Department Head, Health Sciences

The Department Head for Health Sciences provides academic leadership, instructional oversight, and operational management for health sciences curriculum and workforce/continuing education programs within the School of Health, Wellness and Public Safety. The position includes teaching, supervisory, and administrative responsibilities. The Department Head coordinates and directs courses and faculty; supports credential and credit workforce and curriculum programs; and ensures program quality, compliance, and alignment with workforce needs.Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
General Operations and Program Oversight

• Ensure compliance with all institutional policies and procedures, relevant laws, accreditation standards, and regulatory requirements specific to health sciences programs 
• Establish and monitor department processes to meet clinical site requirements, including student health/safety documentation, background checks, drug screens, immunizations, and related onboarding requirements (as applicable)
• Analyze and report key performance indicators (enrollment, retention, completion, licensure/pass rates, placement outcomes, and employer feedback) to inform scheduling, resource decisions, and continuous improvement
• Coordinate department-level risk management and emergency preparedness for labs and clinical learning environments, including incident reporting and corrective actions in collaboration with relevant college offices
• Participate in college-wide committees and contribute to institutional policies and practices 
• Organize and chair faculty meetings to address departmental priorities, strategies, and operations 
• Provide leadership and oversight, while working collaboratively with program coordinators and directors to:
  1. review and approve class assignments and schedules that meet student demand and program completion timelines
  2. monitor enrollment trends and adjust course offerings accordingly
  3. ensure accurate program records, reports, and documentation are maintained
  4. complete annual program reviews and intensive program review processes
  5. advance the development of Economic Guided Pathways and credit for prior learning initiatives
  6. develop and deliver up to date, in demand training programs

Personnel Management

• Recruit, hire, supervise, and evaluate full-time and part-time faculty and staff 
• Conduct annual evaluations, including goal setting, mid-year check-ins, and end-of-year performance feedback 
• Mentor faculty and staff, and support professional development 
• Monitor faculty and staff workloads and instructional assignments 
• Address and mediate issues involving faculty, staff, and students 

Program Management

• Provide leadership across a broad portfolio of health sciences programs, including certificate and degree pathways such as Medical Laboratory Technology, Radiography, Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Technology, Health and Fitness Science, Therapeutic Massage, Medical Assisting, Nurse Aide, Ophthalmology Assistant, EKG Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and other associated workforce programs. 
• Supervise and support program coordinators and directors in ensuring programs meet accreditation, licensure, and regulatory requirements (e.g., clinical hours, competencies, credentialing standards)
• Provide oversight of clinical partnership coordination, ensuring appropriate opportunities for student placement, supervision, and compliance with external agency requirements 
• Facilitate curriculum development, revision, and alignment with industry standards and workforce needs 
• Supervise and support program coordinators and directors to ensure program advisory boards meet regularly and that industry partners are actively engaged
• Ensure quality and consistency of instruction across face-to-face, hybrid, and online delivery formats 
• Teach assigned courses (12-15 contact hrs annually) and maintain professional currency and any required credentials/licensure; integrate current standards, technology, and evidence-based practices into instruction
• Stay current on student advising practices to assist department faculty and staff with student enrollment and completion.

Financial and Resource Management

• Manage departmental budgets and ensure alignment with institutional priorities 
• Oversee procurement, maintenance, and lifecycle planning of specialized health sciences equipment and lab resources 
• Ensure labs and instructional spaces meet safety, accessibility, and infection-control expectations; coordinate inspections, corrective actions, and documentation as required
• Support grant development and external funding opportunities where applicable

Student and Community Engagement

• Foster an environment that supports student success, retention, and completion 
• Address student concerns and support resolution of academic or clinical issues 
• Support consistent application of student conduct, clinical professionalism, and progression policies; partner with Student Services and clinical sites to resolve concerns and document outcomes
• Oversee advising processes within the department 
• Collaborate with marketing and recruitment teams to promote programs 
• Build partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, and K-12 systems to support recruitment and workforce pipelines

Required education and experience:

• Master’s degree in a health sciences discipline or closely related field 
• Minimum of two years of successful teaching experience in a community college or postsecondary setting 
• Experience in healthcare or health sciences-related field

Preferred education and experience:

• Administrative or supervisory experience in higher education or healthcare training programs 
• Experience with program accreditation and regulatory compliance 
• Experience coordinating clinical education or workforce training programs

Does this Position Supervise: Yes
Supervises multiple fulltime WCE and CU program directors and fulltime WCE and CU instructors as well as parttime instructors and administrative staff.

Salary : $80,000 - $90,000