Department Head

The position is responsible for the coordination, supervision and direction of the curriculum and instruction within their departments and programs; for establishing liaison between the latter and other College departments and programs, as well as external organizations, institutions and businesses. In addition they are responsible for participating on college and provincial committees. This position is a faculty position and is therefore covered by the Collective Agreement between the College and the Vancouver Community College Faculty Association. The position shall be evaluated during the incumbent’s probationary year and the incumbent shall have a Performance Appraisal conducted thereafter in accordance with procedures set under the Collective Agreement. In order that the administration of the department will be covered during the year, the position will ensure that someone will act in their capacity during any absence. The specific responsibilities listed below are not intended to be a complete and definitive listing. The incumbent is expected to use their discretion and initiative to deal with situations as they arise and to assume other duties and responsibilities as assigned. Additionally, some of the duties may be delegated to individuals within the department.

PROGRAM CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION 

• Be responsible for and ensure the department and programs: 
• maintain an appropriate quality of instruction. 
• achieve the objectives of each course and cover the planned curriculum of each course
• ensure that the department uses appropriate methods of assessment. 
• participate in the evaluation of the faculty and support staff (as per the Collective Agreement). 
• develop Program Content Guides. 
• approve (and in some instances develop) Course Outlines. 
• Assume responsibility for the supervision of faculty and support staff during all shifts and locations of instruction in the department. 
• Anticipate changes in faculty complement within the department and advise the Dean/Director.
• Provide an auxiliary instructor if, and when, necessary. 
• Serve on recommendation committees which assist in the appointment of faculty and support staff. 
• Establish department duty and vacation schedules in cooperation with faculty members. 
• Participate in meetings. 

• Maintain liaison with other Department Heads to discuss and interpret points of view, problems and practices. 
• Convene meetings of faculty members within the department on a regular basis. 
• Keep members of the department informed about College developments. 
• Establish committees and delegate duties and responsibilities to committees within the department as necessary. 
• Coordinate and equitably delegate appropriate administrative duties and responsibilities to Assistant Department Heads, Coordinators I, faculty and support staff. 
• Advise students of available resources (Counselling, Admissions, Student Loans, etc.) and act in liaison with them. 
• Assist in resolving internal department conflicts. 
• Call on the resources of the College, if necessary, to guide and assist new faculty members with instructional skills. 
• Orient new instructors and support staff to the Department. 

• Maintain liaison with educational institutions, industry, commerce and government. 
• Assist in staff and professional development. 
• Aid in placing graduates in employment. 
• Assist in the provision and maintenance of adequate facilities and equipment for instruction. 
• Advise and assist in department budgeting and planning. 
• Guide the development of course and curriculum materials. 
• Assist in the development of instructor and student recruitment advertisements. 
• Participate in ongoing program review.

• If requested, carry out the other duties and responsibilities. 
• Recommend any desired changes in courses and/or programs to the Dean/Director. 
• Ensure appropriate representation at standing provincial articulation and Program Advisory Committee meetings. 
• Prepare, submit, and monitor the department's budget. 
• Authorize expenditure of budgeted funding by signing requisitions. 
• Evaluate term and probationary faculty and support staff. Oversee the Performance Appraisal of faculty/support staff as required.

Candidates should have one of the following three Area Hiring Criterias:

• BC Provincial Instructor Diploma or equivalent, or plan to complete the PID Program within an appropriate time frame.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in related discipline or equivalent.
• At least six years’ work experience in a legal office.
• Recent experience in corporate law, conveyancing, litigation, family law, wills and estate law preferred.
• Experience teaching law, preferably recent, and preferably at the college level.
• Ability to relate effectively to a diverse adult student body.
• Excellent interpersonal and business communication skills in English (oral and written).
• Demonstrated ability to work well as a team member.

• Completion or near completion of the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program, or equivalent, or willingness to complete in a reasonable amount of time.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in related discipline, or equivalent.
• At least six years’ office experience.
• Demonstrated competency with computer software applications, in particular Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Outlook).
• Experience teaching office computer software, keyboarding, business communications (including grammar, punctuation and document formatting), office procedures and/or human relation skills, preferably recent, and preferably at the college level.
• Ability to relate effectively to a diverse adult student body.
• Effective interpersonal and business communication skills in English (oral and written).
• Demonstrated ability to work well as a team member.
• Professional business designation (such as CPS) would be an asset.

• Minimum of five years medical office assistant work experience.
• Minimum two years’ experience in electronic file management.
• BC Provincial Instructor’s Diploma or equivalent, or plan to complete the PID Program within an appropriate time frame.
• Ability to effectively relate with a diverse adult student body and possess excellent skills in the English language (oral and written).
• Teaching experience in a Medical Office Assistant program preferred.
• Solid knowledge base and teaching experience preferred in medical terminology and medical transcription.
• Solid knowledge base and teaching experience preferred in Windows, Cortez Peters keyboarding, MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook).
• Experience in establishing student practicum placements.
• Effective analytical, interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills.
• Ability to work well as a team member.
• Membership in a professional organization such as the Medical Office Assistants’ Association of BC would be an asset.