"Associate Dean, School of Sciences & Humanities"

Associate Dean, School of Sciences & Humanities:

Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston, MA Full-time, 12-month appointment

Reports to: Dean of the School of Sciences & Humanities

The Opportunity:

The School of Sciences & Humanities at Wentworth Institute of Technology seeks a collaborative, student-centered leader to serve as Associate Dean. This is a 12-month administrative appointment. The Associate Dean may teach up to two courses per year. The Associate Dean is a central figure in the life of a multidisciplinary school, working at the intersection of faculty development, student success, and academic operations. Reporting to the Dean, the Associate Dean supports a community of approximately 100 faculty and staff across thirteen disciplines, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, English, Philosophy, History, Economics, Political Science, Communications, and four undergraduate majors: Applied Sciences, Climate Resilience, Computer Science + Society, and Physics. The Associate Dean will bring scientific expertise to support faculty-led program development, strategic planning, and the operational needs of the sciences. This includes understanding laboratory management, safety compliance, equipment needs, and the resource-intensive nature of science programs. The Associate Dean partners with faculty on these matters; curriculum and program decisions remain faculty-driven through established governance processes. The ideal candidate brings a strong teaching background, genuine curiosity about disciplines beyond their own, and effective communication skills to serve as a key point of contact for students, faculty, and staff navigating the School's processes and resources.

Key Responsibilities:

Faculty Support and Development (40%)

• Lead the full lifecycle of part-time faculty support: recruitment, hiring, onboarding, mentoring, and evaluation
• Support full-time faculty hiring processes in collaboration with search committees
• Coordinate faculty development opportunities in partnership with ATLAS (the office of teaching and learning)

Academic Operations (35%)

• Oversee course scheduling, faculty teaching assignments, and academic calendar coordination
• Manage processes for student grade appeals, academic complaints, and exceptions
• Support accreditation efforts (NECHE, ABET) and assessment activities
• Coordinate lab operations, safety compliance, and facilities in partnership with technical staff
• Streamline and improve operational systems using appropriate technology, including learning management systems, scheduling tools (Banner), and emerging AI applications

Student Success (15%)

• Serve as an accessible, student-centered presence for students navigating academic challenges
• Collaborate with advising, the registrar, and student affairs on retention and graduation support
• Represent the School on student success initiatives across the institution

School Leadership (10%)

• Represent the School in the Dean's absence and serve as a liaison with university offices
• Support faculty-led strategic planning and program development, contributing scientific and operational expertise
• Contribute to budget development and resource planning
• Support a positive, collegial office environment within the Dean's Office team

What We're Looking For:

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Scientific expertise and program support. You hold a terminal degree in the natural sciences, computational science, or a related STEM discipline and have experience supporting the development of science-based academic programs in collaboration with faculty. You understand laboratory operations, safety compliance, equipment needs, and the resource-intensive nature of science curricula.
• A deep commitment to teaching and learning. You have a strong record as a teacher and genuine expertise in current pedagogical practices. You understand what makes teaching effective and can mentor part-time faculty toward continuous improvement.
• The ability to work across disciplines. The School spans the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. You should be curious about disciplines beyond your own and able to evaluate teaching quality, support faculty development, and address student concerns across this range.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills. This role requires empathy, curiosity, and the ability to navigate difficult conversations with professionalism. You should be student-centered while maintaining appropriate boundaries and expectations.
• Strength in scheduling and process improvement. The Associate Dean manages complex scheduling systems and numerous operational processes. You should be organized, detail-oriented, and able to identify opportunities to streamline and improve these systems over time.
• Comfort with technology and systems. You should be proficient with learning management systems, scheduling software (Banner or similar), and standard office technology. Experience with, or openness to, using AI tools to improve administrative processes is valued.
• Alignment with Wentworth's mission. Wentworth is a teaching-focused polytechnic university with a strong commitment to experiential learning and career preparation. The School of Sciences & Humanities provides the scientific, social, and humanistic foundations that support all Wentworth students. You should resonate with this mission and with a philosophy that is discipline-based, faculty-led, and student/career-focused.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Terminal degree (PhD or equivalent) in the natural sciences, computational science, or a related STEM discipline. Relevant fields include but are not limited to Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biotechnology, Ecology, Engineering Physics, Neuroscience, and Biochemistry.
• Experience supporting the development of science-based academic programs in collaboration with faculty
• Record of research, scholarship, or creative work sufficient to qualify for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or higher
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence
• Evidence of faculty or university leadership (e.g., program coordination, committee leadership, curriculum development, or similar responsibilities)
• Experience supervising or mentoring faculty or staff
• Commitment to inclusive excellence and equitable practices in higher education

Preferred:

• 5 or more years of academic leadership experience
• Experience with laboratory management, safety compliance, and equipment planning
• Experience with part-time/adjunct faculty hiring, onboarding, and evaluation
• Familiarity with accreditation processes (NECHE, ABET)
• Experience with course scheduling systems, learning management systems, and academic technology
• Record of working effectively across disciplinary boundaries

Position Details:

The job grade for this position is Grade 12.

The expected wage range for this position is between $138,000 and $173,000 which reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this role.

To Apply:

Applicants should submit:

• Cover letter describing your qualifications and interest in this position, and your approach to academic leadership (2-page limit)
• Current curriculum vitae
• Statement on teaching and faculty development describing your teaching philosophy, your experience mentoring faculty, and your approach to supporting part-time faculty success (2-page limit)
• Contact information for three professional references. Candidates will be notified before the University contacts their references.

Review of applications will begin on March 30, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is July 15, 2026. Priority will be given to applications received before March 30.

Questions about the position may be directed to the search committee co-chairs at: ssh_assoc_dean_search@wit.edu.