Position: Dean of Work
Status: Regular, Full-time, Exempt
Department: Office of the President
Reports to: President
Salary: $90,000.00 - $110,000 annually
Position OverviewThe Dean of Work at Paul Smith's College directs a comprehensive Work Experience Program, aligning campus employment with hands-on academic curricula. This is a newly created position in response to the recently expanded Work Experience Program at Paul Smith's College. This 12-month administrator will manage campus-wide work placements, evaluate student and work crew performance, and partner with a variety of campus operations and institutes.
The Dean of Work provides strategic and operational leadership for all student labor and experiential work programs across the college's 13,000-acre Adirondack campus. This role ensures that student employment serves as a vital co-curricular touchstone, fostering work ethic, professional competency, and financial self-reliance. This cabinet-level position reports directly to the Office of the President.
Key Responsibilities:- Program Strategy & Development: Design and scale a unified student work program blending operational campus needs (e.g., forestry, culinary, hospitality, and research) with intentional learning outcomes. The program design will follow Federal Work College regulations.
- Operations & Placement: Oversee placement, tracking, and evaluation of student workers in partnership with campus work crew supervisors.
- Assessment: Monitor student labor performance and retention impact. Oversee the development and implementation of a student Work Transcript.
- Budget & Compliance: Manage student employment budgets, and adherence to federal/state labor standards.
- Community Partnerships: Cultivate internal and external partnerships to expand meaningful micro-credentialing and hands-on skill acquisition.
- Enterprise Development: Develop external-facing student enterprises in collaboration with the Office of Strategic Initiatives.
Qualifications:- Education: Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Business Management, Student Affairs, or related field (Doctorate preferred).
- Experience: Minimum 7-10 years of progressive leadership in higher education, experiential education, or operational management. The ideal candidate would have prior experience at a federally recognized Work College.
- Skills: Strong understanding of student development theory, labor management, budget oversight, and small-campus operations.
- Attributes: Deep appreciation for hands-on, place-based education within a rural, residential forest setting.
Review of applicants starts immediately! 
