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Saint Peter's University
KPMG Founding Dean of the School of Business

 

Saint Peter’s University seeks an accomplished and enthusiastic academic leader to partner with the Provost and senior leadership team, develop and enhance academic programs, champion student success, build relationships and collaborative partnerships, and provide a clear vision and direction for the School’s growth and excellence.

 

Collaborative . . . Mission-Driven . . . Entrepreneurial . . . Team Player
Decisive . . . Strategic Thinker . . . Scholarship . . . Integrity . . . Fundraiser
Leadership . . . Politically Savvy . . . Dedicated . . . Relationship Builder
Trust . . . Communicator . . . Hands On . . . Transparency . . . Creative
Business Acumen. . . Enthusiastic . . . High Energy . . . Sense of Humor
 

The Position Summary

Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean is the academic leader of the School and provides leadership and strategic direction to enhance education, research, and outreach to students, faculty, alumni, and external entities. The Dean works in a collaborative manner to foster academic excellence, through the encouragement, recognition, and support of teaching, scholarship, and service of the faculty. Establishing the tone and dialogue for the future direction of the School, the Dean will establish a structure and strategy to expand the prospective donor pool, assist in the recruitment of key faculty positions, and encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration with other units throughout the University.

The Dean will lead with strong vision and excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and possess the ability to work effectively with various stakeholder groups and encourage collegiality and collaboration among faculty members, administrators, staff, and students, while simultaneously meeting the challenges higher education is facing, especially in the financial arena. Taking a student-centered perspective, the Dean will understand and promote excellence in student learning and research opportunities; student recruitment, retention, and advising; career development; and student support services. As a university leader in an urban community, the Dean must be committed to supporting the broad values of diversity and a comprehensive range of service and experiential learning opportunities both on campus and in the larger community beyond.

As Saint Peter’s is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit universities in the United States, the Dean will be committed to the Jesuit identity and mission and incorporate Jesuit values into business program curricula, programming, and outreach. The Dean is responsible for the quality and effectiveness of the academic programs within the School, as well as decisions related to faculty recruitment, research, sponsored programs, accreditation, development and fundraising, and resource and facility allocations. Reporting to the Dean are five disciplinary areas, both undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered in a variety of Business curriculum delivery formats, including Accountancy and Business Law, Business Administration, Computer & Information Sciences, Economics and Finance, and Sport Management.

The Specific Responsibilities

Strategic Planning
 

  • Responsible for ongoing strategic planning for the School that provides a long-range vision, specific strategies, and detailed administrative and fiscal provisions to ensure the excellence of the School’s faculty, teaching, curricular and research programs, both disciplinary and interdisciplinary. This should include ensuring and building diversity of faculty and staff, and engagements with external constituencies.

  • In exercising planning leadership, work closely with the University’s senior officers, the Provost, and with the other Deans to develop and promote cross-school strategic initiatives.

  • Lead in the implementation of high quality and competitive academic programs and have the ability to envision, identify, and drive new growth opportunities and capitalize on their successes.


Administrative and Budgetary Oversight
 

  • Responsible for all aspects of the School’s budget consistent with the University’s budget management system and determination of the School’s needs for resources, technology, and equipment.

  • Design and/or assist in grant proposals for submission to appropriate funding sources and collaborate with advancement and other University leadership to pursue significant private support for the School.

  • Consult with other Deans and academic administrators for administrative purposes and cooperate with all areas of the University and advance joint initiatives.

  • Engage in collaborative efforts with faculty, committees, the Provost’s leadership team, and University leadership to advance the Academic Plan and the University’s Strategic Plan.

  • Prepare and compile reports as requested by the Provost, the Middle States Association, external accreditation, the University's Board of Trustees, and/or the University President.

  • Identify and strengthen areas for collaboration within the School and across the University.


Advancement and External Affairs
 

  • Represent the University to important constituencies, including various state, regional, national, and international groups.

  • Participate in alumni engagement and stewardship and articulate the advancement needs of the School in conjunction with the long-range plans of the School and the University.

