Grand Canyon University! One of Arizona’s leading institutions of higher learning. Located in the Valley of the Sun in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. GCU is an institutionally accredited, private, nondenominational Christian University.
Grand Canyon University (GCU) is seeking a dynamic Christian leader to become the inaugural Dean of the Grand Canyon University College of Construction & Industrial Technologies (CCIT). This servant leader is responsible for providing vision, strategic direction, and operational excellence across all aspects of the college, including but not limited to achieving any required accreditations, academic planning, faculty recruitment, performance assessment, unique program delivery methods, and program review, as well as strong industry partnerships at a national level. You will be joining a highly experienced and seasoned team of academic leaders as you collaborate and partner to add a 12th college at GCU and continue the growth of the largest Private, Christian university in the country.
GCU's Mission
GCU is a missional, Christ-centered university with an innovative and adaptive spirit that addresses the world’s deep needs by cultivating compassionate Christian community, empowering free and virtuous action and serving others in ways that promote human flourishing.
Through academic excellence, the university equips students with knowledge of the Christian worldview, instilling in them a sense of purpose and vocational calling that enables them to be innovative thinkers, effective communicators, global contributors and transformative leaders who change their communities by placing the interests of others before their own.
This leader must possess a strong combination of real-world industry construction, and/or manufacturing experience, a passion for teaching and mentoring, and an operational mindset to effectively scale programs and maximize the impact of graduates grounded in a Christian worldview. Within the construction & industry (including advanced manufacturing) domain, this role integrates; applied engineering, construction & industrial technologies, Christian faith, free market principles, and academic excellence.
Location: 3300 W. Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85017
What you will do:
Christ-Centered Leadership & Community
- Promote and model a Christ-centered worldview in all aspects of leadership, decision-making, and academic and faculty engagement
- Foster a strong sense of community, professionalism, and shared purpose among faculty, staff, and students
- Support the development of Christian character, ethical leadership, and professional responsibility within wide variety of career fields
- Encourage integration of faith and learning across curriculum, instruction, and student engagement
Strategic Leadership, Innovation & Growth
- Provide vision and strategic direction for the CCIT, including program development, expansion, and long-term growth
- Identify opportunities to scale programs effectively while maintaining academic rigor and operational excellence leading to industry support and hiring
- Drive innovation of delivery methods and national expansion by creating a talent pipeline
Academic Excellence & Accreditation
- Ensure the integrity, rigor, and consistency of industry-driven curriculum
- Provide executive oversight of curriculum design, instruction, and assessment to include experiential, hands-on learning lab experiences
- Ensure systems are in place to support student retention, progression, and graduation
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, using assessment data to strengthen learning outcomes and student success
- Foster an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and prepared for industry career pathways and opportunities
Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness
- Establish clear ownership, accountability, and performance expectations
- Ensure alignment between curriculum, faculty delivery, operations, and student outcomes
- Build systems that promote efficiency, transparency, and scalability in a matrixed university environment
- Collaborate with university partners (e.g., Faculty Services, Faculty Development, Curriculum Design, Admissions, Marketing) to leverage best practices and drive results
- Provide oversight of college operations, budgeting, and resource allocation in alignment with university expectations
- Ensure responsible stewardship of resources to support program growth and sustainability
- Integrate into a matrix organization of centralized shared-services model, sharing all resources and collaborating on operations and execution with service providers
Faculty Leadership & Development
- Lead and support faculty in achieving excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship
- Promote instructional excellence and innovation in construction & industrial technologies education
- Support faculty in integrating faith, ethics, and professional preparation into the classroom
- Foster a culture of mentorship, accountability, and continuous professional growth
External Relations & Institutional Alignment
- Serve as the primary representative of CCIT and GCU with a wide range of industry partners in the construction and manufacturing trades areas. Will closely partner with CET Dean and leaders for any engineering and technology areas as well as with CCOB Dean for management areas
- Lead and engage CCIT Advisory Board(s), collaborating with business leaders
- Partner with Marketing, Enrollment, and Admissions to recruit and enroll high-quality students in collaboration with service providers in a centralized, shared-service model
- Support Advancement office efforts to fundraise for scholarships, program and CCIT initiatives
- Build strategic partnerships to enhance pipeline development, experiential opportunities, and community impact
- Additional responsibilities as assigned by the Provost or President.
What you need:
- Graduate degree
- Significant experience in engineering, construction, or manufacturing
- Industry/Government/Military leadership roles
- Ability and experience leading at operational and strategic levels
- Passion to share/integrate Christian faith as a leader and educator
- Must pass pre-employment background investigations
- Provide a positive example to students by supporting the University’s Doctrinal Statement, Ethical Position Statement and Mission of Grand Canyon University.
Bonus:
- Industry executive level/responsibility experience
- Experience in education or training
- Experience with online and hybrid program delivery
- Significant industry relationships
- Doctorate in any discipline
Why work at GCU:
- Exceptional workplace benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401K savings plan
- Generous time off plan and 11 paid holidays
- Paid time off to volunteer in the community or at GCU sponsored events
- Free covered parking
- We also offer full-time employees, their spouses, and dependent children an Education Tuition Discount Progra
- Free on-site gyms on campus