Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Suffolk County Community College; Brentwood (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Suffolk County Community College seeks an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to lead academic planning, curriculum quality, and assessment across campuses. The role reports to the Executive Dean and requires collaboration with faculty, student services, and external partners to advance the college's mission.

The Associate Dean will oversee program development, alignment with SUNY/NYSED standards, and accreditation processes while promoting innovation, equity, and student success through

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited institution in a science or healthcare field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible academic leadership experience in higher education.
• Doctoral degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for academic planning, faculty excellence, curriculum quality, assessment and accreditation across all campuses.
• Oversee budget development, monitoring expenditures, and operating budget for academic areas.
• Develop recruitment, retention, and assessment strategies to promote equitable student outcomes and continuous institutional improvement.

Skills

Leadership experience

Budget management

Analytical

Communication skills

Collaboration

Data systems proficiency

Education

Master's degree in science/healthcare fields

Doctoral degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Higher education information systems

Job description

Suffolk County Community College is the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling more than 26,000 students at its three campuses in Selden, Brentwood, and Riverhead, as well as its Culinary Arts Center in Riverhead. Established in 1959, the college offers a wide array of transfer-oriented associate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences; business; communications and the arts; computing and cybersecurity; health sciences; and many other areas. Career-facing degrees and certificates are offered in allied health professions, automotive technology, culinary and baking, manufacturing, and many other areas. The college provides high school concurrent enrollment opportunities to thousands of students each year through Suffolk’s Beacon program and on-campus early college classes. Designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution, Suffolk enrolls thousands of students in English Language Learning courses, and also serves more veterans and military-connected students than any other college in the SUNY system.

Position Summary

The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs serves as a senior academic leader responsible for advancing the College's academic mission through strategic leadership, institutional collaboration, and operational excellence across all campuses. Reporting to the Executive Dean, this position provides leadership for academic planning, faculty excellence, curriculum quality, assessment and accreditation.

The Associate Dean is responsible for the direction, development, implementation, and growth of programs and courses within an academic department. Academic departments may comprise a single large discipline or program (e.g., Surgical Technology) or a number of disciplines and programs (e.g., Mathematics, Natural Sciences). The Associate Dean ensures academic programs align with the College's strategic priorities, SUNY and NYSED requirements, MSCHE Standards, specialized accreditation expectations, and evolving workforce and community needs.

Working collaboratively with academic leadership, faculty, student affairs, enrollment management, workforce development, and external partners including but not limited to community partners, local businesses, healthcare facilities, and industry stakeholders. The Associate Dean develops and implements strategies that promote innovation, academic quality, equitable student outcomes, and continuous institutional improvement.

The Associate Dean serves as a key member of the College's academic leadership team, fostering collaboration across campuses and disciplines while supporting a culture of shared governance, innovation, accountability, and student-centered excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides leadership for life sciences, mathematics, and health career programs and service areas
• Works to promote the department programs at the local, state, and national level and serves as a member of their Area of Study, SUNY, and regional and national committees to further the delivery of their departmental programming.
• Leads and directs the work of assigned academic offices, fostering collaboration, operational excellence, and the consistent application of College‑wide policies.
• Serves as a member of the College’s Master Planning Committee and contributes to the development and management of the master schedule in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Monitors enrollment reports and section utilization rates and consults with academic chairs to ensure appropriate responses to enrollment trends.
• Works in partnership with Central Academic Affairs in the analysis, development, and evaluation of courses, curricula, and programs.
• Collaborates with Central Academic Affairs and academic departments to guide assessment activities, promote the use of assessment data, and support evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Guides the accreditation process for health careers disciplines in collaboration with the Central Office of Academic Affairs.
• Collaborates with student services personnel and faculty to develop effective recruitment and retention strategies.
• Fosters a student-centered educational environment responsive to diverse learner needs.
• Provide leadership in the recruitment, mentoring, evaluation, development, and retention of high-quality faculty and academic administrators and staff.
• Oversees faculty evaluation processes, including term appointments, continuing appointments, promotions, and post tenure faculty review.
• Models and communicates appropriate standards of professional and pedagogical competence in accordance with SUNY and NYSED policies and regional/national accreditation standards
• Assists with the development and management of the operating budget for academic areas.
• Participate in budget development and when appropriate, approve departmental budget items.
• Analysis of resource needs, including staffing, facilities, equipment, supplies, and assessment and evaluation activities
• Develop both short- and long-term budgetary projections
• Monitor expenditures and assure they are within budgetary parameters
• Compile budgetary reports to the Executive Dean
• Identify internal and external funding opportunities and manage grant writing for the department
• Advocate for investments that support innovation, faculty development, instructional technology, and student success.
• Addresses grade grievances and student complaints that are not resolved at the department level.
• Assure fidelity with existing policies and procedures in recruitment and retention of students;
• Collaborate with Enrollment Management and Student Affairs leadership and staff in recruitment and retention initiatives;
• Oversee assessment of student performance and progress;
• Collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to develop programs to support equitable student success and completion, including assessment of both academic and non-academic needs.
• Serves on College committees as appropriate;
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Executive Dean.

