Department Chairperson/Director

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include providing leadership and coordination for educational programs and disciplines, curriculum planning, instructional operations, personnel management, student support initiatives, and departmental administration. Responsibilities include fostering continuous improvement through assessment and data-informed decision-making; promoting instructional quality, program effectiveness, workforce and transfer alignment, and student success while ensuring students meet learning objectives and compliance with accreditation requirements; maintaining adherence to applicable institutional, state, federal, and accrediting standards; supporting successful transfer to four-year institutions, as applicable; and strengthening faculty and staff development and effectiveness. The position also promotes collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to advance academic excellence, workforce and transfer relevance, performance student outcomes, community engagement, and alignment with the institution's mission, goals, and strategic priorities.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

1. Lead curriculum development and continuous improvement through annual review, assessment of instructional effectiveness, and revision of course outcomes and competencies using input from faculty, advisory committees, research data, and community needs; implement changes to courses or degree programs per established guidelines.
2. Monitor and analyze student performance data, including enrollment, retention, completion, and transfer outcomes, to assess progress toward performance-based outcomes, ensure accountability for meeting performance metrics, and address areas for improvement.
3. Oversee personnel processes and concerns in accordance with institutional policies and procedures, including recruitment, interviewing, hiring, orientation, supervision, mentoring, and evaluation of full-time, adjunct, and dual enrollment faculty and staff.
4. Monitor and manage faculty-related matters, including release time assignments, workload distribution, and instructional staffing needs; make recommendations for tenure and post-tenure review.
5. Promote personal and professional growth and effectiveness across teaching and non-teaching responsibilities by supporting faculty and staff in developing, implementing, and achieving academic, professional, and personal goals while reinforcing and upholding ethical standards.
6. Support and promote student success initiatives, including recruitment, retention, and completion, and coordinate advising services within the department to ensure availability and accuracy of information; promote clear pathways to university transfer, experiential learning, and employment opportunities.
7. Coordinate academic operations, including catalog updates, class scheduling, and course sequencing; ensure offerings are delivered in the appropriate time frame and meet student and program needs; and oversee approval of adjunct agreements and course and student overloads, ensuring alignment with supporting documentation.
8. Manage departmental operations and communication, including conducting regularly scheduled meetings; serving as a mediator for faculty, students, or staff when conflicts or disagreements occur; reviewing the department webpage to ensure information is current and accurate; and ensuring a safe learning environment and the security of assigned equipment, materials, and classrooms.
9. Ensure the effective and efficient use of instructional resources by managing departmental budgets, including selecting Open Educational Resources (OER) and ordering textbooks, as applicable, to support alignment with course objectives and program needs.
10. Participate in accreditation activities associated with the Commission on Colleges and Universities (CCU) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and implement Institutional Effectiveness (IE) plans for assigned areas of supervision.
11. Obtain, prepare, and submit reports to meet educational, funding, Institutional Effectiveness (IE), and accrediting agencies requirements, including site visits, self-studies, performance measures, federal and state reporting, grants, articulation or affiliation agreements, memorandum of understanding, licensing, and accreditation compliance, while adhering to prescribed deadlines.
12. Establish, collaborate, and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including college departments, dual enrollment programs, secondary and postsecondary institutions, business and industry, community organizations, and other agencies, to support recruitment, assessment, and program development.
13. Stay informed about industry and labor market trends and employment opportunities to ensure program relevance; promote community engagement; and support college programs and initiatives.
14. Serve as a liaison between the Office of Recruitment and Dual Enrollment and dual enrollment adjunct faculty and programs, ensuring application materials are complete and compliant, verifying submission of all required documentation, and coordinating the completion of any missing or pending items to ensure timely processing while maintaining clear and consistent communication with all parties.
15. Maintain an instructional teaching load, as applicable, and fulfill all faculty-related responsibilities, including those associated with instruction, student engagement, and institutional service, in alignment with college policies and procedures.
16. Ensure adherence to the established academic calendar and full compliance with Board of Trustees-approved institutional policies and procedures, as well as institutional, state, federal, and accreditation requirements, including communicating policies to division personnel and supporting the implementation of instructional guidelines consistent with institutional standards.
17. Participate in administrative meetings and serve on, or chair, committees in support of institutional goals, initiatives, and operations.
18. Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean, Associate Provost (when applicable), and the Provost/Vice-President of Academic Affairs.

