Chair, UX Design

Savannah College of Art and Design - Savannah, GA

Full-time - Senior

Savannah, GA

Educational Services

About the position

The Chair of UX Design at Savannah College of Art and Design is a pivotal leadership role that provides vision and direction for the department. This position is responsible for building a substantial reputation for the quality of the UX Design program and fostering a strong sense of collegiality among faculty and staff. The Chair will work closely with faculty on curriculum development, assessment activities, and the implementation of policies and procedures, including course schedules and facility use. This role also involves conducting classroom observations and annual faculty performance evaluations, ensuring that mentoring and faculty development opportunities are available. Additionally, the Chair assists in the hiring of faculty, makes decisions on student academic matters, and plays a key role in the recruitment of students, reviewing graduate student applications, and placing students in internships and careers. The Chair oversees the departmental budget and teaches courses as determined by the employment agreement. Maintaining a visible onsite presence is crucial for this role, as the Chair will guide the work of department faculty and staff, support and mentor students, and collaborate with academic leaders, faculty, and support staff across various departments and university locations. The Chair ensures that all services related to the academic offerings of the department are planned and delivered at the highest quality without interruptions. Furthermore, the Chair is responsible for administering university policies and procedures consistently. In this role, the Chair models academic and professional leadership, ensuring that all faculty and staff work towards achieving the university's mission, vision, and values. Through both day-to-day operations and long-term strategic actions, the Chair will ensure the department's intentional and measurable contribution to the university's strategic plan and the 8Rs: responsibility, resources, recruitment, retention, recognition, revenue, research, and results.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision, leadership, and supervision for the UX Design department.
• Build a substantial reputation for the quality of the department.
• Create a strong sense of collegiality within the department and shared responsibility for departmental goals.
• Work with faculty on curriculum development and assessment activities.
• Conduct classroom observations and annual faculty performance evaluations.
• Ensure mentoring and faculty development opportunities are available.
• Assist in the hiring of faculty and make decisions on student academic matters.
• Assist in the recruitment of students and review graduate student applications.
• Oversee the placement of students in internships and careers.
• Manage the departmental budget and teach courses as needed.

Requirements

• Terminal degree (or equivalent) in the discipline or in a relevant field.
• Leadership and supervisory experience in academics or significant professional experience in an appropriate discipline.
• Distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and/or professional expertise.
• A successful career as a faculty member and/or discipline professional with a reputation for model leadership and excellence.
• Ability to transform strategic vision into implementation through measurable actions.
• Commitment to teaching and learning, and excellence in academics.
• Thorough understanding of curriculum development and assessment utilization to improve student learning.
• Ability to conduct thorough and fair performance evaluations, including classroom observations.
• Knowledge to define the needs of the department for new faculty hires and make appropriate recommendations to the dean.
• Judgment to make fair decisions in the student's best academic interests regarding waivers and expectations.
• Willingness to collaborate with admissions on student recruitment and review.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and exceptional work ethic.
• Outstanding interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills.
• Evidence of success in creative and collaborative endeavors.
• Innovative, energetic, and model leadership.
• Dedication to personal and professional integrity.