Dean of Portland Seminary
4 days ago
Portland
Job Description George Fox University's Portland Seminary announces an exceptional opportunity for a mission-driven leader to serve as Dean. We seek a Christ-centered leader with demonstrated academic and executive leadership experience who will guide the Seminary's mission, support its learning community, and advance theological education for service in the Church and the world. The successful candidate will demonstrate leadership marked by character, competency, calling, and collaboration. About the Job: The Dean of Portland Seminary is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced leader committed to theological education that prepares Christian ministers for God's work in the world. Portland Seminary was founded in 1947 by five Wesleyan Holiness denominations and became part of George Fox University in 1996. Today, we are a national seminary with nearly 2,500 alumni and 300 students across all programs, preparing women and men from more than 35 denominations for service. The Dean is primarily responsible for the Seminary's mission and vision, as well as for the spiritual and relational well-being of the learning community. As the unit's chief administrative officer, the Dean is responsible for academic program offerings, quality, viability, and assessment; planning and budgeting; faculty hiring, promotion, and development; and external relations, including donor relationships, the Seminary Board of Regents, and church and missional organizations. The Dean reports at a senior level within the University to the Academic Leadership Team (led by the University Provost) and oversees the faculty and staff for the Seminary's master's and doctoral programs. The Dean is also a member of various university committees and other initiatives as assigned. Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to: • Academic & Program Leadership:, • Overseeing all master's and doctoral program curricular revisions, ensuring alignment with Association of Theological Schools (ATS) accreditation standards., • Fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in academic programs and institutional effectiveness., • Evaluating the seminary's effectiveness in achieving its mission, programs, and student and institutional outcomes., • Promoting excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to the church and parachurch among faculty, staff, students, and university constituents., • Recruiting and retaining high-quality faculty and staff., • External Relations & Partnerships, • Developing and maintaining productive relationships with on- and off-campus constituencies, particularly with the university's heritage communities (Wesleyan Holiness and Evangelical Friends groups) and the broader evangelical community., • Strategically managing and overseeing student recruitment initiatives by cultivating and strengthening partnerships with denominations, churches, and church networks, while fostering a culture dedicated to strong student retention., • Maintaining a strong relationship with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), including participation in conferences and engagement with institutional resources., • Administration & Resource Management, • Managing seminary budgets, fiscal planning, forecasting, and external fundraising in coordination with university guidelines., • Partnering with Advancement to support regular donor engagement, recruitment initiatives, and fundraising campaigns., • Collaborating with the Seminary Board of Regents to ensure the vision and strategic direction align with the seminary's mission and to steward endowment dividend funds effectively., • Developing a seminary team culture of trust, engagement, and well-being., • Creating and maintaining a coherent marketing and communication strategy in partnership with the University's Marketing and Communications department., • Communicating effectively and courteously with others, including employees, students, and the public, in a spirit of teamwork, respect and customer service., • By actions, words, and lifestyle, be a Christian role model to students, whether through casual contact or in a formal supervisory role., • Demonstrated experience working cross culturally with respect, appreciation and humility., • Other duties as assigned. We're looking for candidates who have: • An earned doctorate with a degree in a discipline represented within the seminary or otherwise appropriate for the position., • Demonstrated engagement either in the academy and/or in a national professional arena., • Demonstrated executive leadership experience in the church or in a nonprofit., • Character demonstrated through traits and values consistent with a Christ-centered, relational approach to leadership., • Competency demonstrated through executive leadership ability, appropriate educational and professional attainment, and relevant experience., • Calling reflected in a commitment to Christ and the Church, Christian higher education, and the mission and goals of both the University and Portland Seminary., • Collaboration demonstrated through a commitment to team-based processes that emphasize discernment, diplomacy, and an other-oriented focus., • Experience in intellectually and spiritually forming individuals within a congregational or missional setting, with a particular network among and emphasis on evangelical Christian churches in the university's region (Portland and the Pacific Northwest)., • Ability to articulate the mission of Portland Seminary and understand and support the mission of the University., • Demonstrated executive leadership and administrative skills., • Strong written and oral communication skills., • Participatory leadership and management style that encourages and values input from others., • Ability to lead teams to achieve exceptional outcomes, contribute