the School externally, cultivating partnerships and supporting fundraising initiatives in consultation with the Executive Dean and President. As a member of the Academic Forum and Research Coordinating Committee, the Dean contributes to institutional planning and academic excellence.

This is a unique work opportunity to support the growth and development of Conestoga’s Skilled Trades Campus, located at 25 Reuter Drive in Cambridge, and to expand traditional apprenticeship and post-secondary programming in collaboration with industry and community partners.

Responsibilities

Academic leadership

• Lead the development and implementation of multi-year academic plans aligned with college goals
• Support curriculum innovation, program growth and professional development
• Collaborate with Academic Chairs to manage enrolment and continuing education initiatives
• Represent the School externally, identifying strategic opportunities and preparing proposals in consultation with leadership
• Foster a culture of learning and recognition among students and employees

Operational management

• Facilitate collaborative decision-making with Academic Chairs and Managers to actively involve faculty and staff in advancing the School's priorities and supporting the broader goals of the college
• Foster an environment of student success by aligning School activities with college standards for academic procedures, accessibility and enrolment management; address student and employee concerns in a timely and constructive manner
• Ensure academic operations align with college policies, accessibility standards and student success initiatives
• Coordinate budget planning and resource allocation to support sustainability
• Manage recruitment, development and performance of faculty and staff in partnership with Human Resources
• Lead facility planning and approve operational improvements in support of the strategic evolution of the School

Partnerships and applied research

• Facilitate the implementation of Program Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings and engage stakeholders in annual planning
• Promote faculty involvement in professional development and applied research
• Develop and maintain external partnerships, identifying new opportunities and implementing agreements
• Support fundraising efforts in collaboration with the Donor Relations department, including identifying prospects and contributing to donor relationship management

Quality assurance and continuous improvement

• Ensure compliance with college policies and accreditation standards
• Engage faculty and staff in the annual review of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and implement improvement strategies to ensure an outstanding student experience
• Oversee program reviews and facilitate decisions on program changes
• Represent the School on internal decision-making committees and external provincial and national committees to align initiatives and share best practices
• As directed by the Executive Dean, provide leadership for provincial, national and international accreditation processes within the Schools, ensuring the appropriate accrediting criteria and requirements are met

Safety

• Promote a safe learning and working environment by supporting college-wide training initiatives, workplace inspections, and hazard mitigation
• Ensure safety practices are embedded in program delivery and operations

Qualifications

• A master’s degree in engineering, business, or a related field is required; a post-secondary credential or journeyperson certification in a trade is considered an asset
• Minimum of nine years of relevant, progressive leadership experience, including management in a post-secondary environment
• Proven ability to lead academic teams and manage complex operations
• Strong understanding of curriculum development, teaching and learning processes
• Exceptional skills in strategic planning, financial and human resource management, communication, conflict resolution and stakeholder engagement