Vice Dean Academic, Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation

About the Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation (BCSA)

The Faculty of Business, Communications Studies and Aviation has approximately 4,000 students and includes the EFMD accredited Bissett School of Business and the School of Communication Studies. The Bissett School of Business offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with majors in General Management, Human Resources Management, Accounting, Finance, International Business, Supply Chain Management, and Marketing. Aviation is also part of the Bissett School of Business. The Aviation programs include a Bachelor of Aviation Management (BAM), an Aviation Diploma and a flight school at our Springbank Aviation Campus. The School of Communication Studies offers a Bachelor of Communication with majors in Broadcast Media Studies, Information Design, Journalism and Digital Media, and Public Relations.

About the Role

The Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation (BCSA) invites applications for the position of Vice Dean, Academic who will report directly to the Dean of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation. This is an out-of-scope senior leadership position open to tenured faculty currently employed by Mount Royal University.

We are seeking a distinguished colleague with a proven track record of effective academic leadership, a strong commitment to excellence in teaching, and an active background in research and scholarly activity.

The Vice Dean, Academic plays a vital role in setting the tone for the faculty’s culture, fostering an environment of academic excellence, inclusivity, and mutual respect. Serving a diverse academic community, the Vice Dean will champion the unique strengths and pedagogical needs of each discipline within BCSA, while supporting a cohesive vision that celebrates our collective impact.

The Vice Dean builds and sustains strong working partnerships with academic departments, administrative teams, and operational support units across Mount Royal University to advance strategic priorities, streamline processes, and enhance the overall student and faculty experience.

The appointment for this position is for an initial five (5) year term with the potential for renewal for an additional 5-year term.

Responsibilities

As a member of the BCSA leadership team, the Vice-Dean Academic will have access to highly confidential information. Working closely with the Vice Dean Research and Community Relations, Department Chairs, the Vice Provost Academic, as well as leadership from other academic and non-academic units across the university, the Vice Dean Academic provides information and advice to members of the senior leadership team at Mount Royal University.

Core responsibilities include:

• Quality assurance - responsible for quality assurance processes within BCSA, including Campus Alberta Quality Assurance reviews, academic plan implementation, and program accreditations (e.g. EFMD).
• Program and curriculum - chairs the faculty curriculum committee and works with departments and committees to shepherd programs and curriculum through the appropriate approval processes.
• Student academic affairs - serves as the primary BCSA authority for student academic matters including student accommodations, grade appeals, and academic misconduct processes.
• Student success and retention - works with other university departments, including the Office of the Registrar, Student Support Services, Academic Advising to help meet recruitment, enrolment and graduation targets and to improve the BCSA student experience from new student orientation to graduation.
• Cross faculty and institutional liaison - represents the faculty on university-wide committees and interdisciplinary working groups, and collaborates with Vice-Deans in other academic units to consistently operationalize academic, human resources and governance policies across the University.
• Experiential and work-integrated learning - works closely with department chairs to identify, leverage, and operationalize opportunities for experiential and work-integrated learning.
• Operations management - supports strategic and academic plan implementation, mentors and supports department chairs, manages budget within areas of direct responsibility, and supervises support staff.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• A terminal degree in their academic discipline.
• Tenure at Mount Royal University.
• Seven years of academic excellence including two years of leadership, with preference given to candidates with progressive leadership responsibilities.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A record of teaching excellence.
• A record of research and scholarship in their academic discipline.
• A clear understanding of the academic programs in BCSA as well as the role of a department chair at MRU.
• Demonstrated success building cross-institutional and external partner relationships.
• Experience collaborating with others to successfully move projects from start to completion in the context of collegial governance.
• Experience in conflict resolution and creative problem solving.
• Thorough knowledge of institutional policies and procedures as well as MRSA and MRFA Collective Agreements.
• Strong organization, prioritization and time management skills.
• Experience delegating tasks and supporting the success of others.
• Demonstrated experience in evidence-based decision-making.

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit a current CV as well as a letter outlining:

• Why they are interested in the position of Vice-Dean Academic in the Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation.
• Their leadership philosophy.
• How their background and leadership experience has prepared them for this role.

Salary: Total compensation, including benefits, are aligned with MRU's terms and conditions of employment for management employees

Closing Date: November 12, 2026.

** Position available to Internal Applicants of Mount Royal University Only**