Chair, Academic Upgrading

Additional Information:

For over 50 years, the Northern Lakes College vision has been to increase accessibility to educational opportunities. With 25 locations across northern Alberta, program sites throughout Alberta, and a unique Supported Distance Learning model, students can access quality educational opportunities without leaving their community. Students can study from the comforts of home, work, on the road, or from one of the many College locations. Northern Lakes College offers a variety of university transfer, diploma, and certificate programs, including Academic Upgrading, Business & Administrative Studies, Health & Human Service Careers, Pre-Employment & Apprenticeship Trades, Resource Technology, University Studies, and Continuing Education & Corporate Training certificates and courses. We support and promote professional development and wellness opportunities, and provide our employees with an attractive benefits plan and competitive salaries. The College service region offers numerous recreational activities for the entire family to enjoy!

Northern Lakes College has the following temporary position available:

Chair, Academic Upgrading

Salary: $100,024 to $129,026 per year
Location: Slave Lake, Peace River, High Prairie
August 18, 2025 to July 17, 2026

Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree (Business, Education, Adult Education, Educational Leadership, etc.);
• A minimum of three years working in a directly related position;
• A valid driver’s license;
• Must have a clean criminal record check prior to commencement;
• A combination of education, training and experience may be considered.

Nature and Scope of Work

The incumbent will work to oversee the supervision, administration and operation of the department. This involves supporting, monitoring and evaluating faculty and staff performance including those in outlying campuses, and other duties as assigned. The incumbent will facilitate and advise campus Community Education Committees as assigned. Subsequently, frequent travel is required.

Duties and Responsibilities

The chair is the academic and administrative leader of the department and serves as a representative of the Dean. The chair guides and supports faculty and staff in carrying out the mission of teaching and other professional activities. The responsibilities of a chair include the following:

Leadership:

• Act as a role model for collegiality, collaboration, integrity, and professionalism across the organization;
• Quality Assurance;
• Technology Integration;
• Provide strategic vision;
• Support College strategic goals in department programming decisions;
• Maintain a hospitable climate;
• Encourage faculty engagement, participation, and collegiality;
• Celebrate success.

Management:

• Overall operations and performance of the department;
• Personnel management;
• Financial planning, management and reporting;
• Liaison with potential and existing partners external to the College and other departments within the college;
• Manage resources including development, redevelopment, evaluation and maintenance;
• Articulate the goals of the department and the unit, both within and external to the department;
• Inform the department of the perspectives and actions of the Dean and other administrators that have implications for the department;
• Create and maintain productive partnership with admissions offices;
• Work with the Dean and other colleagues to ensure the department’s goals are consistent with the College plan;
• Be receptive to questions, complaints and suggestions from the members of the department, staff and faculty from other areas, and students;
• Work with faculty to develop and implement plans for instruction;
• Develop, monitor and report on budgets;
• Conduct regular department meetings; establish department committees as needed; and represent department interests to the Dean;
• Organize and oversee the work of department and program committees as needed;
• Keep faculty members informed of department, program, college, division, and institutional plans and activities;
• Oversee and ensure timely completion of program annual evaluations;
• Provide periodic feedback and coaching to faculty and staff as needed;
• Periodically visit all program sites to provide ongoing support;
• Contract initiation and management.

Faculty / Staff Development:

• Plan, support and provide professional development opportunities;
• Manage the Performance Appraisal Cycle for employees within the unit;
• Listen and communicate effectively with faculty and staff;
• Select and retain outstanding faculty and staff;
• Provide overall leadership and direction to department /program faculty;
• Identify staff and faculty for awards.

Professional Responsibilities:

• Continuous learning and improvement in areas of program management, adult and distance education, learning technologies, e-learning and faculty development/supervision;
• Promote College programs and activities;
• Maintain personal professional development;
• Initiate and oversee research projects.

Student Responsibilities:

• Maintain open and responsive communication with students as needed;
• Assist with student recruitment, admissions, and retention policies and activities;
• Meet with students and student representatives as needed;
• Participate in the student appeals process;
• Encourage faculty and student interaction;
• Support scholarships and awards and identify students for selection.

Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Leadership Skills in

• Strategic and operational planning;
• Problem solving, including investigation and analysis.

Academic expertise and ability to apply

• Progressive, sound practices in teaching and learning;
• Online, distance, classroom and blended delivery models;
• Progressive, sound practices in academic leadership;
• Progressive, sound practices in developing engaging curriculum for multiple modes of delivery;
• The use of instructional technologies (synchronous and asynchronous).

Management abilities in:

• Results oriented project management;
• Responsible fiscal management that balances budget and growth;
• Productive performance management that builds team and capacity;
• Progressive human resource management that uses effective delegation, facilitates professional development and optimizes productivity to meet specific timelines;
• Adopting current processes and assisting with the development of new ones.

Communication skills including:

• Active listening and accurate interpretation of messages;
• Technical, curriculum, report and proposal writing;
• Oral written and visual communications and presentations;
• Ability to translate complex information into comprehensive and concise objectives.

Proven ability and skills in:

• Leading and facilitating teams;
• Leading and building consensus within diverse stakeholder groups;
• Resolving conflict through negotiation and conciliation;
• Strategic and critical thinking.

Staff and Professional development skills to:

• Encourage the development of staff and faculty talents and interests;
• Facilitate discussion on department priorities for professional development;
• Plan development activities as required.

Special knowledge and skills required:

• Knowledge of adult education principles;
• Knowledge of program planning and development;
• Knowledge of instructional methods used in traditional and distributed delivery;
• Ability to manage projects and direct project teams;
• Ability to solve problems collaboratively and independently;
• Interpersonal and teamwork skills;
• Supervision skills;
• Teaching skills;
• Knowledge of related disciplines.

Contacts (Internal and External):

• College faculty and staff;
• Students;
• Representatives from business, industry, and school jurisdictions;
• Representatives from bands, settlements and communities.

Suggested Additional Qualifications

• Five years of post-secondary work experience;
• Five years of supervisory experience;
• Three years working and living in a northern, rural community, or experience with diverse cultures and ethnic groups.

Successful candidate must provide College or University transcripts and a Criminal Record Check to Human Resources prior to commencement.

Please submit a resume quoting the reference number NLC-2223 to: Northern Lakes College, Human Resources, 1201 Main Street SE, Slave Lake, AB T0G 2A3 or alternatively Fax: 780-849-5881

Closing Date: Date August 4, 2025

Note: Northern Lakes College thanks all applicants for their interest in employment; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.