Associate Director\/Director Of Sustainable Ecotourism And Recreation Programs

Job Details

Job Location

New Gloucester - New Gloucester, ME

Education Level

Graduate Degree

Description

About Unity College:

For more than fifty years, Unity College has been preparing the next generation of environmental professionals and leaders to successfully face real-world challenges. With environmentally focused degrees, Unity College offers affordable and accessible degrees, certificates, and non-degree courses, through a variety of modalities including hybrid, in-person, hyflex, and online.

Our Mission:

Through the framework of sustainability science, Unity College provides a liberal arts education that emphasizes the environment and natural resources. Through experiential and collaborative learning, our graduates emerge as responsible citizens, environmental stewards, and visionary leaders.

Position Overview:

The primary responsibility of the Distance Education (DE) Director of Sustainable Ecotourism and Recreation Programs is to assist the DE Dean of Sustainability Studies by developing and growing new baccalaureate programs of study in ecotourism and travel services management, sustainable hospitality administration, parks, recreation and leisure studies, and/or other related areas. Distance Education Program Directors are expected to design programs that are responsive to market data and potential employer needs, oversee curriculum design at the program and course level, monitor and report on program viability and relevance, support program recruitment and marketing efforts, and provide other services as needed.

This position works closely with and reports to the Dean of Sustainability Studies and is based in the Unity College Distance Education offices located in New Gloucester, Maine.

Responsibilities:

DE Instructional Unit: Curriculum Development, Implementation, and Management

• Other duties as assigned.
• Oversee hiring and supervision of SMEs for course design.
• Assess and evaluate courses and programs related to ecotourism, sustainability hospitality administration, parks, recreation and leisure studies, and other areas as assigned.
• Pro-actively communicate challenges, successes, and failures with the Dean of Sustainability Studies.
• Support the Dean of Sustainability Studies in maintaining the integrity of the curriculum, including any accreditation requirements.
• Teach up to 240 student credit hours per calendar year as assigned.
• Oversee hiring and supervision of qualified instructors for courses within ecotourism, hospitality, and leisure studies programs.
• Demonstrate knowledge of learning models, appropriate online pedagogies, and effective use of technological tools to support adult and non-traditional learners.
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for program and course design.
• Develop and grow baccalaureate programs in areas related to sustainable ecotourism and travel services management, sustainable hospitality administration, parks, recreation, and leisure studies, and other related areas that align with the Colleges mission and vision and are financially viable.

DE SEBU: Communication and Student-Focused Collaboration and Problem-solving

• Participate in Distance Education governance (task groups) as assigned.
• Become knowledgeable and articulate about Unity College Distance Education, its programs, market niche, strategies, and procedures.
• Work with Distance Education staff and leaders to develop strategies for effective advising and retention efforts.
• Demonstrate a high degree of commitment to customer service and quality education.
• Develop and update the course delivery schedule in collaboration with DE academic and student support faculty and staff.
• Collaborate with DE academic and student support faculty and staff to address student concerns.

Unity College: Understanding, Representing, and Working Within the Enterprise Model

• Demonstrate understanding of and ability to work within the Unity College Enterprise Model.
• Professionally represent Unity College Distance Education through scholarship, outreach, and professional platforms.

Qualifications

Full job description provided at the time of interview.

Required:

• Ability to function effectively within a matrix organizational structure, maintaining open lines of communication while being discreet, courteous, and poised.
• At minimum, a Masters degree and a record of professional or scholarly achievement in a field related to ecotourism, sustainable travel or hospitality services, or recreation and leisure studies. A Ph.D. is preferred.
• Ability and willingness to work with students from diverse political/socioeconomic backgrounds and a wide range of physical and academic abilities.
• Strong interest in innovative, accessible higher education.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including facility with technical terminology appropriate to the position.
• Good skills in word processing, spreadsheets, and computerized database systems.
• Experience in online course design and LMS use.
• Excellent initiative and organizational skills with the ability to work both autonomously and in a team.
• Experience administering online courses in an adult market is preferred.
• Personal commitment to the environmental focus and mission of the college.
• Great time management skills.

Work Schedule / Availability Requirements

Work hours are specific to the requirements of this position and can include days, evenings, and weekends. Working extended hours required as needed. Must be flexible and cooperative in fulfilling responsibilities and meeting the Colleges needs. Although Unity College employees are generally scheduled to work at their specifically assigned locations, there are times when travel is necessary and employees are required from time to time to attend events, meetings or work temporary assignment at any Unity College location.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, it is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The use of either hand for repetitive movements such as grasping, grasping and turning, and fine manipulation is required as is the ability to use the telephone for internal and external communications.

Location: Pineland Farms, New Gloucester, Maine

Just a half hour from Portland, Unity College Headquarters, Unity College Distance Education, The Technical School for Environmental Professions (opening in 2022), and the School of Environmental Business & Sustainable Ventures are based at the Pineland Farms campus. The facilities are within easy access to one of the fastest-growing cities for startups in the country.

Benefits:

Unity College offers a comprehensive and competitive compensation and benefits package for its faculty and staff. Benefits for eligible employees include:

• Dental
• Flexible work benefit eligible
• Paid holidays
• Vision
• Medical
• Life Insurance
• Paid time off
• Short- and Long-term disability