Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Dean of Teaching, Learning, & Curricular Innovation

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

grad with arms raised in celebration

Under the direction of management, the Dean of Teaching, Learning, & Curriculum provides direction, oversight, and strategic leadership for the areas of Teaching and Learning Excellence, Student Learning Assessment, and Curriculum Development & Innovation. Develops related strategies, methods, and tools for assessment of teaching and learning pedagogical excellence. Serves as the lead curricular liaison for the College with the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities and supports resolution of academic/instructional issues related to accreditation. Responds to inquiries from College departments, educational institutions, the community, students, and/or external agencies and supervises managers, faculty, academic professionals, classified, technical/support, and student staff.

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.

Learn more

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 leadership in the development of the College’s strategies, methods and tools for assessment of student learning, instructor qualifications, credit for prior learning, teaching and learning pedagogical excellence, and other systems as needed. Provides direction to the College’s curriculum development process, transfer and articulation, and curricular innovation initiatives.
  2. Serves as the lead curricular liaison for the College with the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and the Higher Education Coordinating Committee (HECC); serves as the lead curricular liaison to PCC’s curriculum committee and degrees and certificates committee; supports management with academic/instructional issues related to accreditation.
  3. Leads oversight, development, and execution of policies, administrative procedures and practices related to assigned areas. Ensures institutional compliance with federal/state/College regulations, policies, and related guidance. Evaluates and communicates the impact of potential legal or regulatory changes on the College related to assigned areas.
  4. Ensures culturally responsive and inclusive operations that center on historically underserved and marginalized communities; accountable for flexible service delivery modalities that support access and equitable student outcomes.
  5. Builds and maintains collaborative and productive partnerships internally, across administrative/systems services and shared governance bodies in order to integrate institutional effectiveness, planning efforts, and holistic student support. Serves as liaison between College and applicable external agencies and industries, community partners, the general public, internal departments, and other educational institutions.
  6. Provides leadership for College-wide strategic initiative execution (e.g., Strategic Plan, Guided Pathways, Equity and Inclusion Plan, Advising Redesign, Pathways to Opportunity, YESS).
  7. Conducts ongoing needs assessment and gap analysis to identify and forecast technology and programming needs; directs modification of programming for continuous process and outcome improvement.
  8. Develops, oversees, analyzes, and makes budget decisions in alignment with College strategic plan, values and priorities. Forecasts funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies. Approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate. Assumes institutional authority for applicable grants and contracts. Strategizes, anticipates, and secures resources for programs and operational improvements.
  9. Supervises management, academic professionals, classified staff, technical/support, and/or student staff. Reinforces staff’s development of PCC’s leadership competencies. Evaluates and provides guidance and support regarding professional development plans and goals for assigned areas of responsibility in accordance with practices, district policies, and collective bargaining agreements. Hires, evaluates, trains, disciplines and recommends dismissal of staff as necessary.
  10. Implements and promotes advancement of the district’s equity goals and assists in the hiring of staff that reflects the diversity of the district. Enhances equity-minded talent management, including recruiting, hiring, and employee retention practices.
  11. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work is generally performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. Working hours may vary and occasional evening or weekend work 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 progressively responsible college administration experience in student services, enrollment, or instruction. Four (4) years of higher education management/supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:
  • Strategic leadership and management;
  • Curriculum development, assessment, and pedagogical best practices;
  • Program development, budgeting, and management;
  • Policy and procedure development and administration;
  • Applicable local, state and federal laws, codes, rules, and regulations;
  • Public administration and higher education principles and practices;
  • Health, safety and emergency preparation, business and operational continuity, and response.
Skills in:
  • Directing and providing strategic leadership to staff;
  • Planning, implementing, improving, and evaluating programs, policies, procedures, operational needs, and fiscal constraints;
  • Evaluating research to identify potential solutions, resolve problems, and provide information;
  • Utilizing data and assessment outcomes for communication and to make continuous improvements for programs and services;
  • Managing change and sensitive topics;
  • Speaking in public;
  • Managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
Ability to:
  • Drive systemic change for racial and social equity and justice;
  • Communicate and execute a vision for student-centered (flexible, multimodal) delivery of instruction and services through oral and written mediums;
  • Manage healthy conflict to resolve issues in alignment with College mission and goals;
  • Counsel, direct, and facilitate professional development of employees while motivating them toward goal achievement;
  • Apply independent judgment to interpretation and application of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

New: 2/2022

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.