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Dean, Extended Education

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

The start date is negotiable and will depend on the successful candidate's availability.

Posting Details

Position Information

Position Title Dean, Extended Education
Position Summary
Red Deer Polytechnic has an opportunity for a leader who is focused on lifelong learning, agile, and able to connect diverse stakeholders to create enhanced learning programs and an environment where students, staff, instructors, partners, and community find success.

We are recruiting a Dean who will contribute to the strategic leadership of Red Deer Polytechnic as a Polytechnic Leadership Team and to provide operational leadership to the Division of Extended Education.

The Division of Extended Education at Red Deer Polytechnic is a hub for lifelong learning with responsibility for responding to labour market needs with unique programs and flexible offerings as well as through expanding opportunities for learning and educational innovation. The Division of Extended Education (DEE) has a mandate for both building and managing continuing education, contract training, as well as strategically selected regional and distance programming. The DEE, in addition to programming, is expected to contribute to net revenue generation and overall sustainability at RDP and is also focused on expanding the educational and service impact of the Polytechnic. This is an entrepreneurial Division that works actively and collaboratively with both internal resources and external stakeholders (customers) and partners.

The successful candidate has a track record of demonstrating a deep commitment to expanding educational opportunities, community engagement, and leadership in higher education, and possesses the ability to manage a Profit and Loss (P&L) oriented function successfully.
Position Responsibilities
This position is one of the institutions senior leaders; a member of the Polytechnic Leadership Team and will be accountable for, but not limited to the following responsibilities:
Academic Leadership
  • Is seen as an effective collaborator with other senior leaders; open to feedback on academic and programming; seeks to continue to create the interoperability between credit and non-credit programming; pushes the envelope toward innovation of new programs and service delivery.
  • Promotes academic excellence in the development, delivery, assessment, and review of programs within an environment that is focused on learner choice and market demand.
  • Leads in the contribution to a full mix of credentials including non-credit, micro-credentials, certificates, diplomas, degrees, and post-graduate certificates and diplomas.

Strategic Leadership
  • Creates an integrated vision, strategy, and business plan to realize the full potential of the DEE for the future and in context of the Polytechnic overall.
  • Leverages an innovative mindset and an entrepreneurial outlook with the ability to both conceive, implement, and expand customer base and market share through the development and delivery of responsive and in-demand programs and services.
Operations and Management 
  • Collaborative, accountable and advocates the needs of the Division with stakeholders across campus. 
  • Employs strong management principles and mentorship in leading, managing and supporting the work of the Division.
  • Ensures operational planning supports the Polytechnic’s strategic plan.
  • Incorporates risk management and objective, timely decision making to move processes forward.
  • Creates an environment open to change and innovation while balancing sensitivity and ability to productively engage with traditional academic governance.
People Leadership
  • Models dynamic leadership in a complex environment combined with the ability to coordinate, manage, leverage, and integrate the efforts of faculty, staff, contractors and partners.
  • Leads with a collaborative approach that drives engagement, removes silos, and focuses energy on collective vision and targets.
Business and Partnership Development
  • Identifies and responds to government, business, industry, and public education needs with high quality programs, courses, training materials and services.
  • Identifies and proactively engages stakeholders to leverage grants and government funding opportunities as well as general business development initiatives for training and professional development.
  • Builds new relationships and expands existing partnerships to grow, fund and develop new programs and services.
  • Develops growth and expansion activities by seeking out and securing additional net revenue generating activity with full accountability for financial results.
Required Qualifications
  • Minimum of an earned Master’s Degree achieved from a recognized institution.
  • 10 years’ experience in a strategic leadership role with demonstrated success in development, delivery, management and administration of net revenue training and consulting products and services in either private or post-secondary environments.
  • 5-10 years’ experience in a private or public sector environment where there is demonstrated success with public and private partnerships and a strong commitment to collaborative ventures that benefit student learning.
  • Demonstrated tolerance for ambiguity and reasonable risk taking, and 5-10 years’ progressively responsible leadership experience using a team-based approach.
  • Demonstrated skills in negotiating complex education, training, and service contracts with public, private and community organizations.
  • Experience in a post-secondary environment is required.
Preferred Qualifications
Salary or Hourly? Salary
Salary Commensurate with education and experience
Benefits and Compensation Information
Red Deer Polytechnic offers a comprehensive benefits package including extended health and dental care through Blue Cross, access to a health spending account, pension plan, Employee & Family Assistance Program, generous vacation allotments, credit tuition waivers and opportunities for professional development funding. Additional time off due to Institution closures between Christmas and New Year general holidays. *Eligibility to access the above mentioned benefits is dependent upon the EXEMPT Terms and Conditions of Employment and related RDP policies.
About Red Deer Polytechnic
Focused on advancing the economic and social priorities of Alberta, Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) provides more than 80 industry-relevant programs within a breadth of credentials to approximately 6,300 credit and apprenticeship students and 3,400+ learners with Extended Education programming. With modern teaching and learning spaces, and state-of-the-art research and innovation centres in advanced manufacturing and energy innovation, the Polytechnic provides applied research opportunities, leadership in the social, economic, and cultural development of Alberta, and myriad lifelong learning opportunities.

Red Deer Polytechnic’s main campus is located on Treaty 7, Treaty 6 and Métis ancestral lands. This is where we will strive to honour and transform our relationships with one another.

Whatever brings you to Red Deer Polytechnic, we are glad you are here. And we look forward to having you as a valued member of our polytechnic community.
Posting Detail Information

Competition Number 2023-E-016
Employment Type Permanent Full-Time
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date 06/01/2023
Position End Date (if term-certain)
FTE 1.0
Hours of Work You will be employed on a full-time basis. It is understood that the hours of work involved will vary and be irregular and are those hours of work required to meet the objectives of your employment. Normal hours of operation are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, M - F
Open Date 04/17/2023
Close Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Note to Applicant
To fulfill Red Deer Polytechnic’s mission to enrich the intellectual, economic, cultural, and social development of Central Alberta, people representing diverse perspectives and experiences are required. We welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous persons, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, persons with any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.
Red Deer Polytechnic will provide job applicants with accommodations in accordance with the Alberta Human Rights Code. To request an accommodation, please contact Peopleandculture@rdpolytech.ca. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Special Instructions to Applicants
The start date is negotiable and will depend on the successful candidate’s availability.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Documents Needed To Apply

Required Documents
  1. Cover Letter
  2. Resume
Optional Documents