In collaboration with the Dean and Department/School faculty and staff, the Chair serves a key role in providing day-to-day educational leadership and operational oversight of the Department/School, as listed in the Major Duties and Responsibilities section below. While the role is administrative in nature, the position of Department/School Chair is a faculty role in which the incumbent provides collegial leadership to a work group, with managerial decision-making remaining with the Dean.

The Chair fosters a collegial environment that promotes high-quality standards of teaching, scholarship, service, student support and success. The Chair plays a critical role in stewarding the department through the quality assurance process. The Chair ensures the effective and efficient operation of the Department/School and provides leadership in educational planning, review and outreach activities to support the development and achievement of College and Department/School goals and objectives.

While the position of Chair is filled through an election process within a Department/School in accordance with the provisions of the Collective Agreement, candidates should consider that the following competencies are necessary for the successful performance of the duties and responsibilities:

- Collaborative skills and the ability to build a team environment and support change management
- Ability to foster a collegial, positive, student-centred working environment that supports learning for students, faculty and staff
- Demonstrated organizational and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated leadership skills and abilities including the ability to provide educational leadership to a diverse department/school as well as collaborate across departments/schools
- Experience and interest in program design, development, delivery and evaluation within a post-secondary environment
- Knowledge of and/or interest in financial management practices, including budgeting and expenditure control
- Knowledge of and/or interest in human resource management practices

1. Provides work leadership, mentors and provides 1st level support to the staff and faculty of the Department/School by:
a. participating in the recruitment and selection of appropriate qualified faculty and staff for the Department/School;
b. providing orientation of new staff and faculty, communicating the College’s mission, vision, values and strategic objectives , and general policies and procedures and departmental/school guidelines;
c. developing annual and term workload assignments that correspond to program needs, collective agreement provisions and budget parameters for the Dean’s approval;
d. providing support for training and professional development of assigned support staff to assure their current and continuing competencies;
e. providing leadership and direction to assigned support staff to ensure optimal utilization of resources to achieve Department/School and College strategic goals;
f. participating in the review and evaluation of assigned support staff, providing guidance and coaching where needed.
2. Deals with student issues or concerns within the Department/School in accordance with College policies and procedures and/or departmental/school guidelines, resolving issues where possible, or referring them to the appropriate person;
3. Leads the educational planning processes for the Department/School by:
a. developing, in conjunction with Department/School staff and faculty, an annual operational plan that supports the College’s strategic directions;
b. working with staff and faculty to ensure that Department/School annual goals and objectives are achieved;
c. preparing annual reports that document the Department/School’s progress in achieving its goals.
4. Oversees program and curriculum development, implements and evaluates programs/courses that respond to community needs and prepares students for success and supports the strategic direction of the College by:
a. participating in the evaluation of the viability of new program/course requests and modifications of existing courses/programs;
b. supporting the development of objectives and outlines for new and revised courses/programs within the Department/School, including playing a leadership role in articulation and related processes;
c. consulting & liaising with the administration, department/school faculty and other program areas on curriculum, course and program matters, assisting with the creation of a program vision and exploring and implementing program sustainability approaches;
d. serving as the Department/School lead for faculty and support staff in course and program planning processes;
e. coordinating Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition requests in cooperation with students, instructors and appropriate service departments.
5. Coordinates, reviews and recommends program expenditures for program needs within established budget parameters and administrative procedures by:
a. ensuring the effective and efficient operations of programs by planning, monitoring, maintaining and implementing budget and related expenses.
b. coordinating requests for capital items in the Department/School.
c. Overseeing the ordering of consumable and specialized supplies for the program(s);
d. Overseeing the repair and maintenance of program-specific equipment and facilities.
6. In collaboration with service departments such as Student Services, Marketing and College Relations, develops and/or supports strategies for student recruitment, retention, program completion, job placement and transfer opportunities for students by:
a. coordinating and assisting with the recruitment, retention, pre-requisites challenges and tracking of students within the assigned program;
b. ensuring the provision of academic advice and guidance to prospective and current students and undertaking specific program-related admission functions as appropriate;
c. coordinating faculty input to marketing and recruitment activities, press releases, advertisements and other public information promoting programs and events;
d. responding to questions from students and community members regarding programs and courses and supporting career/employment search activities as appropriate;
e. coordinating Department/School faculty and staff participation in College events and activities such as graduation, orientation, open houses, information sessions and other student events.
7. Collaborates with industry, professional or community organizations and regulating bodies to develop strategies that promote student success and the mission, vision and core values of the College by :
a. where appropriate, supporting the development and operation of Program Advisory Committees;
b. participating in campus and/or college-wide committees, as well as program advisory meetings as appropriate;
c. coordinating Department/School faculty and staff participation in outreach activities in high schools and other community-based events;
d. serving in a liaison/coordination role with community/industry partners (i.e. practicum sites, partnering institutions, certification bodies, etc.) to develop and maintain effective working relations;
e. supporting the development and submission of proposals to external bodies for grants or other funding opportunities in support of various College objectives (i.e. student bursaries/awards, applied research projects, etc.).

Faculty Regular