  • Work collegially with the Provost, President, Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs, and other Deans in planning University-wide funding priorities and goals. Work in concert with the Office of Advancement and External Affairs in executing strategies to fundraise for the School, including but not limited to participating in donor and prospect meetings and face to face solicitations.

  • Effectively fundraise and establish beneficial relationships with alumni, donors, and friends; industry partners; business community; government agencies; and the School’s various constituents.

  • Maintain and develop productive partnerships with business, industry, and community leaders.

  • Manage the School’s external affairs and relationships, and represent the School within the University and to external agencies, the community, government, professional associations and constituencies. 


Scholarship, Research, and Educational Leadership
 

  • As the chief academic officer of the School, responsible for the recruitment, appointment, reappointment, retention, promotion, and tenure of the faculty and maintain integrity within the School.

  • Oversee accreditation, develop new curricula and programs; and strengthen external relationships and collaborations with partners outside the University.

  • Responsible for maintaining the highest standards of scholarship among the faculty and promote and encourage research activities, programs, and publications by the School's faculty and students.

  • Provide leadership to improve student retention and success through innovations that enhance teaching and learning and demonstrate a commitment to assist students to be business leaders.

  • Provide leadership for the School’s student community and develop and implement curriculum as well as recruitment and career services.

  • Develop, plan, and implement programs to achieve successful student learning outcomes, including incorporating the availability and use of technology to achieve successful online student learning outcomes.

  • Foster excellence in teaching, research, and service to the community, as well as in the creation of innovative, interdisciplinary, and cross-disciplinary programs.

  • Support the department chairs and program directors on department management, including the recruitment and retention of high quality faculty.

  • Guide and support the recruitment, admission, retention, and progress of students.

  • Develop and oversee the implementation of the institutional assessment plan for evaluation of the School's programs.

  • Provide leadership for the School’s curricular initiatives, research and scholarship, professional training, and recruitment of high quality faculty and student talent.

  • Monitor student performance collaboratively with faculty so as to provide proactive retention strategies.

  • Inspire collaboration across the campus on instructional and research projects.

  • Develop and implement plans relevant to the School's onsite, off-site, and online academic programs in line with the University's strategic plan.

  • Personally engage actively in professional association and scholarly activities.
     

The Qualifications
 

The University is searching for an industry-savvy, forward-thinking leader who will build on the strengths of the School to reach new levels of excellence. An earned doctorate in a discipline represented within the School is preferred. The candidate should also demonstrate the following attributes:
 

  • Resonance with, support for, and an ability to promote Saint Peter’s distinctive Jesuit mission, identity, and commitment to diversity and global education in an urban setting.

  • An outstanding record of teaching in one of the disciplines within the School, and scholarship and service commensurate with appointment as a full professor with tenure or equivalent professional experience.

  • A successful record of administrative leadership, academic and/or corporate, with a demonstrated track record as a successful leader.

  • Successful experience in fiscal management, including obtaining and managing grants and contracts as well as the ability to facilitate substantial growth in grant and contract activity among faculty.

  • Strong knowledge of strategic and curriculum planning and evaluation, including student learning outcomes assessment and programs for student advisement, recruitment, and retention is preferred.

  • Experience in partnering with Advancement and External Affairs to engage alumni, the business community, federal and state agencies, city, region, and other external stakeholders and potential and existing donors in the mission of the School.

  • Ability to provide leadership in planning for infrastructure; enrollment, recruitment, and retention of students; and recruitment and retention of high quality faculty.

  • Fair and firm administrator with a reputation for transparency, integrity, and high ethical standards of excellence, who will equitably and vigorously uphold high quality standards.

  • Capability to work collegially across the institution, to build relationships, synergies, and connections with other disciplines, and to motivate and energize others to work together.

  • Entrepreneurial and innovative skills to identify targets of opportunity and create and implement new initiatives.

  • Active engagement in the processes related to the support of business program accreditation, accreditation standards, modification of existing programs, and acquisition of new programs.

