As a chair of themed entertainment design, you'll lead a team of faculty and staff in fulfilling the university's mission, vision, and values. In consultation with the dean, associate chair, and other department members, you will develop a strategic direction for the department that aligns with the university’s strategic plan. You will then implement strategies to strengthen the department's reputation for quality. Among other duties, you will foster a shared vision, commitment, and a positive, respectful environment through collegiality and collaboration. By communicating shared goals and responsibilities frequently and effectively, you will build a cohesive team. Additionally, you will support academic excellence, instructional quality, and instructional engagement by documenting student achievements and work outcomes.

In this role, you will lead faculty in the effective implementation of responsibilities and expectations outlined in the Faculty Handbook. You will ensure that they continually review the curriculum for quality and currency, adhere to educational outcomes statements, and participate in assessment and accreditation activities in coordination with institutional effectiveness staff. Responsibilities include curriculum development in collaboration with the dean, academic services, institutional effectiveness staff, and program leaders at other university locations, as well as the collection of student work for assessment and accreditation. The collected work will be used to showcase the program's outcomes. You will also guide faculty in following the university’s curriculum development policies and procedures. Among other duties, you will oversee the department’s academic scheduling in collaboration with academic services and assign an appropriate course schedule to faculty with the proper credentials and experience.

In this position, you will coordinate the department's use of teaching and learning resources to support the academic schedule. During the annual performance evaluations, which include classroom observations and a review of quarterly student evaluations, you will meet with each faculty member for a performance management session, followed by a written summary. You will include any pertinent recommendations for the school dean in the evaluations. Among other duties, you will participate in faculty recruitment trips, interviews, and candidate presentations to support academic hiring, submit anticipated headcount needs, and consult with academic leaders at other university locations on hiring needs and decisions. Similarly, you will review candidates and recommend hires for the department. Responsibilities include decision-making on student matters within defined academic support processes, such as course substitutions and exemptions, applications for independent study or internships, and waivers of prerequisites. Additionally, you will work with the admission department to recruit talented students.

As a chair, you will coordinate the faculty’s review of graduate student applications to ensure applicant quality and consistency in the review process. You will lead faculty and staff in showcasing outstanding student work throughout the year, especially during SCAD Days and other high-profile events. Responsibilities include collaborations with the office of career and alumni success to assist students with career and internship opportunities and the coordination of student work submissions to competitions and awards in concert with the institutional recognition office. You will also prepare quarterly and annual ad hoc reports for the department. Among other duties, you will monitor key departmental data to achieve excellence and maximum efficiency across all operations, and review, evaluate, and approve purchase and travel requests in accordance with university budget policies.

In this role, you will serve as a frontline ambassador for the department, promoting the university at every opportunity. You will maintain partnerships with professional and academic organizations and industries and anticipate trends to inform programs and services. When appropriate, you will resolve faculty and student issues with sound judgment, consulting the relevant parties. As assigned by academic services and human resources, you will teach classes in the fall, winter, and spring quarters. You may also teach during the summer if needed. It is essential that you provide unconditional support and assistance to achieve success in all accreditation matters.

A department chair models academic and professional leadership and ensures that all faculty and staff work toward the university’s mission, vision, and values. Through daily operational and long-term strategic actions, they ensure the department’s intentional and measurable contribution to the university’s strategic plan and the 8Rs (responsibility, resources, recruitment, retention, recognition, revenue, research, and results).

The ideal candidate has a successful career as a faculty member or discipline professional and a reputation for model leadership, excellence in the field, high standards, and innovation. They can translate strategic vision into action through measurable steps, conduct thorough, thoughtful performance evaluations, make fair decisions in the student’s best academic interests regarding waivers and expectations, and document those decisions in reports. The candidate is committed to academic excellence and demonstrates a thorough understanding of curriculum development and assessment tools to improve student learning and academic programs. They possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.

The candidate is detail-oriented and has an exceptional work ethic, consistently meeting expectations and deadlines in academic scheduling, budgetary management and oversight, and the preparation of required reports. They possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. The candidate is dedicated to personal and professional integrity.

Minimum qualifications:       

• Terminal degree in themed entertainment design or a relevant field
• Academic and professional credentials to teach in themed entertainment design

• Five or more years of related industry experience
• Understanding of curriculum development and higher education operations
• Higher education mentorship and teaching experience

Travel required:   

• Less than 10% 

Required application documents:  

• Current résumé and/or CV  
• Cover letter  
• Portfolio or its equivalent  
• Unofficial academic transcripts    

Work hours: As noted in the Employment Agreement. 

ADA tag: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements and minimum qualifications listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and/or meet the minimum qualifications.