Chairperson, ESL, Languages and Cultures

Job Description

Classification Title: Chairperson, ESL, Languages and Cultures

Salary: $120,366.00 Annually (12-month position)

Department: ESL, Languages and Cultures

Pay Grade: CHB

Reports To: Dean, Liberal Arts

FLSA Status: Exempt

Unit: Administrative

Opening Date: 9/24/2026

Closing Date: 10/25/2026 11:59 p.m.

ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY 

Middlesex College invites applications for Chairperson of ESL, Languages and Cultures. This position offers an exceptional opportunity to lead a department central to the College’s commitment to educational access, student success, and cultural understanding. Through English as a Second Language, world language, and cultural studies courses and programs, the department helps multilingual learners develop the skills needed for college success while providing students across the College with opportunities to strengthen their language proficiency, cultural awareness, and ability to engage with an increasingly interconnected world. 

The Chairperson will lead an engaged group of full- and part-time faculty within a collaborative Liberal Arts division that welcomes thoughtful innovation, interdisciplinary partnerships, and new academic initiatives. Working closely with faculty, staff, and College leadership, the Chairperson will strengthen curriculum and programs, support faculty development, oversee student placement and advisement, and build productive relationships with schools, community organizations, workforce partners, and four-year institutions. 

For a collaborative academic leader committed to language education and the community college mission, this position provides a meaningful opportunity to shape the future of a distinctive academic department, respond to the evolving needs of students and the surrounding community, contribute to broader institutional priorities, and continue developing as a leader at Middlesex College. The successful candidate will bring academic vision, cultural awareness, sound judgment, openness to new ideas, and the ability to balance long-term goals with the daily responsibilities of departmental leadership. 

 
 GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

The Chairperson for ESL, Languages and Cultures provides instructional leadership and administrative oversight for all ESL and Language courses and programs at Middlesex College. The Chairperson works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and the College’s administrative team to provide a high-quality learning environment for students.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Functions:

1. Establishes a collaborative working environment and fosters effective communications within the department, division, and campus.
2. Hires, supervises, and evaluates full-time and part-time faculty and staff.
3. Recommends tenure, promotion or termination of faculty/staff to the Division Dean.
4. Manages staff workflow and production.
5. Performs faculty and staff performance evaluations.
6. Supports the professional development of faculty and staff.
7. Works collaboratively with department faculty to develop and approve curricula, select textbooks, and to implement new instructional and support materials/services.
8. Creates semester schedule and assigns courses to full-time and part-time faculty.
9. Develops departmental annual operating plans and budget for the approval of the Division Dean and operates department within approved budget.
10. Advises Division Dean on all matters pertaining to departmental facility, curriculum, and staff needs; prepares funding proposals to supplement existing budget when appropriate.
11. Oversees departmental assessment activities, implements changes as needed, and reports progress to the Division Dean.
12. Organizes, leads, and/or participates in department and division meetings.
13. Participates actively in division and College committees, meetings, and public outreach efforts.
14. Collaborates with other College departments and offices to coordinate adequate academic support and services for students. 
15. Collaborates with other chairs and departments to plan, research, develop, and implement Liberal Arts initiatives. 
16. Pursues cooperative working relationships with area K-12 partners, life-long learning/Workforce development, and baccalaureate degree-granting institutions. 
17. Pursues grant funding where appropriate for the enhancement of courses and programs offered through the department and oversees the implementation and budget for all departmental grants.
18. Oversees the placement and advisement of ESL and language students.
19. Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

SCHEDULE: Twelve (12)-month position, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

RETIREMENT:  Pension Eligible

NJ First Act

Any Middlesex College employee hired after September 1, 2011 will have to meet the New Jersey residency law requirement. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Middlesex College is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, marital status, familial status, religion, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, liability for service in the armed forces of the United States, or disability.

Affirmative Action and Compliance Statement

Middlesex College is firmly committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action. The College will implement this policy to assure that the educational programs, activities, services, benefits and employment opportunities offered by the College are available to all persons regardless of sex, race, creed, national origin, ancestry, nationality, color, marital status, civil union or domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, age, handicap (and/or disability), service in the armed forces, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, refusal to submit to genetic tests, or refusal to make available results of genetic tests, in accordance with State and Federal laws. All employees and students are expected to accept these principles and to reflect their spirit in everyday relationships with fellow employees and students. Inquiries regarding compliance may be directed to the Affirmative Action Officer, Middlesex College, Chambers Hall, 2600 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, New Jersey 08818-3050.

Salary : $120,366