Additional Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities Specific to the Position

1. Lead the development and oversight of EC–12 teacher preparation and transfer pathways, aligning with the Texas Core Curriculum, Texas Education Agency (TEA) educator standards, and relevant Educator Preparation Program (EPP) frameworks, and maintaining and strengthening articulation agreements with university partners offering approved EPPs.
2. Ensure program alignment with Texas early childhood workforce needs, childcare licensing and regulatory requirements, and regional efforts to strengthen the early childhood and EC–12 educator pipeline, while supporting curriculum relevance for childcare providers, center directors, and early childhood educators, and maintaining compliance with Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) licensing and early childhood workforce standards.
3. Support advising, academic planning, and student progression for Child Development and EC–12 education students, and serve as a liaison with universities, school districts, early childhood providers, and workforce partners to support educator pipeline development and student success.

Qualifications/Certifications/Licenses/Skills

NOTICE: Required Documents

To be considered for this position, you are required to upload your resume and unofficial transcript(s). If recommended for this position, an official transcript(s) will be required. In addition, if a license or certificate is required for this position, upload proof of your current license/certificate.

Required:

• Masters degree in Education, Child Development, Curriculum and Instruction, or Educational Leadership, or Masters degree with a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in Education, Child Development, Curriculum and Instruction, or Educational Leadership.
• Graduate coursework hours must be aligned with the course learning outcomes that the instructor will be teaching.
• Department Chairperson/Director credentials must meet the Commission on Colleges and Universities (CCU) required criteria for teaching within the department's discipline(s) under their supervision.
• A minimum of five years of teaching experience, including at least three years of demonstrated experience in curriculum development and program implementation, and three years of experience in the administration of an instructional unit, school, or program, all within an EC–12 setting.
• A valid Texas Educator Certification (EC–6, EC–12, or related) or previously held certification with relevant teaching or administrative experience.

Preferred:

• An earned doctorate (Ed.D. or Ph.D.) in Education, Child Development, Curriculum and Instruction, or Educational Leadership.
• A minimum of ten years of teaching experience, including at least five years of demonstrated experience in curriculum development and program implementation, and five years of experience in the administration of an instructional unit, school, or program, all within an EC–12 setting.
• Texas Principal Certification

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• To excel in this role, strong leadership, organizational, and time-management skills are required, along with knowledge of academic programs, instructional operations, and higher education practices.
• The ability to lead faculty and staff; manage personnel processes; oversee curriculum, scheduling, and departmental operations; support student success initiatives; and apply data-informed decision-making to assess program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement is essential.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills are required to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• The ability to build productive relationships, resolve conflicts, facilitate discussions, and foster a positive learning environment is critical.
• Knowledge of accreditation standards, institutional effectiveness processes, assessment practices, and applicable institutional, state, and federal regulations is required.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, ethical conduct, confidentiality, and proficiency in technology and data management systems are crucial for effectively balancing instructional and administrative responsibilities.

Additional Information

Supervision Exercised

Full-time and adjunct faculty, staff, student workers, and dual adjunct faculty when applicable

Supervision Received

Dean of Workforce Education, Associate Provost, and/or Provost/Vice-President of Academic Affairs

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.
The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move items weighing up to 50 pounds.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

Work is performed in a standard office environment.
Work inside a well-lighted and air-conditioned area most of the time.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

Safety

Required to work safely and follow safety rules.
Report unsafe working conditions and behavior.
Take reasonable and prudent actions to prevent others from engaging in unsafe practices.

Special Conditions

Immediate supervisor may assign other duties.
May be required to work outside regular working hours, as needed.
May be required to work at a different college work site or campus as needed.

EEO Statement

In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Laredo College is open to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, or national origin who are otherwise eligible for admission as students. Furthermore, Laredo College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and no applicant or employee will be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability or national origin. This institution will not enter knowingly into any contractual agreement for services or supplies with any firm failing to follow fair employment practices.

Foreign Degrees

Foreign degrees require an evaluation for United States equivalency from an approved stated education agency or having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Transcripts issued outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached to your online application at the time of applying. For your convenience, we have provided the following links to assist you in complying with this requirement. However, you may use any other certified transcript evaluation service. http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Certification/Out-of-state_Certification/Foreign_Credential_Evaluation_Services/ http://www.naces.org/members.htm

Disclaimer

The above description is an overview of the job. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Duties and responsibilities may change with business needs. LC reserves the right to add, change, amend, or delete portions of this job description at any time, with or without notice. Employees may be required to perform other duties as requested, directed, or assigned. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made by LC as its discretion to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.