"Assistant Professor & Program Chair of Engineering Technology"

Who We Are:

Are you ready to work at a dynamic institution that believes in higher education with lower obstacles? Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (now known as Franklin Cummings Tech) is a nationally accredited non-profit, technical college serving Eastern Massachusetts and beyond. The college was seeded in 1791 with funds from the estate of Benjamin Franklin given to the City of Boston to proliferate access to education and level the playing field for aspiring talent with meager financial means.

Today, Franklin Cummings Tech continues to build on that legacy by offering post-secondary education in high-demand technical and skilled trade fields that lead to excellent careers. Our majors intentionally focus on select industries connected to sustainability and the clean energy transition including electric vehicle technology, smart manufacturing, practical electricity, power engineering, heat pumps/HVAC, biotechnology, automation, construction management, and more.

With a mission to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement, we offer a unique mix of certificate and degree-granting programs that appeal to enterprising students and respond to employer's demand for a well-prepared workforce. Intentional partnerships with the industries we serve coupled with high graduation and job placement rates, recently attracted the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the college from the Cummings Foundation.

Last year, Franklin Cummings Tech educated more than 1,000 learners across three student types: 1) certificate and degree seekers, 2) continuing education clients, and 3) high schoolers pursuing early college. As further evidence that our mission holds resonance, this year the college tracked a 25% year-over-year jump in fall new student enrollment and applications soared.

We seek team members who are optimistic, entrepreneurial, data-informed, and excited about the prospect of continuing to strategically increase student success outcomes and total enrollment from 1,000 learners today to at least 1,500 learners by 2030. Join us in this mission-driven work!

Job Description:

The Assistant Professor & Program Chair of Engineering Technology provides academic leadership and operational management for the Engineering Technology department at Franklin Cummings Tech. This is an on-campus, full-time faculty-administrator role responsible for the strategic direction, academic quality, and day-to-day administration of the Engineering Technology program, specifically overseeing the Mechatronics Technology Concentration (AS) and Building Energy Management (AS) concentrations. The Program Chair teaches a reduced course load while overseeing curriculum development, faculty supervision, student success, accreditation compliance, and employer engagement. Reporting to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, the Program Chair serves as the primary departmental liaison and is expected to model Franklin Cummings Tech's commitment to applied technical education and equitable student outcomes.

Requirements

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Academic Program Leadership

• Provide vision, direction, and continuous improvement for the Mechatronics Technology and Building Energy Management concentrations within the Engineering Technology program in alignment with the college's mission, workforce development goals, and NECHE accreditation standards.
• Lead curriculum development and review processes to ensure program currency, industry alignment, and adherence to approved syllabi and learning outcomes.
• Oversee program-level assessment, including analysis of student learning outcomes data, and use findings to drive instructional and curricular improvements.
• Collaborate with inter-departmental collaborations to manage course revisions, outcomes mapping, and assessment cycle documentation.
• Ensure departmental compliance with all applicable accreditation standards, institutional policies, and regulatory requirements.

Faculty Supervision and Development

• Recruit, onboard, supervise, evaluate, and mentor full-time and adjunct faculty within the department.
• Conduct formal classroom observations and annual performance evaluations consistent with the college's faculty evaluation framework requiring regular on-campus presence for direct observation and collaboration.
• Support faculty professional development through individualized coaching, collaborative planning, and connection to institutional development resources.
• Manage faculty scheduling, workload assignments, and course staffing in coordination with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

Student Success and Advising

• Serve as a resource for student academic concerns, including advising, grade appeals, and referrals to appropriate support services.
• Monitor student retention, progression, and completion metrics; develop and implement evidence-based strategies to improve outcomes.
• Collaborate with enrollment management and student services to support the recruitment and retention of students in the Mechatronics Technology and Building Energy Management concentrations.

Industry and Community Engagement

• Cultivate and maintain active relationships with employers, business advisory council members, and professional organizations in mechatronics, automation, building energy systems, and related technical fields to ensure program relevance and responsiveness to workforce needs.
• Facilitate employer engagement in curriculum review, equipment procurement, guest instruction, and co-op/internship placement for students.
• Represent the department at college events, employer forums, workforce development convenings, and community outreach activities.

Administrative and Operational Responsibilities

• Manage department-level budget requests and resource planning in coordination with college administration.
• Maintain accurate records of enrollment, attendance, grades, and program documentation in accordance with institutional and accreditation requirements.
• Participate in institutional governance through committee service, strategic planning initiatives, and policy development.
• Prepare departmental reports, accreditation documentation, and program reviews as required by the Associate Dean, accreditors, or other institutional stakeholders.
• Maintain regular on-campus presence for student interactions, faculty meetings, departmental activities, and institutional responsibilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs or the Chief Academic Officer, Dean of Academic & Student Affairs.

Teaching

• Teach a reduced course load (typically three courses per academic year) on-campus in Engineering Technology, specifically within the Mechatronics Technology or Building Energy Management concentration areas.
• Develop and deliver high-quality, industry-relevant instruction aligned with approved syllabi, established learning outcomes, and current best practices.
• Maintain current knowledge of developments in engineering and technology fields and incorporate emerging practices, tools, and industry standards into instruction.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Education, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum of three (3) years of industry experience in mechatronics, automation, building energy systems, HVAC/R, engineering, manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of two (2) years of post-secondary teaching experience in a relevant technical or engineering field.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, or supervise others in a professional or academic setting.
• Strong organizational, written communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
• Commitment to serving a diverse student population and advancing equitable access to technical education.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Engineering Technology, Engineering Education, or a related discipline.
• Experience in academic program administration, department leadership, or equivalent academic management.
• Familiarity with NECHE or regional accreditation standards, processes, and self-study preparation.
• Experience with Canvas LMS or a comparable learning management system.
• Knowledge of ABET or other programmatic accreditation frameworks relevant to engineering technology programs.
• Demonstrated experience developing or maintaining employer advisory board relationships.
• Bilingual or multilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Able to teach on campus courses in mechatronics technology and/or building energy management.