Program Chair

Bow Valley College

$80K — $100K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Registered Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist in Alberta
  • 5+ years in post-secondary education with teaching experience
  • Academic program leadership experience preferred
  • Master's Degree is a plus

Responsibilities

  • Provide academic and operational leadership for the Interdisciplinary Therapy Assistant program
  • Contribute to curriculum development and quality assurance activities
  • Support learner engagement and academic success
  • Foster positive relationships with faculty and internal departments
  • Promote innovative teaching practices and curriculum enhancement initiatives
  • Engage with external stakeholders and represent the program
  • Support applied research initiatives and professional growth

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional development
  • Supportive and collaborative work environment
  • Focus on learner-centered education and academic excellence
  • Involvement in community engagement activities
  • Access to resources and networks within the college
Full Job Description
Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean, the Program Chair, Interdisciplinary Therapy Assistant Program provides academic and operational leadership to support program excellence, learner success, and faculty engagement within the school. This role is responsible for developing, planning, implementing, and administering goals and objectives related to the assigned program(s), while ensuring alignment with the Bow Valley College strategic plan and commitment to learner-centered education.

The Program Chair works collaboratively with the Associate Dean, faculty, internal departments, and external stakeholders to support high-quality curriculum delivery, effective program operations, accreditation and quality assurance activities, and positive learner experiences.

The role also provides leadership in curriculum development, faculty mentorship, student support, applied research initiatives, and stakeholder engagement while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative learning environment.

This position is ideal for a collaborative and learner-focused leader who is passionate about academic excellence, curriculum innovation, faculty support, and advancing health education programming.

What You'll Be Doing:

Academic and Program Leadership: Provide operational and academic leadership to faculty, staff, and learners within the Interdisciplinary Therapy Assistant program. The Program Chair fosters a collaborative and positive team environment by building strong relationships, supporting communication and coordination across the program and College, and mentoring faculty and staff to support teaching excellence and learner success.

The role chairs program and team meetings, supports faculty orientation and onboarding, contributes to recruitment and selection activities, and works closely with the Associate Dean to address operational priorities and support program goals. The Program Chair also promotes effective collaboration among faculty, Program Chairs, Associate Deans, and internal departments to ensure alignment, consistency, and strong program delivery.

Program Maintenance, Development, and Quality Assurance: Contribute to the ongoing maintenance, development, evaluation, and continuous improvement of the program in collaboration with the Associate Dean and faculty. This includes supporting curriculum reviews, accreditation processes, program evaluations, certification and licensure requirements, and ensuring accurate record keeping and program documentation.

The Program Chair develops timetables and teaching assignments, supports course coverage planning, monitors program quality and retention factors, and promotes instructional best practices and innovation in teaching and learning. The role also contributes to academic planning initiatives, curriculum approvals, pathway development, and inter-professional education opportunities to ensure programs remain current, responsive, and aligned with industry and educational standards.

Learner Success and Positive Educational Experiences: Support learner engagement, achievement, and success by maintaining a strong presence within the program and fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment. The Program Chair provides guidance and support to learners, collaborates with faculty and the Associate Dean to address learner concerns and appeals, and promotes awareness of available support and services.

The role also supports learner onboarding, transfer credit and PLAR processes, academic integrity initiatives, learner recognition activities, and professional development opportunities that enhance the student experience and contribute to learner retention and success.

Curriculum Excellence and Innovation: Promote excellence in curriculum design, delivery, and assessment by ensuring courses and program learning outcomes align with best practices in adult education and program accreditation requirements. The Program Chair collaborates with faculty, curriculum committees, subject matter experts, and instructional design partners to support curriculum development, review course offerings, and ensure consistency and quality across the program.

This role also monitors industry and sector trends to identify opportunities for curriculum enhancement, supports the development of transfer pathways with other institutions, and contributes to initiatives that advance innovative and learner-centered programming.

Build Relationships and Represent the Program: Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including industry partners, professional associations, community organizations, government agencies, and regulatory bodies. The Program Chair represents the School and College at meetings, events, committees, and advisory groups while promoting the reputation, quality, and impact of the program and Bow Valley College.

The role also contributes to marketing, recruitment, and community engagement activities and participates in college-wide initiatives and committees as required.

Promote Applied Research and Professional Growth: Support applied research initiatives and contribute to building research capacity within the school in collaboration with the Associate Dean. The Program Chair demonstrates professionalism, models lifelong learning, and actively participates in professional development activities that support leadership effectiveness, teaching excellence, and continuous improvement.

The role may also include teaching assigned courses, developing instructional materials, evaluating learner performance, and maintaining official academic records as required.

What Sets You Apart

You are a collaborative and learner-focused academic leader who is passionate about advancing program excellence, supporting faculty success, and creating positive learner experiences. You bring strong leadership, mentorship, and relationship-building skills, along with the ability to foster a respectful, innovative, and team-oriented environment.

You have a strong understanding of curriculum development, outcomes-based education, learner retention and success strategies, and post-secondary teaching and learning practices. Your ability to balance operational leadership with academic excellence allows you to effectively support program quality, accreditation requirements, and continuous improvement initiatives.

You are an effective communicator with strong organizational, conflict resolution, and time management skills, and you are comfortable working collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, internal departments, industry partners, and external stakeholders. Your professionalism, adaptability, and commitment to innovation and learner-centered education contribute to a strong and supportive academic culture.

Qualifications:

Minimum
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Registered Physiotherapist with the Alberta College of Physiotherapy or Registered Occupational Therapist with the Alberta College of Occupational Therapists
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in a post-secondary environment, including teaching experience and preferably academic program leadership experience
  • Equivalent combinations of directly related education and experience may be considered


Preferred
  • Master's Degree
  • Commitment to learner-centered learning and outcomes-based education
  • Knowledge and experience in curriculum development, learner recruitment, learner retention, and conflict resolution
  • Experience supporting accreditation, program reviews, and quality assurance initiatives
  • Collaborative, innovative, and transparent leadership style
  • Passion for advancing programming and excellence in teaching and learning
  • Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively with interdisciplinary groups
  • Proficiency with computer applications and educational technologies
  • Ability to represent the College professionally with internal and external stakeholders


Closing Date: June 5, 2026

This opening is a 3-year (Faculty) position. Please note all successful candidates will be required to provide copies of government issued identification and proof of educational qualifications upon hire and may be required to provide an enhanced police information check. If your education was received internationally, we will require you to provide an international education assessment through IQAS, WES, or one of the other nationally designated organizations upon hire.

NOTE: This position is open to only current full-time faculty.

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