Dean of Online Learning

Class: Management | Exempt status: Exempt | Grade: O

grad with arms raised in celebrationThe Dean of Online Learning provides oversight and strategic leadership for the growth and expansion of the College’s online and hybrid learning programs. The position directs the division collaboratively across academic programs to provide holistic learning opportunities and equitable educational and career outcomes for students. The incumbent oversees and leads a College-wide operational infrastructure that aligns excellence in teaching and learning, culturally responsive course and program development, faculty training and development, and support for faculty and instructional staff for equitable opportunity and academic goal attainment for students. The Dean of Online Learning provides leadership and guidance across Student Affairs to develop a comprehensive service delivery philosophy and operating model through multiple accessible modalities and ensures the delivery of Student Services for fully online students. The incumbent serves as a primary College contact for internal College partners and external community and industry partners.

Leadership competencies

  • Advances Racial and Social Justice
    Actively works toward the elimination of racism and social oppression; utilizes culturally responsive practices and processes to achieve equitable student and employee outcomes
  • Drives Vision and Purpose
    Participates in the creation of and executes a vision for the College’s mission balancing compliance with flexible, multimodal, inclusive delivery of financial services.
  • Drives Engagement
    Initiates and drives authentic exploration and engagement cross-departmentally to arrive at collaborative solutions that lead to employee and student success.
  • Accelerates Agility and Innovation
    Analyzes systems, policies and practices and commits to continuous program improvement through the strategic use of culturally responsive data.
  • Builds Partnerships
    Partners to solve problems, adapts communication and approaches, supports healthy conflict, and develops strong relationships with associated areas to advance institutional goals.

Our mission

To support student success by delivering access to quality education while advancing economic development and promoting sustainability in a collaborative culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our vision for equitable student success

Recognizing the unique value, perspectives, strengths, and challenges of every person who comes to PCC for education, all students will achieve their academic goals through equitable support, quality instruction, clear guidance to persist, and an unwavering commitment to completion shared by the entire College community.

YESS logo

Yes to Equitable Student Success (YESS)

Our roadmap to dismantling barriers and building inclusive systems of education and support.

Strat plan

Strategic planning

The College’s overall map for ongoing planning and strategic actions.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Provides strategic leadership for the growth and data driven expansion of a portfolio of high quality online and hybrid learning pathway programs. Develops program, service and support plans including assessment of need, labor market demand, and transferability aligned with institutional vision/priorities.
  2.  Leads, designs and develops a comprehensive service delivery philosophy and operating model through multiple accessible modalities. Collaborates across Student Affairs to ensure delivery of Student Services for fully online students.
  3. Develops and implements culturally responsive and inclusive online and hybrid learning program operations that center on historically underserved and marginalized communities; accountable for flexible service delivery modalities that support access and equitable student outcomes. Promotes accessible design and use of technology in all learning modalities.
  4. Creates and directs program innovation and growth. In collaboration with pathways leadership, implements strategic priorities and programs through completion of ongoing needs assessment/gap analysis on teaching excellence and program effectiveness. Facilities marketing of the online and hybrid learning program. Provides support for pathways leaders accountable for the quality of instruction for full and part-time faculty.
  5. Oversees operational procedures, division policies, instructional design, course development, faculty training and development, quality assurance, course planning, media and delivery of student success services for online students. Measures and analyzes the impact of operations for continuous improvement.
  6. Builds and maintains collaborative and productive partnerships with internal and external partners (e.g., business, industry, higher education institutions, K12), across Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, administrative/systems services, and shared governance bodies in order to integrate institutional effectiveness, planning efforts, and holistic student support. Provides leadership for College-wide strategic initiative execution (e.g., Strategic Plan, Guided Pathways, Equity & Inclusion Plan, Advising Redesign, Pathways to Opportunity, YESS).
  7. Exercises leadership in achieving optimal organizational efficiency and effectiveness, including initiatives to improve work processes, enhance system, staff performance, and revenues. Partners with pathways leadership regarding strategic enrollment management.
  8. Supervises management, faculty, academic professionals, classified staff, technical/support, and/or student staff. Reinforces staff’s development of PCC’s leadership competencies. Evaluates, supports, and provides guidance on professional development plans and goals for staff in assigned areas of responsibility in accordance with practices, policies, and collective bargaining agreements. Hires, evaluates, trains, disciplines and recommends dismissal of staff as necessary.
  9. Develops, oversees, analyzes, and makes budget decisions in alignment with College strategy, values and priorities. Forecasts funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies. Assumes institutional authority for applicable grants, contracts, and technology.
  10. Ensures institutional compliance with federal/state/College regulations, policies, and guidance related to academic, career and/or workforce programs in portfolio, and all related accreditation standards; evaluates and communicates the impact of potential legal or regulatory changes on the College.
  11. Drives, implements and promotes advancement of the district’s equity goals and assists in the hiring of a staff that reflects the diversity of the district. Participates in and supports activities that enhance equity-minded recruiting, hiring, and employee retention practices.
  12. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work environment includes frequent disruptions and changes in priorities. Work is generally performed in an office or remote environment with frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. Working hours may vary and occasional evening or weekend work is required. Frequent travel to other locations is required. No special coordination beyond that used for normal mobility and handling of everyday objects and materials is needed to perform the job satisfactorily.

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s Degree and eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience related to the area of assignment, providing program/project management or program/project coordination. Four (4) years of higher education management/supervisory experience.

OR Bachelor’s Degree and ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience related to the area of assignment, providing program/project management or program/project coordination. Four (4) years of higher education management/supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:
  • Various modalities, methods and best practices in teaching and learning including, culturally responsive and inclusive pedagogy and practices;
  • Web accessibility;
  • Learning technologies and support strategies;
  • Program development, budgeting, and management;
  • Policy and procedure development and administration;
  • Public administration and higher education principles and practices;
  • Applicable local, state and federal laws, codes, rules, and regulations;
  • Health, safety and emergency preparation, business and operational continuity, and response.
Skills in:
  • Strategic leadership and management;
  • Communicating information, plans, and goals effectively to a variety of audiences;
  • Coaching faculty/staff in instructional best practices and effective use of technology;
  • Project management and oversight;
  • Planning, implementing, improving, and evaluating operations, programs, policies, procedures, financials;
  • Evaluating research to identify potential solutions, resolve problems, and provide information;
  • Utilizing data and assessment outcomes for communication and making continuous improvements for programs and services.
Ability to:
  • Critically interpret data and apply it to responsible decision making in alignment with academic priorities;
  • Apply social justice theories into leadership and actions to support equitable student, faculty, and staff outcomes;
  • Communicate and execute a vision for student-centered (flexible, multimodal) delivery of instruction and services through oral and written mediums;
  • Drive systemic change for racial and social equity and justice;
  • Manage and mediate conflict and sensitive topics;
  • Counsel, direct, and facilitate professional development of employees while motivating them toward goal achievement.

New: 7/2021

Portland Community College is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other protected class.