Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development

The Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development is the senior academic leader responsible for advancing faculty excellence across the School of Dentistry. Reporting directly to the Dean, the Vice Dean provides strategic leadership for faculty recruitment, appointment, onboarding, development, promotion, retention, recognition, engagement, and succession planning. The Vice Dean fosters a culture of academic excellence, innovation, collaboration, and professional growth to support the school's mission. The Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development serves as the chief advocate for faculty success, ensuring that faculty members have the resources, support, mentorship, and opportunities necessary to thrive as educators, clinicians, researchers, and leaders. This position plays a critical role in advancing the School of Dentistry's mission and strengthening its national reputation for academic excellence. As a key member of the Dean's Executive Leadership Team, the Vice Dean partners with discipline directors, faculty leaders, and faculty to develop and implement policies, programs, and initiatives that enhance individual faculty and institutional success and effectiveness.

Faculty Affairs Leadership

• Develop and implement procedures, and best practices related to faculty appointments, reappointments, promotions, tenure, and academic advancement.
• Ensure compliance with university, accreditation, regulatory, and institutional policies governing faculty affairs.
• Advise the Dean and discipline directors on complex faculty matters, including performance management, conflict resolution, professional conduct, and career development.
• Lead faculty workforce planning efforts to ensure the school attracts and retains outstanding educators, researchers, clinicians, and academic leaders.
• Monitor faculty demographics, engagement, retention, promotion outcomes, and other key performance indicators.

Faculty Development

• Create and implement a comprehensive faculty development strategy aligned with the school's strategic goals.
• Establish programs that support faculty growth in teaching, clinical excellence, research, scholarship, leadership, mentoring, and service.
• Promote lifelong learning and professional development opportunities for faculty at all career stages.
• Develop initiatives that support transition into academic careers, mid-career advancement, and leadership preparation.
• Oversee faculty mentoring and coaching programs, including formal mentoring structures for new and junior faculty.

Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement

• Collaborate with discipline directors to recruit highly qualified faculty.
• Lead initiatives designed to improve faculty retention, satisfaction, and engagement.
• Support equitable and transparent promotion and tenure processes.
• Identify and address barriers to faculty advancement and career progression.
• Develop recognition programs that celebrate faculty achievements in teaching, research, clinical care, and service.
• Work with the Office of Campus Engagement in the recruitment of faculty representative of an broad range of the workforce needed in Oral Health.

Faculty Well-Being and Engagement

• Champion faculty well-being, work-life integration, and professional fulfillment.
• Develop programs that promote resilience, leadership effectiveness, and career satisfaction.
• Foster an environment characterized by respect, professionalism, collaboration, and belonging.
• Create and utilize faculty climate and engagement data to drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Accreditation and Compliance

• Responsible for accreditation activities related to faculty qualifications, development, assessment, and institutional effectiveness.
• Ensure faculty records and documentation meet accreditation and regulatory standards.
• Contribute to strategic planning, reporting, and assessment activities.

Leadership Responsibilities.

• Provide leadership and oversight for faculty affairs and faculty development.
• Establish annual goals, performance metrics, and accountability measures.
• Build partnerships with internal and external organizations to expand faculty development opportunities along with the Touro University System.
• Develop succession planning strategies to cultivate future academic leaders.

Education/Experience

• D.D.S./DMD from a CODA-accredited dental school or equivalent.
• Licensure eligibility in New York State.
• Ten or more years of experience of teaching and working in an academic environment.
• Five or more years of leadership experience in a dental school or health-related academic institution preferred, such as department chair, program director, or Vice or Associate dean preferred.
• Experience and demonstrated excellence in teaching, training and mentoring faculty, dental students and/or residents.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge and experience with the accreditation processes and standards in dental education.
• Track record of successfully building and maintaining partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders.
• Strong skills in overseeing faculty, resources, and personnel within an academic or healthcare institution.

Travel

• As needed.