Academic Dean

Academic Dean

Permanent contract: Urgent/Location: Abu Dhabi

Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, in the top 3 for Employer Reputation of Hospitality & Leisure Management graduates by the QS World University Ranking, is a brand of the Sommet Education Group. Founded in 1954, Les Roches is a private institution based on the Swiss model of experiential learning, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of hospitality, tourism and event management. Les Roches prepares entrepreneurial and innovative graduates across a global network of campuses in Crans-Montana (Switzerland), Marbella (Spain) and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates).

You share our values: Development, Distinctiveness, Joint commitment, Openness and Sense of service.

Purpose:

As part of the leadership team, the Academic Dean works in close collaboration with his/her colleagues, Assistant Deans and faculty. He/she is a leader, a team player and a communicator with strong problem solving skills, combined with an in-depth understanding of the academic world in the hospitality domain.

The Academic Dean drives excellence in teaching, managing and learning through pedagogical innovations and solutions incorporating new technology, online, and blended options. In the same way that he/she mentors and nurtures students, he/she has a developmental role for staff and faculty.

He/she will make the academy embody Emirati hospitality identity through bespoke curriculum and approach where practices and values of authentic Emirati traditions are brought to the forefront. He/she ensures integration of Emirati hospitality values and principles into curriculum development and faculty training initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

The Academic Dean is responsible for:

• Undergraduate and graduate program planning and development
  
• Overseeing the overall academic integrity and delivery of the institution
  
• Student academic progress and satisfaction
  
• Hiring, managing and developing academic staff to achieve institutional goals.
  
• Foster a culture and an environment conducive to academic excellence, respect, and trust in accordance with the brand/campus spirit and values.
  
• Develop, communicate, and promote the school strategy and program portfolio.
  
• Be responsible for teaching and learning activities on the campus, managing his/her team and his/her budget.
  
• Hire, onboard, develop and allocate faculty into Undergraduate and Graduate programs in conjunction with Assistant Deans.
  
• Lead and manage a team of faculty to achieve the planning, delivery, quality, and development of the program;
  
• Provide leadership in his/her area of expertise to the entire academic community.
  
• Develop, monitor, improve and run state of the art undergraduate and graduate programs.
  
• Network actively with the hospitality industry to seek external expertise
  
• Establish strategic partnership with Emirati hospitality leaders to bring authentic industry practices into the academic environment and enhance student employability within the local context.
  
• Communicate effectively with all involved stakeholders.
  
• Be key contributor to obtaining accreditation, implementing and maintaining required standards.
  
• Plan, monitor, and assure quality, compliance, and effective execution of faculty workload and academic activities.
  
• Lead faculty performance appraisal, evaluation, and professional development, including scholarship and emerging projects.
• Oversee student induction, assessment, discipline, support, student-centred learning, teaching technology, and employability outcomes.
• Support marketing, admissions, industry engagement, recruitment, and ensure cross-campus collaboration and consistency.
• Implements strategies to ensure cross-campus collaboration and consistency of student and faculty experiences.

Education and Professional Qualifications:

PhD in hospitality or related field.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of academic managerial experience (Dean, Associate Dean, Assistant Dean, Academic Director) in the field of hospitality education, or related field, at university level
  
• Demonstrated experience in the educational sector within the UAE, including familiarity with MOHESR, CAA, ADEK, and KHDA regulations
  
• Experience working in hospitality industry
  
• Experience working in UAE or GCC preferred

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated leadership skills and impact in an academic setting.
  Pragmatic and entrepreneurial.
  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and fluency in spoken and written English.
  
• Demonstrated ability to work with multicultural teams and in an international environment.
  
• Highly developed interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.