Assistant Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Reporting directly to the Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the Assistant Dean provides operational leadership and day‑to‑day oversight for a large and diverse academic division that includes: Anthropology, Communication Studies, Digital Filmmaking, Digital Media, Drama, English, Film Studies, Fine Arts, Geography, Graphic Design, History, Interior Design, Journalism, Modern Languages, Music & Recording Arts, Philosophy, Photography, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.

Working in close partnership with the Dean, this position supports instructional continuity, supports faculty and staff success, and helps remove barriers that impact student learning, enrollment, and completion through effective coordination and supervision in alignment with Spokane Falls Community College’s mission “to provide all students an excellent education that transforms their lives and expands their opportunities.”

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESOperational Leadership

• Serve as the primary liaison on daily operational matters for full‑time faculty, adjunct faculty, and staff to ensure smooth instructional and administrative processes.
• Attend division and institutional meetings to provide operational insight and support implementation.
• Manage division schedule development in collaboration with the Dean. Monitor class schedules, room assignments, and instructional coverage. Recommend adjustments to the Dean regarding section offerings, modalities, and staffing in response to enrollment and operational needs.
• Track operational metrics such as enrollment trends, fill rates, and student engagement data, and provide regular updates to the Dean.
• Ensure accurate and timely operational data collection for planning, accreditation, and reporting.
• Maintain accurate records related to staffing, scheduling, and division communications.
• Coordinate space usage across lecture, lab, studio, and performance environments.
• Oversee logistics for venue rentals, performances, gallery showings, and other external engagements.

• Directly supervise adjunct faculty, including onboarding, scheduling, orientation, professional development, and performance evaluation.
• Ensure faculty assignments, evaluations, and workloads align with applicable collective bargaining agreements and college policy.
• Serve as the first point of contact for faculty questions or concerns related to operational matters.
• Provide consistent communication and support to ensure instructional quality and alignment.

• Supervise designated division staff, including workload management, performance oversight, and professional growth support.
• Ensure staff resources are used effectively to support instructional delivery and student services.
• Maintain clear expectations and a respectful, inclusive work environment.

• Translate assigned strategic goals into actionable operational plans.
• Coordinate implementation of initiatives across programs and disciplines.
• Track progress, meet deadlines, and report outcomes to the Dean.
• Support program updates and instructional improvements as directed.

• Respond to and resolve routine student concerns within the scope defined by the collective bargaining agreement and college policy, including certain grade, instructional, or procedural questions.
• Collaborate with student services to ensure timely, equitable, and policy‑compliant support for students.

• Maintain working knowledge of the division’s budget to support effective operational planning and decision‑making.
• Implement budgetary decisions and priorities established by the Dean.
• Approve routine operational purchases within established parameters and institutional procedures.
• Assist in identifying and communicating resource needs related to instruction, facilities, and scheduling.

• Ensure adherence to college and district policies, accreditation standards, and required reporting obligations.
• Coordinate program-level documentation and timelines related to curriculum processes, grade submission, and student learning outcome assessment.
• Support assessment, program review, and documentation processes as assigned.

• Support professional development for faculty and staff through mentoring, training, and feedback.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive divisional culture.
• Participate in planning efforts, committees, and cross‑divisional initiatives as assigned by the Dean.
• Model professional decorum and mutual respect in all personal interactions.
• Comply with district policies, procedures and directives, state and federal regulations, orders and statutes and collective bargaining agreements.
• Support and advance Spokane Colleges’ strategic plan and perform other duties as assigned.

* Indicates this is an essential duty.

COMPETENCIES

• Manages Complexity
• Drives Results
• Resourcefulness
• Communicates Effectively
• Collaborates
• Instills Trust

Learn more about our competencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in an Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences discipline or a closely related field.
• Teaching experience at the post‑secondary level.
• At least one year of experience leading or coordinating faculty or staff and managing operational responsibilities such as scheduling, budgeting or resource allocation, and academic operations.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data related to enrollment, scheduling, and instructional effectiveness.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D.) in a relevant discipline.
• Administrative experience in community college education.
• Experience with innovative instructional practices, including:
  • eLearning and Open Educational Resources
  • Guided Pathways and program review
  • Accelerated learning and learning communities
  • BAS program development
• Proven project management expertise.
• Experience collaborating across divisions and institutions.
• Experience working effectively in a unionized or collectively bargained higher education environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work is performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and background noise.
• Work is sedentary.
• Occasional to frequent change in position from sitting, standing, and walking.
• Work directly with students, faculty and staff.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• 12-month position.
• Position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• Criminal background check is required.

Person hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of U.S. Citizenship or lawful authorization to work in the United States. This is an absolute condition of employment. An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of the district to sponsor an H1-B visa. In addition, the Spokane Colleges maintain a drug-free work environment and prohibits all smoking in the college buildings and state-owned vehicles. Must be able to successfully work in and promote a multicultural work and education environment.