Associate Dean - School of Health and Wellness at Red Deer Polytechnic

Position Information

Position Title

Associate Dean - School of Health and Wellness

Position Summary

Red Deer Polytechnic’s School of Health and Wellness offers exceptional academic programs at the certificate, diploma and degree levels. The school is currently seeking an Associate Dean who brings a passion and enthusiasm for student success, combined with a commitment to academic and administrative excellence.

Working alongside other Associate Deans, this position will collaborate with the Dean of the School of Health and Wellness to advance healthcare programming at RDP.

The Associate Dean serves an academic and operational leadership role, contributing to the future growth of the School and Red Deer Polytechnic. They are responsible for leading faculty and staff in the development, delivery, modification and advancement of curriculum. They provide support and mentorship as the direct supervisor to faculty members supporting them to achieve professional growth and pursue scholarly activity which results in high-quality learning experiences for students. They will also lead the development of new programming within their portfolio and support initiatives which contribute to the success of our learners.

Position Responsibilities Academic & Operational Leadership

• Contributes to the strategic and operational planning for the school based on an assessment of current capabilities.
• Allocates and manages resources within established budgets.
• Collaborates on strategic enrolment management initiatives and oversees School efforts aimed at enhancing the student experience.
• Ensures alignment of and compliance with policies and procedures and any regulatory body where applicable that contributes to and supports a strong culture of teaching excellence and academic integrity in the learning environment.
• Supports academic excellence in the development, delivery, assessment, and review of programs.
• Establishes appropriate academic standards and assessment of student learning against established standards.
• Manages projects related to new and renewed programming directions and opportunities.
• Facilitates the approval of curriculum through the internal Polytechnic Governance processes with the assistance of program chairs/coordinators.
• Promotes progressive, learner-centered delivery models in the development and revision of curriculum.
• Resolves issues related to learner success.
• Provides guidance and engagement to Facilities Management to investigate, implement and maintain appropriate facilities to enable a continuously improving learning environment.
• Ensures effective utilization of facility space.
• Fosters and maintains work and learning environments that are equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible for the full diversity of the community served.

Teaching, Research, and Scholarly Activity

• Identifies and initiates School based activities that enhances the student experience and learner success.
• Provides leadership and support to the faculty in the development of teaching excellence in each program.
• Encourages and supports faculty and staff in the integration of appropriate technology in the teaching and learning environment.
• Facilitates the growth and development of an applied research culture within their assigned school in support of continuous innovation for our region and the economic, social, and cultural growth of our communities.
• Engages with Applied Research and Work Integrated Learning to promote applied research and learning initiatives to internal and external audiences.
• Fosters the growth and development of a culture of scholarly activity in an environment of open inquiry, academic freedom, creativity, and innovation.
• Ensures compliance with research policies and standards as well as intellectual property policies, standards, and rights.
• Assists in the generation of resources (funds, facilities, equipment, partnerships, etc.) to support engagement of faculty and students in research and scholarly activities.
• Encourages and supports faculty members’ sharing of their scholarly activity both within their school and broadly to the Polytechnic community.

People Leadership

• Demonstrates leadership within the school for continuous improvement, innovation, and learner centered operations.
• Operationalizes and applies Collective Agreements and institutional policies as they apply to School/Division operations, in conjunction with the Dean of Students, the Associate Vice President Teaching, other Deans, Associate Deans and People and Culture.
• Recruits, selects, coaches, develops, and supervises staff and faculty in compliance with People & Culture policies and procedures, FOIPP, and collective agreements in support of a high performing team.
• Facilitates, where necessary, discipline and dismissal of reporting staff and faculty in consultation with the Dean and People and Culture.
• Executes the Occupational Health & Safety responsibilities required of supervisors.
• Develops successful structures and processes to ensure the effective distribution and delegation of work.
• Approves, monitors, and reports vacation and other absences for all staff and faculty under the direct supervision; arrange coverage for all vacation and long-term absences as required.
• Promotes and facilitates a culture of professional growth and development.

