Dean of Work

Position: Dean of Work

Status: Regular Full-time Exempt

Department: Office of the President

Reports to: President

Salary: $90000.00 - $110000 annually

Why Paul Smiths College

Paul Smiths College has been producing work-ready graduates with sharp minds and calloused hands for over 80 years. Located in the heart of New Yorks six-million-acre Adirondack Park the College offers hands-on learning in fields such as environmental studies forestry hospitality culinary arts natural sciences and sustainability. Paul Smiths College is dedicated to preparing students for leadership in meaningful careers creating sustainable communities and fostering a resilient planet. Its immersive experiential approach blends academic rigor with real-world application in one of the most beautiful inspiring and ecologically rich regions in the country.

Position Overview

The Dean of Work at Paul Smiths College directs a comprehensive Work Experience Program aligning campus employment with hands-on academic curricula. This is a newly created position in response to the recently expanded Work Experience Program at Paul Smiths College. This 12-month administrator will manage campus-wide work placements evaluate student and work crew performance and partner with a variety of campus operations and institutes.

The Dean of Work provides strategic and operational leadership for all student labor and experiential work programs across the colleges 13000-acre Adirondack campus. This role ensures that student employment serves as a vital co-curricular touchstone fostering work ethic professional competency and financial self-reliance. This cabinet-level position reports directly to the Office of the President.

Key Responsibilities:

• Program Strategy & Development: Design and scale a unified student work program blending operational campus needs (e.g. forestry culinary hospitality and research) with intentional learning outcomes. The program design will follow Federal Work College regulations.

• Operations & Placement: Oversee placement tracking and evaluation of student workers in partnership with campus work crew supervisors.

• Assessment: Monitor student labor performance and retention impact. Oversee the development and implementation of a student Work Transcript.

• Budget & Compliance: Manage student employment budgets and adherence to federal/state labor standards.

• Community Partnerships: Cultivate internal and external partnerships to expand meaningful micro-credentialing and hands-on skill acquisition.

• Enterprise Development: Develop external-facing student enterprises in collaboration with the Office of Strategic Initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Education: Masters degree in Higher Education Administration Business Management Student Affairs or related field (Doctorate preferred).

• Experience: Minimum 710 years of progressive leadership in higher education experiential education or operational management. The ideal candidate would have prior experience at a federally recognized Work College.

• Skills: Strong understanding of student development theory labor management budget oversight and small-campus operations.

• Attributes: Deep appreciation for hands-on place-based education within a rural residential forest setting.

Paul Smiths College is an equal opportunity employer. Position descriptions are created that focus on essential functions using inclusive language and avoid unnecessary or discriminatory requirements.

Review of applicants starts immediately!