Candidate Profile

Stonehill College seeks a dynamic leader who is innovative, energetic, and entrepreneurial for the position of Dean of the Meehan School of Business. The Dean will demonstrate a broad understanding of the direction of business education, the ability to articulate and implement a vision, and the skills to successfully manage change. The Dean will have exemplary academic achievements, together with strategic leadership ability; outstanding interpersonal and communication skills; entrepreneurial spirit and high energy; the ability to garner financial and other resources; and a passion for the mission of Stonehill College. The Dean will be a collaborator, able to work effectively with a broad range of constituents, including senior leadership, faculty, students, staff, alumni, donors, and external partners.  The Dean will serve as a role model in team-building and establishing open communication and collaboration with faculty and staff.

The ideal candidate will come from a background of substantive leadership within higher education, combined with some experience working with the business community. Candidates must demonstrate evidence of excellent financial and management skills, the ability to make difficult choices, to prioritize tasks and agendas, to delegate responsibility appropriately, and to make decisions under constraints; as well as collaborative skills in working with colleagues, department heads, faculty and staff. The Dean will demonstrate a track record of commitment to student success, to diversity, to strong engagement with diverse constituents, and to building diverse leadership teams. Above all, the Dean must be an advocate for the Meehan School and embrace Stonehill College’s vision, mission and values. 

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• An advanced degree; a Ph.D. or other terminal degree appropriate to the role is preferred;
• Scholarly or professional accomplishments of a level that merit full-time faculty status in the Meehan School of Business; scholarly publication worthy of a full Professor is desirable;
• At least five years of demonstrated managerial and leadership experience, including at least three (3) years of successful leadership at the Chair, Director, Dean, or equivalent leadership level;
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of a business school within a liberal arts College that is moving towards becoming a comprehensive university;
• Understanding of the research process, and a record of fostering excellence in instruction, research and service; a commitment to strengthening and broadening scholarship across the School, to actively supporting and encouraging faculty, and to promoting faculty success and ensuring opportunities for their growth and development;
• A working knowledge of accreditation processes and oversight responsibilities; knowledge of AACSB accreditation would be particularly valuable;
• Demonstrated success in external relations and community engagement with the necessary energy and ability to work effectively with the business community, donors, alumni and other constituents in resource development;
• Ability to promote and work effectively within a diverse, multicultural environment; and,
• Skills in identifying emerging opportunities and positioning the Meehan School to develop and implement new undergraduate and graduate programs and foster entrepreneurial spirit; a vision for using information technology and prior experience developing innovative programs.

Qualities, Characteristics and Competencies

• Exceptional leadership and vision: Evidence of ability to provide leadership in vision and strategic direction through the implementation of a strategic plan, in collaboration with faculty, and to operationalize these strategies and objectives in direct support of the College’s strategic plan and objectives;
• A commitment to student success, and the capability to engage faculty and staff in pursuit of its attainment;
• Organizational, management and team-building skills; a strong sense of fiscal accountability; a commitment to transparency; a willingness to delegate; and experience leveraging limited resources to achieve innovative results;
• Collegiality as reflected in a commitment to shared governance and participatory decision-making; the ability to build relationships and connections across disciplines, to motivate and energize others to work together, and to collaborate with multiple stakeholders; an open mindset that solicits and understands diverse viewpoints and approaches;
• Strong communication abilities, including listening skills and a passion for communicating the vision, mission, strengths and aspirations of the Meehan School; excellent negotiation and diplomatic skills;
• A proven record as a fair and just decision-maker with a reputation for transparency, personal and professional integrity, and high ethical standards, who will equitably and vigorously promote excellence and uphold quality in the School while understanding that excellence may be demonstrated in various ways;
• Collaborative and team-oriented leadership style; good judgment in recognizing talent and assessing where improvements are needed; the ability to make appropriate connections and build synergies; an open-minded, flexible, and creative approach to problem-solving;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills; creativity; a high level of energy and confidence; a positive and productive attitude; combined with patience; perseverance; empathy; a willingness to learn; and a good sense of humor.