Director, Liberal Arts & Sciences

Administrative Faculty, Non Tenure Track, Benefits Eligible.

The Director of Liberal Arts and Sciences is an administrative role that serves as the leader of the Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Division and related programs, with primary responsibility for the development, management, and execution of semester and annual class schedules and faculty instructional workloads that align with student needs for certificate and degree attainment. This includes the development of course offerings, instructor assignments, overloads, and adjunct utilization in strict accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and in close collaboration with Academic Planning and the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs (VPASA).

Major Responsibilities:

Academic Scheduling, Faculty Load, and Instructional Planning

• Lead the development of semester and annual class schedules for all Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, ensuring alignment with student demand, completion pathways, and transfer requirements
• Assign and manage full-time faculty instructional loads, overloads, and adjunct faculty assignments in full compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Collaborate closely with Academic Planning, Advising, Academic Directors, and the VPASA to align schedules with institutional enrollment targets, budget constraints, staffing plans, and strategic priorities
• Balance instructional needs across modalities (in-person, online, hybrid), locations, days, and times to maximize access, efficiency, and student success
• Recruit and hire qualified adjuncts based on schedule needs and in accordance with WNC procedures and policies.
• Maintain and manage the Letter of Appointment (LOA) budget for adjuncts and overloads, ensuring fiscal accountability and compliance
• Analyze enrollment trends, historical data, productivity metrics, and student demand to inform scheduling decisions, class caps, cancellations, and additions
• Resolve scheduling conflicts, load discrepancies, and faculty workload concerns in a timely, professional, and contract-compliant manner
• Serve as the primary divisional expert on scheduling systems, workload rules, and instructional staffing practices
• Communicate schedule decisions clearly and consistently with faculty, Academic Planning, and college leadership
• Ensure schedules are accurate, complete, and submitted in accordance with institutional timelines

Division Leadership and Faculty Supervision

• Supervise, observe, evaluate, and support full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including adjunct instructors
• Promote accountability, professional growth, and instructional excellence
• Address faculty and student issues, mediate conflicts, and support resolution with a focus on collegiality and student success
• Model open communication, respect, and shared governance

Program Oversight, Curriculum, and Assessment

• Oversee academic programs, curriculum review, and continuous improvement processes
• Support student learning outcomes and program-level assessment
• Maintain currency and accuracy of the college catalog and related academic materials
• Support innovative curriculum delivery models aligned with changing student demographics

Budget, Grants, and Resource Management

• Develop and manage divisional budgets
• Monitor expenditures related to instruction, staffing, and operations
• Oversee grants and ensure compliance with fiscal and reporting requirements

Strategic Planning, Partnerships, and Representation

• Represent the division on college, system, and state committees as assigned
• Maintain relationships with accrediting agencies, transfer institutions, and community partners
• Participate in regional and statewide initiatives impacting academic programs
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

The Director of Liberal Arts & Sciences must have a broad and detailed knowledge of academic and transfer programs; curriculum development; teaching and learning best practices; familiarity with WNC’s service area; and a demonstrated ability to exercise individual and group leadership that fosters a positive team environment based on consensus building, collaboration, conflict resolution, task completion and creative problem solving.

Knowledge of:

• Liberal arts and sciences transfer programs and disciplines
• Mission and philosophy of comprehensive community colleges
• Educational curriculum, pedagogy and assessment for student learning
• Student learning needs and challenges, as well as strategies for supporting success
• Faculty role and value in community college and higher education, generally
• NWCCU accreditation requirements
• NSHE/WNC policies and procedures

Skills in:

• Effective leadership and decision-making
• Written and interpersonal communication
• Prioritizing, planning, organizing and executing tasks in a timely manner
• Analyzing data
• Strategic planning, goal setting and achieving outcomes
• Logistical and systems thinking
• Developing and implementing curricula
• Assessing academic programs and student learning outcomes
• Synthesizing complex data to reach a conclusion and/or drive improvement
• Independent decision-making

Ability to:

• Assume, represent and perform an administrator role
• Serve as a productive member of the college’s extended leadership team
• Work collaboratively and collegially in a shared-governance environment
• Manage overlapping timelines, competing deadlines and shifting priorities
• Balance a high-level perspective with the demands of daily work, successfully managing both
• Advocate for the needs of division faculty and staff while simultaneously supporting administrative initiatives and goals

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree and a minimum of 3 years of leadership experience to include staff supervision and evaluation.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted for the Master's degree (i.e., BA+4 years related professional experience which includes 3 years of leadership experience).

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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

Minimum Starting Salary Information:

This position is at a salary grade D. The minimum of the placement range is $104,645.12. The selected candidate will be placed at or above the minimum based on education and experience. WNC's placement range falls within the NSHE salary schedule: NSHE ADMINISTRATIVE SALARY SCHEDULE

Retirement – NSHE Faculty Retirement Plan Alternative (RPA)

All faculty and professional staff working at least half-time equivalent must participate in the NSHE Faculty Retirement Plan Alternative (RPA) as a condition of employment. The current contribution rate is 19.25%. Your contribution is matched by the College at 19.25%.

Your contributions are made by pre-tax salary reduction and you are 100% vested from your first day. You choose how to invest your own and NSHE’s contributions. The plan administrator provides dedicated financial consultants that are available to assist you in your investment deliberations. NSHE provides participants with a three-tiered investment line-up that provides investment options for everyone, from the less engaged investor to the investor who prefers to more actively manage their retirement savings. The tiered structure provides a simplified investment selection process, allowing you to make your decision based on your investment expertise and comfort level. See Your Retirement Benefits for additional information.

Faculty and staff who have previously participated in the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Nevada (PERS) may be required to continue participation in PERS.

The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) does not participate in the federal Social Security System but does contribute to the federal Medicare program. This means that while you are employed by NSHE neither you nor NSHE contribute to Social Security and you do not earn a Social Security benefit.

Perks of Working at WNC

• Beautiful campus located along numerous biking and walking trails
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plans, both pre-tax and Roth options available (403b, 457b plans)
• Employer paid Long Term Disability (LTD) Program
• Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance
• Generous annual leave (A contract), sick leave (A & B contract), 12 paid holidays - Faculty Benefits
• The WNC Fitness Center offers Faculty and Staff membership WNC Fitness Center
• ComPsych our Employee Assistance Program offers resources and assistance to Faculty and Staff
• Discounted WNC Staff rates for our Child Development Center which has received Four Star Recognition from the Nevada Silver Star Quality Rating and Improvement System
• Voluntary benefits including accident, disability, legal services, and more – Voluntary Benefits
• An administrative faculty senate represents full-time, administrative faculty
• Free parking and plenty of it!
• No State income tax!

Education Benefits for Faculty Employees and Family Members

WNC is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and their qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Qualified dependents of faculty can take unlimited credits per semester. More information can be found in the Board of Regents Handbook.