Posting Details

Position Information

Position Title
Dean, Donald School of Business

Position Summary

The Dean is a senior academic leader who advances Red Deer Polytechnic's vision through integrated strategic, academic, and operational leadership within the Donald School of Business. As a member of the Polytechnic Leadership Team, the Dean contributes to enterprise decision-making and drives alignment between academic programming, institutional priorities, and evolving labour market and economic needs.

The Dean is accountable for delivering high-quality, relevant, and responsive programming across both credit and non-credit portfolios, including Continuing Education and Corporate Training. This includes advancing applied research, work-integrated learning, and community-engaged learning, while positioning the school as a key contributor to workforce development, lifelong learning, and regional prosperity in Central Alberta.

Operating within a polytechnic and entrepreneurial model, the Dean fosters innovation, market responsiveness, and strategic partnerships with industry, government, and community. The role champions integrated pathways, access, and learner success, ensuring programming is accessible, flexible, and aligned with the needs of diverse learners.

The Dean cultivates a high-performing, inclusive culture grounded in equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenization, while enabling faculty, staff, and academic leaders to excel, innovate, and contribute to institutional and community impact.

Position Responsibilities

Strategic & Institutional Leadership

• Provide strategic and enterprise leadership to advance institutional priorities, aligning academic, operational, and applied learning initiatives across credit and non-credit/Continuing Education within RDP's polytechnic and entrepreneurial model.
• Cultivate and steward strategic partnerships with industry, community, and external stakeholders to drive program relevance, applied research, work-integrated learning, and lifelong learning opportunities.
• Represent the School as a senior academic leader in engagements with government, regulators, and accrediting bodies, ensuring effective advocacy, compliance, and alignment with funding and policy frameworks.
• Lead transparent, data-informed communication with senior leadership on School performance, strategic priorities, emerging trends, and labour market intelligence to inform institutional decision making.
• Drive cross-institutional collaboration to advance interdisciplinary programming, integrated learner pathways, and operational effectiveness across Schools and service divisions.

People Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for faculty and staff recruitment, development, performance management, and employee relations, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, collective agreements, and a high-performance culture.
• Exercise senior leadership accountability for hiring, managing, and, where necessary, disciplining or dismissing non-academic staff in accordance with institutional policies.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Director and Associate Deans to ensure excellence in the delivery of integrated credit and non-credit portfolios, including Continuing Education and corporate training.
• Establish and optimize organizational structures, processes, and teams to enable effective delegation, collaboration, and operational agility.
• Foster and sustain a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, and accountability, empowering faculty and staff to advance new ideas, responsive programming, and continuous improvement aligned with a polytechnic model.

Resource & Financial Management

• Provide accountability for multi-year financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation to ensure sustainable School operations.

Academic & Learner Success

• Provide strategic oversight of the development, delivery, and quality assurance of academic and Continuing Education programming, ensuring alignment with accreditation, transfer, and workforce standards, while integrating digital and flexible learning approaches to enhance access and responsiveness.
• Champion a learner-centred approach that advances recruitment, retention, and success for diverse student populations, including adult, Indigenous, international, and Continuing Education learners, while aligning credit and non-credit programming to create seamless pathways that meet evolving industry and workforce needs.

Continuing Education and Corporate Training & External Engagement

• Establish and lead a multi-year strategy for Continuing Education and Corporate Training (CETC) that aligns with institutional priorities, regional workforce needs, and revenue diversification goals. Identify and advance market-responsive programming opportunities, including micro-credentials, customized corporate training, and flexible delivery models.
• Build and sustain strategic partnerships with industry, government, and community partners to co create relevant, high-impact training solutions.
• Ensure strong financial oversight and accountability for CETC, including revenue generation, cost recovery, and sustainable growth.
• Integrate credit and non-credit programming to support flexible pathways, stackable credentials, and lifelong learning.
• Foster an entrepreneurial, client-focused culture that enables innovation, responsiveness, and high quality learner and partner experiences.

Required Qualifications

• A graduate degree from a recognized institution is required; a terminal degree (e.g., PhD, DBA, EdD) is preferred depending on discipline and program needs
• 5-10 years experience of progressively responsible leadership experience in post-secondary or related sectors, demonstrating success with external partnerships, industry engagement, and collaborative ventures that support learner pathways, applied learning, and Continuing Education;
• 5-10 years leadership experience in academic administration, applied learning environments, or Continuing Education settings, with demonstrated success in strategic planning, program development, and implementation within a polytechnic or similar context; plus

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated tolerance for ambiguity and reasonable risk taking, with proven ability to lead teams through change, build collaborative cultures, and support innovation in both credit and non-credit programming.

Salary or Hourly?
Salary

Salary
A competitive compensation package, including an attractive base salary and excellent benefits, will be provided. Further details will be discussed in a personal interview.

Benefits and Compensation Information

Red Deer College offers a comprehensive benefits package including extended health and dental care through Blue Cross, access to a health spending account, pension plan, generous vacation allotments, credit tuition waivers and opportunities for professional development funding.
Additional time off due to College closures between Christmas and New Year general holidays.

Eligibility to access the above mentioned benefits dependent upon the EXEMPT Terms and conditions of Employment and related RDC policies.

Posting Detail Information

Competition Number
2026-E-010

Employment Type
Permanent Full-Time

Number of Vacancies
1

Desired Start Date
07/02/2026

Position End Date (if term-certain)

FTE
1.0

Hours of Work

Open Date
05/26/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled
Yes

Note to Applicant

Red Deer Polytechnic fosters an inclusive learning and working environment where everyone can bring their full selves and share their unique talents. We are committed to being responsive to the evolving needs and expectations of our diverse community.

At RDP, we are committed to a merit-based hiring process, and we believe in an inclusive workplace that is fair, equitable, supportive, welcoming and respectful. We recognize, value, and leverage differences in identities, abilities, background, cultures, skills, experiences, and perspectives. Our practices are guided by the principles of the Alberta Human Rights Act and support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action. If you believe you have the skills and equivalent experience and potential to contribute to this role, we encourage you to apply

Red Deer Polytechnic will provide job applicants with accommodations in accordance with the Alberta Human Rights Code. To request an accommodation, please contact [email protected].

Special Instructions to Applicants

To submit your application, please apply directly through Leaders International using the following link: Dean, Donald School of Business