Job Title:          Provost
Department:    Academic Administration
Reports to:       President
FLSA Status:   Exempt
Salary Range:  $105,000.00-$130,000.00

OVERVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY:  Washington Adventist University (WAU) is a Christ-centered institution of higher education that supports a culture of excellence where all feel valued. Nestled in a desirable residential community in Takoma Park, Maryland, WAU offers its faculty and staff an environment where professional expertise is valued and lasting connections between co-workers are formed as we work together to ensure the success of our students. Regardless of title, every employee supports WAU’s vision of producing graduates who bring moral leadership and competence to their communities.

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE:  The goal of the academic administration is to create and support an environment that promotes the University’s academic endeavors as one of the region’s most excellent and diversified institutions of higher education. The academic division has developed a broad range of teaching and service programs to promote the advancement and application of knowledge. Academic programs at Washington Adventist University are offered in three distinct schools; The School of Arts & Social Sciences, The School of Graduate & Professional Studies, and The School of Health Professions, Science & Wellness. The office of the Provost provides the leadership for academic planning, learning outcomes, local and international partnerships, research, center for learning resources, faculty relations, records, distance education, and enrollment management.

JOB SUMMARY:  The Provost is the Chief Academic Officer and second ranking official of the University and acts for the president when he or she is unavailable or as designated on matters of University-wide concern. The Provost holds a major leadership position as a senior member of the President's cabinet, implements the WAU strategic plan, and is responsible for all academic programs. There will be strong collaboration and a working partnership with the President. The primary charge to the Provost will include reviewing the undergraduate and graduate curricula to ensure excellence in liberal arts education, as well as full implementation of a 3-school model with a School of Arts and Social Science, School of Health Professions, Science and Wellness and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

The Provost provides academic leadership aligned with Washington Adventist University’s Strategic Plan, ensuring that academic programs, faculty development, assessment systems, and student learning initiatives support the University’s long-term goals for mission-centered excellence, growth, and sustainability.

It will be important for the Provost to take a strong lead in strengthening selected academic areas, such as learning outcomes, graduate education, and outcomes assessment. The Provost's role also includes the examination of the fiscal viability of current programs and implementation of selective new programs, such as Pre-College, International and Continuing Education that strengthen the university financially while serving the needs of the community. In addition, the Provost will have the primary responsibility in recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty who teach, support and enhance the University's quality and stature.

PRIMARY DUTIES:

• With the assistance of, and in consultation with the Deans and Chairs, responsible for planning, developing and supervising curricula and programs.
• Leads and executes the academic components of WAU’s Strategic Plan, ensuring alignment between institutional vision, academic operations, and data-informed decision-making.
• Fulfills a central leadership role in both strategic and tactical planning processes, working in close partnership with the President.
• Responsible for the effective establishment and management of the operating budget for academic administration, under the direction of the President, and in conjunction with the Executive Vice President of Finance and other senior campus leadership.
• Supervises the staffing and operation of all offices of academic departments and promotes the academic achievement and enrichment of the student body.
• Evaluates and enhances appropriate academic administrative support structures and resources.
• Advises the President on all matters concerning University-wide planning, policy and operations; works with the President in the final review and approval of the annual operating budgets; and establishes University-wide measures of institutional effectiveness and monitors progress.
• Serves as a strong advocate to ensure continued academic growth which is important not only to the stature of the University in service to the church, but also to the local, national and international community.
• Develops with the Vice Presidents for Student Life, and Marketing/Recruitment and with the Deans, an enrollment management strategic plan that improves student quality and retention and coordinates its implementation for the University.
• Serves as the liaison to the Faculty and oversees and enhances faculty development, including fellowship grant programs.
• Evaluates the performance and professional achievements of Deans/Chairs/Directors and encourages the conditions necessary for faculty excellence.
• In cooperation with the appropriate faculty committees and with the recommendation of Deans/Chairs/Directors, selects and recommends to the President candidates for appointment to the faculty and for promotion, and conducts annual performance reviews and determines the merit salary increment for each full-time faculty member.
• Oversees academic grants and contracts, including proposal preparation, and works with the office of Administration & Finance to create systems to effectively administer these grants and contracts.
• Responsible for regional and professional accreditations.
• Serves as the secretary to the corporation.
• At the direction of the President, participates in and supports University fund-raising initiatives.
• Supervises the office of Academic Administration and will have the opportunity to restructure the operations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCES AND CHARACTERISTICS:

Candidates will be active and committed Seventh-day Adventist Christians who have:

• Earned a doctorate degree from an accredited university;
• Demonstrated leadership excellence and academic integrity in higher education;
• Moved through the traditional academic rankings;
• A record of scholarly achievement for appointment to the faculty; and
• Experience serving as a full-time faculty member with both teaching and scholarship responsibilities.