Communication & Relationship Management

• Ensures effective communication, collaboration, and liaison with internal and external parties:
• Provides consultation between School/Division and service areas and coordinate Sintra-departmental and inter-departmental communication.
• Coordinates departmental communication with polytechnic committees and facilitating participation on institutional committees.
• Acts as the contact person for consultation with relevant regulatory and professional associations, post-secondary institutions.
• Engages and works with Marketing & Communications to design, develop, and maintain appropriate marketing and branding initiatives that achieve the school’s recruitment and retention goals.
• Collaborates with relevant RDP departments to facilitate the generation of resources (funds, facilities, equipment, partnership, etc.) to engage donors and attract sponsorship opportunities in support of School initiatives.
• Develops internal and external partnerships in an effort to support work integrated learning opportunities for students.
• Collaborates on strategic enrolment management initiatives.

Required Qualifications Education

A minimum of a Masters’ degree in an area relevant to the programming in the School of Health and Wellness, or curriculum development or leadership.

Experience

• 5-7 years’ experience facilitating or instructing in an adult education environment as well as demonstrated experience in development and assessment of curriculum.
• 3-5 years progressively responsible academic leadership experience including direct supervision of faculty and staff (recruitment and selection, and performance coaching).
• Demonstrated achievement in scholarly activity.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering the principles of learner-centeredness.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• An inclusive leadership style. Demonstrated commitment to fostering the principles of learner-centeredness.
• Proven ability to navigate ambiguity with capacity to manage change and a demonstrated ability to drive innovation.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

An earned Doctorate from a recognized institution in a relevant area.

Salary or Hourly?

Salary

Salary

This role has a salary range of $119,285 - $144,991 and is an Exempt Management role.

Benefits and Compensation Information

The successful candidate will be eligible for Red Deer Polytechnic’s robust benefits package which enhances our employees’ wellbeing. It consists of:

• A cost-shared, competitive and comprehensive benefit plan through our provider Alberta Blue Cross.
• Extended Health and Dental Care with no waiting period including vision, prescription, paramedical coverage and Emergency Medical Travel Insurance.
• Health Spending Account.
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment.
• Our Employee & Family Assistance program through TELUS Health. This is a confidential service available to eligible employees and their dependents and offers a variety of services, including counselling, financial and legal consultation, childcare and elder care locator tools along with many additional resources both online and by telephone.

The successful candidate will also participate in RDP’s pension plan. The institution offers a defined benefit pension through LAPP and will match the employee’s contribution and contribute an additional 1%.

We promote a strong work-life balance at our Institution.

• RDP offers generous vacation entitlement of six weeks earned annually for this position.
• The Institution is also closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day providing time off for employees to enjoy time with family and friends.

About Red Deer Polytechnic

Focused on advancing the economic and social priorities of Alberta,

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) provides more than 100 industry-relevant credit and non-credit programs to approximately 11,000 credit, non-credit and apprenticeship students. With modern teaching and learning spaces, and state-of-the-art research and innovation centres, RDP provides education and applied research opportunities in partnership with industry and communities.

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

2026-E-013

Employment Type

Permanent Full-Time

Number of Vacancies

Desired Start Date

07/20/2026

Position End Date (if term-certain)

FTE

1.0

Hours of Work

You will be employed on a full-time basis. Normal hours of operation are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday; there may be times that the hours involved will vary. The successful candidate must be available to work regularly in Red Deer, Alberta

Open Date

06/10/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled

Yes

Note to Applicant

Red Deer Polytechnic fosters an inclusive learning and working environment where everyone can bring their full selves and share their unique talents. We are committed to being responsive to the evolving needs and expectations of our diverse community.

At RDP, we are committed to a merit-based hiring process, and we believe in an inclusive workplace that is fair, equitable, supportive, welcoming and respectful. We recognize, value, and leverage differences in identities, abilities, background, cultures, skills, experiences, and perspectives. Our practices are guided by the principles of the Alberta Human Rights Act and support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action. If you believe you have the skills and equivalent experience and potential to contribute to this role, we encourage you to apply

Red Deer Polytechnic will provide job applicants with accommodations in accordance with the Alberta Human Rights Code. To request an accommodation, please contact [email protected].

Special Instructions to Applicants

Required Documents

• Cover Letter

• Resume

Optional Documents