 

The University

Saint Peter’s is a private, coeducational university inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity and committed to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts. The University educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately, and promote justice in the ever-changing urban and global environment. Named to the Money Magazine list of best colleges in the United States for 2015-2016, Saint Peter’s was ranked fifth nationwide in the category of “Colleges That Add the Most Value” and in the top 18 percent of all American colleges for educational quality, affordability, and alumni outcomes.

Founded in 1872 and set on a 30 acre campus, the University is one of twenty-eight Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States and the only one in New Jersey. Saint Peter’s offers a remarkably diverse undergraduate and graduate student body that originates from 29 states and from more than 39 countries. With approximately 2,500 undergraduate students and 800 Master’s and Doctoral students, the University offers over 60 undergraduate and adult undergraduate programs and eight graduate degree programs.

Faculty are committed to excellence in higher education and the Jesuit commitment of cura personalis, the personal care and concern of each student. 113 full time and 210 part time faculty members teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, 82% of all full-time faculty hold doctoral or terminal degrees, and 91% of those who are tenured or on tenure-track hold doctoral or terminal degrees.

The MacMahon Student Center has become a defining landmark for the campus and positioned Saint Peter’s at the heart of Jersey City’s civic life. Opened in 2013, the six-story, 90,000 square-foot building integrates a number of sustainable strategies in its design. The Center, providing a social crossroads for students, features living room areas, coffee shop, University store, spacious dining areas, fitness and game rooms, office space, and The Duncan Family Sky Room, with its breathtaking skyline views of New York City.

Saint Peter’s fields 19 NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic teams and is a founding member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The University is proud of its diverse, talented, and active alumni body, with more than 33,000 working in business, law, medicine, education, politics, public service, sciences, arts, and humanities.

For additional information about Saint Peter’s, visit http://www.saintpeters.edu

The Location
 

Some cities are known for their landmark attractions, for their action-packed nightlife, or simply for the unmatched quality of their community. Today, all of these elements and more have come to define Jersey City. From the Greenville neighborhood to the bustling Downtown area, the City is engulfed in a blanket of diversity and growth. Moreover, a fast-expanding skyline, a collection of schools, and an integrated transportation system help to make Jersey City a top contender among the cities that line the Hudson River.

With the historic Ellis Island within its borders, it is not surprising that Jersey City has become renowned for its diversity. Boasting one of the most diverse populations in the United States, Jersey City is host to an array of ethnicities and cultures. From the Village to Little India to Bergen Lafayette and historic districts to the Artists Markets and Annual Studio Tour, Jersey City represents the full range of 21st century urban diversity and culture. 

Known as “Wall Street West,” Jersey City’s economic sphere is now one of the fastest-growing as Fortune-500 corporations such as Chase Manhattan Bank, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Charles Schwab, and others continue to locate their businesses in the area. Jersey City’s ideal location and close proximity to New York City has also contributed to the development of its own impressive skyline, which includes the Goldman Sachs building, one of the 200 Tallest Buildings in the World.

The list of activities is endless given the theaters, art-galleries, parks, active nightlife, and much more. For additional information about Jersey City, visit http://www.destinationjerseycity.com

Saint Peter’s University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, creed, color, religion, national origin, alienage, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital or political status, affectional or sexual orientation, domestic partnership status, disability (including AIDS or HIV infection), pregnancy, liability for service in the United Stated armed forces, gender identity or expression, genetic information and/or any other classification protected by law.

The Invitation

Application, confidential conversation, or nomination.

 

To apply, please submit a complete curriculum vitae with a letter of application summarizing your professional qualifications and the accomplishments that reflect the skills, background, and experience to be successful in this key position. Send your application materials to me at the email address below.

 

To arrange a day and time for a confidential conversation, simply email me at the address below and suggest a few days and times convenient with your schedule.

 

If a colleague comes to mind you feel might have an interest, I would welcome your nomination. Please forward your nomination to me at the email address below or call me.

 

Thank you for your consideration,

Gary R. Rhoads
Search Consultant

 

grhoads@strategicsearchadvantage.com

570-484-6414

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