The following experiences and characteristics are important for the successful candidates:

Academic Leadership:

• Proven ability to be an inspiring leader and colleague within the University. Able to focus faculty efforts in order to carry out the University's mission and to align academic departments in order to ensure the coherent advancement and sustainability of the University.
• Increasingly responsible leadership positions, with proven success in organizational change management, and administering changing programs and services.
• A successful track record of large-scale budgetary accountability and effectiveness in the allocation of resources.
• Effective administrative and fiscal experience in a higher education setting; strong administrative skills, including budgetary expertise and a history of successfully managing personnel and working cooperatively with faculty.
• A strong commitment to diversity, including a proven track record for valuing and supporting differences; a strong record of achievement in attracting and appointing a diverse staff and faculty; demonstrated familiarity with and sensitivity to, issues of race, culture, gender and disabilities on a university campus.
• A demonstrated broad appreciation for the arts and humanities, social sciences, and sciences (physical, biological, and health).

Leadership and Management Style:

• A strong commitment to contributing to a better world, and an ability to gain the respect and the collegiality of leaders within the local, academic, scientific and business communities.
• A strong advocate that sets the tone with an effective and wise blending of patience, persistence, compassion and urgency. Must have a track record of innovative problem-solving through decisive consensus-building.
• Recognized as a forward thinking, inspirational leader, morale-enhancer and organizational builder; pragmatic visionary leadership skills.
• Entrepreneurial in seeing the ability to provide strong academic programs in areas that enhance the sustainability of the University.
• Demonstrated commitment to mentoring of new and junior faculty as well as to supporting graduate student endeavors.
• A non-bureaucratic, open, inclusive, and accessible style which fosters transparency and participation, with a view of deans/chairs/directors as business partners.
• Demonstrated ability to assess the strengths, weaknesses, areas of needed growth, and motivating factors of people.
• Able to make hard decisions and deal effectively with conflict.
• Diplomatic, polite and civil, yet direct and unafraid to take calculated risks.
• An outgoing, civil, respectful, highly energetic, positive style. Visible on campus. Roll-up-the­sleeves manner and style.
• Thoughtfully articulate with superior listening and enabling skills. Superb interpersonal, small- and large-group communication skills.

Personal Attributes:

• Models the life and teachings of Jesus.
• Commitment to the unique role and mission of Washington Adventist University and of Adventist Christian education.
• Demonstrates the highest degree of personal and professional integrity.
• Possesses a superior intellect and is strongly driven to make a difference.
• Engages colleagues in a respectful and thoughtful manner.
• Is a creative and curious thinker.

BENEFITS
The full fringe benefit plan includes but is not limited to:

• Health care, including vision, dental, and prescription drugs
• Flexible Spending Plans
• Competitive 403B plan
• Individualized retirement planning sessions
• Tuition assistance for employees and dependents for students who attend Adventist schools
• Life insurance including supplemental and accidental death and dismemberment policies
• Long Term Disability
• Paid time off for holidays, along with paid vacation and sick leave.

LOCATION:  Takoma Park, MD—On-site/In-office.  NOTE: This position is not eligible for any type of regular remote or teleworking arrangement. For candidates living outside of the MD geographical area, relocation is required.

LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE NOTICES
Washington Adventist University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability in employment or in the provision of services. WAU complies with all applicable federal and state laws, including the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please contact the Office of Human Resources. Washington Adventist University provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Maryland law.

As a religiously affiliated institution, Washington Adventist University exercises its constitutional and statutory rights to give preference in employment to members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and reserves the right to claim exemption from certain provisions of Title IX and Title VII where they conflict with the university’s religious beliefs and values.