Associate Dean of Education and Program Director

Associate Dean of Education and Program Director

About the role

Bethel University invites applications for a combined academic leadership role serving as Associate Dean of Education (50%) and Program Director (50%). The Program Director role may include SPED MA program or BA/MA Elementary Education program.

This role is ideal for a mission-aligned academic leader who is energized by developing faculty, strengthening programs, advancing inclusive excellence, and preparing educators to serve schools and communities with excellence and faith.

Associate Dean of Education (50%)
The Associate Dean provides strategic and operational leadership across Bethel's education programs-including teacher education, K-12 administration, and higher education leadership. This leader partners closely with faculty, staff, university leaders, and external stakeholders to ensure academic quality, accreditation compliance, financial stewardship, and a thriving, Christ-centered learning community.

Grounded in Bethel's mission, the Associate Dean offers visionary leadership to prepare graduates who meaningfully impact students, schools, and communities for God's kingdom.

Program Director (50%)
In addition to Associate Dean responsibilities, the Program Director leads one or more online undergraduate and/or graduate education programs, as assigned. This includes responsibility for academic quality, student learning outcomes, faculty support, and continuous improvement. Depending on the program, this role may also provide leadership for residency, clinical, or apprenticeship-based experiences, cultivating strong PK-12 and organizational partnerships that support high-quality, field-based learning.

Based on program assignment, institutional needs, and candidate qualifications, the role may include opportunities to teach undergraduate and/or graduate education courses.

What you'll do

Academic and Strategic Leadership - 25%

• Provide vision and direction for Bethel's education programs, ensuring high-quality curriculum, assessment, and student learning outcomes.
• Serve as the unit leader for teacher education programs.
• Champion inclusive excellence and culturally responsive teaching and learning.
• Lead assigned academic programs in alignment with Bethel's mission and strategic priorities.

People and Operational Management - 25%

• Supervise and support program directors, department chairs, and teams focused on licensure, placements, partnerships, and data.
• Lead department faculty and staff hiring, development, and retention, fostering a healthy, collaborative, and mission-aligned culture.
• Actively advance efforts to build and sustain a diverse department.
• Oversee and advocate for program budgets and resources across education programs.
• Navigate and resolve complex faculty and student issues with wisdom, care, and confidentiality.

Accreditation and Compliance - 20%

• Coordinate and oversee state accreditation and reporting processes to ensure programs remain in good standing, including:
• • Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)
  • Board of School Administrators (BOSA)
• Serve as an institutional representative for assigned programs with accrediting bodies and regulatory partners.

4. Internal and External Representation - 20%

• Represent Bethel's education programs with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Lead residency-based or clinically focused preparation programs in close partnership with PK-12 schools and educational organizations.

5. Enrollment Growth and Student Success - 10%

• Partner with admissions, marketing, program leaders, and student success teams to support enrollment growth, retention, and timely student completion.

Qualifications

Education - Terminal degree in education, required.

Required Experience

• Minimum 5 years of college-level teaching experience, preferably at the rank of Associate Professor or higher
• At least 3 years of significant academic leadership experience, preferably including:
• • Department chair or program director roles
  • Hiring, developing, and retaining diverse faculty and students
  • Successfully achieving and maintaining accreditation
• Experience within PK-12 systems and/or PK-12-higher education partnerships
• Experience with residency, apprenticeship, or clinically based programs (preferred)
• Demonstrate evidence of a strong commitment to quality working relationships, exhibiting warmth, excellence, and Christ-like behavior in performance of their work
• Experience managing budgets and hiring personnel
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
• Familiarity with learning management systems (e.g., Moodle, Blackboard, eCollege) preferred
• Evidence of Christ-like leadership marked by warmth, integrity, excellence, and collaboration

Additional Responsibilities:

Bethel's mission is to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. Bethel's employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To carry out this mission, Bethel uses the foundation of our guiding documents, the Affirmation of Faith, Community Covenant, and Key Policies. Bethel expects all employees to actively participate in creating our Christ-centered community by agreeing with and abiding by our core beliefs in the Affirmation of Faith and supporting all other beliefs as Biblical, responsible, and thoughtful approaches while avoiding dissension and divisiveness. Employees teach and mentor students and help one another uphold our Community Covenant commitments. As a result of these expectations, all University employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to carry out its mission and foster Bethel's Christ-centered covenant community.

Other Duties: The essential functions, tasks and responsibilities of this position may change from time to time. Bethel University reserves the right to add or omit duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the University or its leadership. Additional tasks or duties required of the position, will be communicated to the incumbent with specificity to ensure the employee may perform their role with complete understanding. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed; it is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Remote Work and Sponsorship Restrictions:

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. Please be aware that, due to specific legal and operational considerations, we are unable to consider applicants who live in and work from the following states: AK, CA, CO, CT, Washington DC, HI, IL, IN, MA, MD, MT, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, VT, and WA. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.


Travel: This position does not require travel.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers and smartphones.

The work environment involves working for a suburban, Christian university in which all employees are expected to have a demonstrated commitment and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a commitment to the mission and values of the University, and an agreement to abide by all University policies.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The job requires extended periods of sitting and traversing the Bethel Campus on a regular basis.


Reasonable accommodations may be made to ensure people are able to perform the essential functions.

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Expected Hours of Work:

Typically, days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, with the expectation to work specific schedules and hours as identified and communicated by management. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. This is a 40 hour per week, 12 months per year position.

Benefits

Bethel is committed to offering meaningful benefits to our employees including health insurance, retirement plans, and a generous time off package. Learn more about these offerings here.

Learn more about our commitment to diversity in hiring .

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time


Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

Bethel University's Christ-centered mission includes a commitment to equal educational opportunity and equal employment opportunity. Bethel does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, or age in its admissions, educational programs, or employment practices.

The pay range for this role is:

90,000 - 97,000 USD per year (Bethel University)

To apply, visit

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