Associate Dean, Academic Affairs

University of New England; Portland (ME); Hybrid; USD 260,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of New England seeks an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to provide strategic leadership for the osteopathic pre-clerkship curriculum (Years 1–2) and ensure its competency-based delivery aligned with the UME continuum.

The ADAA will partner with faculty and institutional leaders to advance accreditation readiness, student success, and faculty engagement within the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Qualifications

• DO or MD degree with at least five years of leadership in undergraduate medical education.
• Proven expertise in curriculum design, assessment, and COCA accreditation.
• Experience with competency-based medical education and osteopathic UME preferred.
• Strong leadership in faculty development, student success initiatives, and academic administration.
• Experience managing teams, budgets, and complex academic operations.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and strategic planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and ongoing improvement of pre-clerkship curriculum.
• Ensure vertical and horizontal integration across the UME continuum.
• Advance innovative teaching methods and early clinical experiences.
• Monitor national trends and lead curricular reform.
• Oversee accreditation readiness and COCA compliance.
• Lead faculty development and engagement with the academic mission.
• Manage operations, budgeting, facilities, and educational technologies.
• Collaborate with registrars, CETL, CPC, CAIPE for curriculum delivery.
• Support student well-being and readiness for clinical training.
• Serve on college leadership team and foster interprofessional education.

Skills

Leadership experience

Curriculum design

Assessment & accreditation

Faculty development

Student success initiatives

Communication skills

Strategic planning

Budget management

Personnel management

Osteopathic UME experience

Education

DO or MD degree

Job description

The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs ( ADAA ) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the osteopathic pre-clerkship (Years 1–2) medical education program. The ADAA ensures delivery of an innovative, integrated, competency-based curriculum that is aligned across the undergraduate medical education continuum. In partnership with faculty and institutional leaders, the ADAA advances excellence in osteopathic medical education, accreditation readiness, student success, and faculty engagement in support of the mission of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

About The University of New England

UNE is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.

Benefits Overview

• Multiple health and dental plan options, plus vision coverage.
• Up to 8% retirement plan match.
• Generous leave time, including vacation, sick, and personal time, and 12+ holidays per year.
• Educational benefits:
  • UNE tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and domestic partners
• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of an integrated, competency-based pre-clerkship curriculum grounded in osteopathic philosophy.
• Ensure vertical and horizontal integration across the UME continuum in collaboration with clinical education leadership.
• Advance innovative educational strategies, including interdisciplinary learning, early clinical experiences, and emerging trends in medical education.
• Monitor national trends and lead strategic curricular reform to meet evolving healthcare and educational needs.

Assessment, Evaluation & Student Success

• Oversee program evaluation, student assessment, and continuous quality improvement processes.
• Develop and implement strategies to optimize student performance on licensure examinations ( COMLEX / USMLE ).
• Align assessment systems with competency-based education and progression standards.
• Oversee policies and processes related to student progression, remediation, and academic performance.
• Collaborate with student affairs and clinical education to support student well-being, professionalism, and readiness for clinical training.

Accreditation & Compliance

• Lead accreditation efforts for pre-clerkship education, including COCA standards compliance and reporting.

Faculty Leadership & Development

• Partner with department chairs and senior leadership to recruit, retain, and develop high-quality faculty.
• Lead faculty development initiatives that promote teaching excellence, educational innovation, and engagement in the academic mission.

Operations, Resources & Partnerships

• Oversee day-to-day academic operations for pre-clerkship education to ensure consistent, high-quality program delivery.
• Supervise academic affairs personnel, course directors, and faculty leaders responsible for curriculum implementation.
• Manage course scheduling, faculty deployment, and adjunct faculty recruitment.
• Collaborate with institutional partners (e.g., Registrar, CETL , CPC , CAIPE ) to support curriculum delivery and infrastructure.
• Manage academic affairs resources, including budget, facilities, and educational technologies.
• Contribute to new programs, partnerships, and early clinical learning opportunities.

College Leadership & Mission

• Serve as a key member of the college leadership team, supporting governance, policy development, and institutional initiatives.
• Promote interprofessional education and external partnerships.
• Advance a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and mission-driven excellence.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Dean.

Qualifications

DO or MD degree and at least five years of leadership experience in undergraduate medical education.

• Demonstrated expertise in curriculum design, assessment, and accreditation ( COCA experience preferred).
• Experience with competency-based medical education and innovative teaching approaches (osteopathic UME preferred).
• Proven leadership in faculty development, student success initiatives, and academic administration.
• Demonstrated experience managing others.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and strategic planning skills.
• Experience managing budgets, personnel, and complex academic operations.
• National or regional professional leadership experience preferred.

EEO Statement Summary

Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.

Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine’s immunization requirements for clinical activity.

Anticipated Pay Range

Anticipated Pay Range $260,000 - $290,000