Associate Dean (Strategic Partnerships) – ADSP

Job Profile

The Associate Dean (Strategic Partnerships) (ADSP) is a key member of the LANG senior leadership team and in this role is expected to expand and elevate LANG's capacity for stewarding existing and building new external relationships, LANG's brand-profile and recognition within and beyond the University of Guelph, and oversee and contribute to LANG’s accreditation efforts (including AACSB) and strategic planning. Indeed, we have every expectation that LANG will increasingly become recognized as a globally leading business school, renowned for its commitment to “developing leaders for a sustainable world” and its pillars of “active learning”, “research with impact” and “community engagement”. In this respect, the ADSP will actively and creatively support key strategic initiatives across LANG including (but not limited to); strategic planning, accreditation, marketing and communications, development, alumni affairs, awards, internationalism and government relations.

Responsibilities include:

Accreditation

• Oversee AACSB accreditation efforts, including supporting strategic planning.
  • Chair relevant Accreditation Committees and handle a diverse group of issues including, for example:
    • Direct the assurance of learning, assessment activities and initiatives for all programs within scope of the Land School of Business and Economics Accreditation. This will include member involvement in updating of Learning Goals for programs, and in assessment of individual goals within identified courses.
    • Recommend general and specific educational, professional and service improvements needed for the Continuous Improvement Review.
    • Guide the implementation of programmatic changes arising from the initiatives.
    • Liaise with appropriate committees to ensure appropriate evaluation material is collected for assessment to support assurance of learning timelines.
    • Stay at the forefront of AACSB requirements and inform and guide the Accreditation Committee, and communicate requirements to the Dean.
  • Write, with support from the Accreditation & Data Specialist, the AACSB Continuous Improvement Review report and solicit appropriate feedback through review.
    • Prepare the report on a cumulative basis with an annual report and present an overview at the first Dean’s Council meeting each year.
    • Oversee/supervise collection of material for the Continuous Improvement Review, including leading the data collection and analysis to produce the AACSB annual statistical reports.
    • Investigate and recommend other accrediting organizations that may also be beneficial.
    • Regularly meet and work with appropriate staff.
  • In collaboration with the Dean, develop the Annual Strategic Plan
    • Direct and manage activities of Lang’s Strategic Planning function.
    • Develop and manage the process for providing data support for policy formulation and planning decisions. Oversee the design and management of special research projects in support of strategic planning initiatives.
    • Collaborate to develop and implement planning measurement standards, and operational indicators and provide regular reports and presentations to senior leadership on the status of strategic planning progress and strategic initiatives.
    • Conduct ongoing environmental scan updates as needed. Analyze and interpret a variety of information, identify trends, and make recommendations as required.
       

Building Relationships with External Stakeholders

• Build a team of committed and engaged alumni, advocates and donors
  • Working with LANG Research Chairs and Directors and Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D) staff and leadership, ensure coordination of partnership efforts to meet the development goals of the School and the University of Guelph, through:
    • Developing and executing clear priorities for fundraising
    • Strengthening and building relationships with students, alumni, friends and partners of LANG (including government and government agencies)
    • Acting as a key point of contact for key donors and their respective gift agreements (ensuring timely invitation to key events, progress on commitments, etc.).
    • Engaging with named LANG Research Chairs and WOOD Chairs to ensure their ongoing engagement and effectiveness (profile in LANG communications)
    • Working with AA&D in ensuring effective annual reports to all major donors and authentic thank you letters, prior to the dean’s signature.
  • Advance interdisciplinary collaborations as well as partnerships with other academic institutions, governments and industry to align with strategic priorities.
    • Pro-actively look for new challenges and funding sources to foster and facilitate excellence.
  • Oversight of the Business Career Development Centre (BCDC)
    • Work with the Manager of BCDC to build relationships with Employers
    • Work with the Manager of BCDC to liaise with the Lang Student Association and represent Lang at case competitions and other external events
  • Oversight of the John F. Wood Centre for Business and Student Enterprise (Wood Centre)
  • Build relationships across Colleges and explore opportunities for collaboration (e.g. Arrell Food Institute)
  • Maintain a close connection with the Lang Students’ Association and other Lang ASOs

Strategic Initiatives

• Support the outward-facing aspects of Lang's strategic initiatives (including, but not limited to):
  • Sustainability
    • Provide oversight and support to the Sustainability Coordinator (including management of the Lang Sustainability Fund)
  • Internationalism
    • Provide oversight and support to a new LANG International Coordinator, including strategically assessing and tracking MOUs and coordinating learning journeys for change

Communication and Events

• Build an international profile for the LANG name
  • Oversight of the Manager, Marketing and Communications and the Communication & Event Planning Team, to provide leadership for building the LANG brand in keeping with our 5-year strategic plan, through:
    • Continuing to enhance our external and internal communications (website, e-newsletter, social media, print publications, building signage and displays), building the brand and fostering awareness within the University and beyond.
    • Ensuring that we offer high quality, impactful events, building brand and relationships (exec programs events, guest speakers, corporate partner days, awards events, convocation, alumni events).

Other

• Identify and promote LANG faculty and staff for internal and external awards (Women of Distinction, Top 40 under 40, Chamber of Commerce, Top 100 Women, UN PRME awards etc.).
• Coordinate LANG HD nominations.
• Attend LANG Dean's Council and other relevant committees, and interact directly with other LANG and University units.
• Other activities include representing Lang internally and externally, acting on behalf of other Associate Deans and acting as Dean, as necessary.