effectively as a team member, and guide strategic planning efforts., • Experience in budget and personnel management., • Legal authorization to work in the United States. This position does not offer visa sponsorship; therefore, only applicants who do not require sponsorship for employment visas, now or at any point in the future, should apply., • A commitment to the University's Theology of Racial and Ethnic Diversity., • A desire to work with a diverse community of students and employees who represent various cultures, backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, political views, and expressions of Christian faith., • A personal commitment to Jesus Christ and express their Christian testimony in a church. In addition, employees agree to live in agreement with the Community Lifestyle Statement and affirm the theological commitments expressed in the Statement of Faith. Job information: • Hours Per Week: 40 hours per week, • Primary Work Location*: Portland Campus, • Working Conditions: Those of a normal working environment. George Fox University has been transforming student's lives for over 125 years. We are a Christ-centered community that prepares students spiritually, academically, and professionally to think with clarity, act with integrity, and serve with passion. Our vision is to be the Christian university of choice known for empowering students to achieve exceptional life outcomes. We put students first, with Christ at the center of our work, embracing change in order to improve. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates to join us in creating transformational experiences for our students. Being a part of our community means a commitment to faith and to a lifestyle that is consistent with the university's mission as described in the Statement of Faith and Community Lifestyle Statement on our website. As a Christ-centered community, George Fox University is an institution that values diversity as an essential dimension of God's design for human communities. In seeking to become a more inclusive community, we especially encourage applications from women and candidates from racial and ethnic backgrounds that are underrepresented in our community. What is most appealing about working at George Fox University? • Faith-friendly: Our culture is unique for higher education. At George Fox you can pursue academic excellence while integrating scriptures, praying with staff members and students at work, and helping to make an impact on the world in a way that promotes Christian values., • Unapologetically Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, his kingdom and the truth of God's Word., • Live out your calling: You are able to use your God-given talents and abilities while having a profound influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ., • Equip students for kingdom work: You can be a part of helping students discover their callings, at which they will be able to glorify the kingdom of God just as they have seen you do. For your personal well-being we offer: • A strong Christian vision and mission-led organization with opportunities for your growth and contributions., • Wonderful Christian peers and a vibrant student population., • A beautiful and peaceful campus environment with areas to walk and coffee shops and restaurants close by., • Free Fitness Center membership., • Free parking., • Rich employee benefit package., • *Flexible work arrangements available, • For employees approved to work remotely outside of Oregon and Washington, employment will be facilitated through our employer of record partner whose benefits package and eligibility requirements differ from that of George Fox University. Application Procedures - kindly apply only through this website When completing the online application, please upload the following as Word or .pdf documents in the section marked Letter of Interest and Curriculum Vitae or Resume: • Letter of Interest, • Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume, • Other supporting materials may be requested at a later stage of the review process., • Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. We invite you to Be Known at Oregon's largest private and nationally recognized Christian University! **This position is subject to close at any time, regardless of the date on the posting. **Have questions or need assistance with our application process? Contact Equal Employment Opportunity Policy The university is an equal-opportunity employer. Every employee has the right to work in surroundings free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. It is our policy to make decisions about applicants and employees without regard to sex, age, race, color, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status to the extent prohibited by applicable local, state, or federal law. This prohibition applies not only to the recruiting and hiring process but to all facets of the employment relationship, including promotion, pay, training, classification, performance reviews, discipline, and termination. George Fox is owned by the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church and its mission is distinctly Christian. Employees are required to agree with and abide by the university's faith statement and its statement of community responsibilities. Within the context of this agreement and commitment, employment opportunities are otherwise available to all persons on the basis of their experience and skills. In the recruiting process, the university may make special effort to solicit applicants from underrepresented groups. This is done as an affirmative step to increase the representation of these populations in the university's workforce to better match their availability in the labor market. Hiring decisions are based on the applicants' qualifications as they relate to the needs of the position.