Key Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated success leading institutional initiatives involving curriculum, faculty, accreditation, assessment, enrollment management, strategic planning, or student success.
• Experience managing budgets, personnel, and complex organizational initiatives.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering student success through evidence-based practices and equitable educational opportunities.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across multiple constituencies.
• Advanced proficiency with institutional data systems and technology, including Microsoft Office applications and higher education information systems.

Minimum Qualifications

Required

• Master's degree from an accredited institution within a science and healthcare field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible academic leadership experience in higher education.

Preferred

• Doctoral degree from an accredited institution is preferred
• Community college experience.

Hiring Salary

This is a Guild (Unit 4) position, and, as such, the salary and benefits for this position are determined according to the salary and benefits plan for the Guild of Administrative Officers.

Non-Discrimination Notice

Suffolk County Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, equal pay compensation-sex, national origin, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction or disability in its admissions, programs and activities, or employment. This applies to all employees, students, applicants or other members of the College community (including, but not limited to, vendors and visitors). Grievance procedures are available to interested persons by contacting either of the Civil Rights Compliance Officers/Coordinators listed below. Retaliation against a person who files a complaint, serves as a witness, or assists or participates in the investigation of a complaint in any manner is strictly prohibited.

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the College's non-discrimination polices

Christina Vargas
Chief Diversity Officer/Title IX Coordinator
Ammerman Campus, NFL Bldg., Suite 230
533 College Road, Selden, New York 11784-2899
[e-mail]
[phone]

or

Dionne Walker-Belgrave
Affirmative Action Officer/Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Ammerman Campus, NFL Bldg., Suite 230
533 College Road, Selden, New York 11784-2899
[e-mail]
[phone]

In an emergency, contact Public Safety to make a report 24 hours a day/7 days a week by calling [phone] or dialing 311 from any College phone.

Inquiries or complaints concerning alleged civil rights violations in the College’s education admissions, programs and activities may also be directed to:

Office for Civil Rights (OCR) – Enforcement Office
U.S. Department of Education
32 Old Slip, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10005-2500
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
TDD: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Also see: https://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm

Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination in employment practices may also be directed to:

NYS Division of Human Rights
Long Island (Suffolk)
New York State Office Building
250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 2B-49
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Telephone: [phone]
TDD: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Also see: https://dhr.ny.gov/how-file-complaint

Suffolk County Community College is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal opportunity and non-discrimination in employment, education, access to services, programs, and activities, including career and technical education opportunities.
A copy of the postsecondary career and technical education courses offered by the College is available and may be obtained on our website at: www.sunysuffolk.edu/explore-academics/college-catalog or by calling the Office of Admissions at 631-451-4000 to request a mailing.