Director, Liberal Arts and Sciences

Western Nevada College - Carson City, NV

Part-time,Full-time - Manager

Carson City, NV

1,001-5,000 employees

Educational Services

About the position

The LAS Director is an administrative faculty position responsible for leading the Liberal Arts and Sciences Division at Western Nevada College. This role emphasizes student success, effective communication, and collaborative problem-solving while managing various academic programs and initiatives. The Director will work closely with local, state, and federal organizations to align the division's goals with regional educational needs and ensure the delivery of high-quality learning opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all aspects of the LAS Division
• Align division activities with the college's strategic mission, vision and goals
• Understand and drive the division's strategic vision, updating/revising as needed; develop, revise and evaluate short and long-range planning
• Utilize a shared governance model of leadership whenever possible and appropriate
• Supervise, observe, evaluate and support full-time and part-time faculty and staff, to include adjunct instructors, to maintain accountability and promote personal/professional growth
• Address and manage student issues to include hearing and responding to complaints; managing options/pathways to allow students to reach completion; and finding resolution for concerns that arise
• Manage and maintain accountability for course and program enrollment
• Model open communication, respect and collegiality within the division and throughout the college; mediate conflict professionally and timely with a focus on collegiality
• Collaborate effectively with other college divisions/departments to ensure efficient and aligned use of available resources
• Manage grants to ensure deliverables/outcomes are met; seek and develop new funding opportunities that align with the strategic plan for the division
• Effectively utilize available resources to support division success
• Advocate for the needs and priorities of the division
• Manage fiscal outcomes of the division
• Develop and manage annual budgets, overseeing expenditures accordingly
• Ensure fiscal compliance and accuracy of grants
• Oversee purchasing, maintenance and inventory of division equipment and supplies
• Provide reporting, as required
• Develop, implement, manage and evaluate academic programs
• Lead the planning and organizing of academic programs
• Develop semester/annual class schedules and instructor loads in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and in collaboration with Academic Planning and the VPASA
• Practice a student-centered approach based on student needs and feedback
• Maintain the Letter of Appointment budget for overloads and adjuncts
• Utilize relevant, available data to make decisions about appropriate modes, times, class caps, materials, and other factors
• Lead an ongoing cycle of continuous improvement for teaching and curriculum review to ensure relevant and high-quality learning opportunities for students
• Support and expand innovative curriculum delivery options for LAS programs to support changing student demographics
• Support and expand program level and student learning outcomes assessment processes to improve instruction
• Maintain currency and accuracy of college catalog and related materials
• Manage LAS dual enrollment program opportunities
• Oversee industry partnerships, advisory committees and accreditation requirements
• Develop, revise and deactivate academic programs, as needed
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure LAS programs maintain relevance and alignment with regional and statewide needs
• Conduct periodic student, community and workforce needs assessments to inform program relevance and alignment
• Maintain awareness of local, regional and state initiatives that impact academic programs; ensure division participation in such initiatives as appropriate
• Maintain positive, productive relationship with appropriate accrediting agencies, state/national agencies, boards and institutions that inform operations and governance
• Represent the division on college, system and state boards/committees as assigned

Requirements

• Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Three (3) years of experience in a leadership role including staff supervision and evaluation
• Experience planning, developing, implementing academic curriculum and programs
• Experience in budget management, including grants
• Experience developing complex schedules, preferably in an educational setting
• Experience implementing programs and/or working in rural or frontier communities

Nice-to-haves

• Experience teaching in a higher education system
• Experience with a secondary educational system
• Experience observing and evaluating instruction
• Experience with local, regional or statewide academic initiatives
• Second language proficiency (written and oral), Spanish preferred

Benefits

• Voluntary supplemental retirement plans (403b, 457b plans)
• Employer paid Long Term Disability (LTD) Program
• Health insurance options including dental and vision
• Generous annual leave, sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
• Free Faculty and Staff membership at WNC Fitness Center
• Employee Assistance Program resources and assistance
• Discounted rates for Child Development Center
• Voluntary benefits including accident, disability, legal services
• Education Benefits for Faculty Employees and Family Members with reduced-rate tuition