The College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) at Northern Illinois University seeks a chair, the chief academic and administrative officer of a school to be named, to build a collaborative and inclusive community. The chair will be accountable directly to the dean of the college for all aspects of the operation of and planning for the school.  The school is composed of undergraduate and graduate academic programs, including the degrees in B.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences with emphases in Child Development and Family Social Services, B.S. in Communicative Disorders, B.S. in Fashion Merchandising, M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology, M.S. in Applied Human Development and Family Sciences with an additional emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Doctor of Audiology.  The school also houses minors in Communicative Disorders, Family and Child Studies, Fashion Merchandising, Financial Counseling and Gerontology as well as certificates in Illinois Director Credential, Illinois Early Childhood Education Credential, Illinois Family Specialist Credential, Infant Toddler Credential, and Leadership in Aging.  Further, faculty in the school support Ph.D. in Health Sciences students, a program that emphasizes an interprofessional orientation to research and practice.

In accordance with applicable university, college, and school bylaws and policies, the chair is responsible for: 

• Defining the school's scope, mission, and objectives 
• Providing leadership in the school's capacity to carry out its mission and accomplish its objectives. 
• Supporting strategic growth in instructional, research/scholarly, and public service areas. 
• Assuring and, whenever possible, improving the school's capacity to carry out its mission and accomplish its objectives with distinction. 
• Serving as a member of the college senior leadership team. 
• Advocating for the academic programs in the school. 
• Serving as the spokesperson for all official communications and transactions with employees, other units of the university, alumni, and external constituents. 
• Representing the school at university events. 
• Demonstrating and promoting sensitivity to equity, diversity, and inclusion. 
• Developing and administering effective operating policies and practices for the school. 
• Directing day-to-day operational responsibilities of the school. 
• Overseeing scheduling of courses. 
• Assigning workload and schedules of employees. 
• Coordinating program review, accreditation, and other reporting activities as applicable 
• Facilitating curricular recommendations. 
• Making recommendations regarding promotion and/or tenure. 
• Managing resources assigned to the school. 
• Planning, obtaining, budgeting, allocating and managing resources. 
• Making budget, curricular, and personnel recommendations. 
• Overseeing student recruitment, retention, advisement, and enrollment management strategies, plans, and activities. 
• Encouraging proposals for external and internal funding. 
• Engaging in advancement activities in coordination with the Dean and college advancement professional. 
• Coordinating the selection and hiring of all classification of employees. 
• Supervising employees assigned to the school. 
• Exercising independent judgment in conducting evaluations of employees and in taking personnel actions such as progressive discipline, corrective action, and/or remediation, including recommendation for discharge or termination. 
  Assuming an academic and scholarly role within the school. 
• Maintaining professional/disciplinary currency. 
• Fostering excellence in teaching and scholarship. 
• Demonstrating and promoting sensitivity to student issues. 

(Minimum/Basic Required Qualifications)

• Earned doctorate in a related health or human sciences field. 

• A record of accomplishment consistent with tenure and rank of associate or full professor in one of the programs housed in the school. 

• Advancing roles of mentorship and leadership experience. 

• Significant accomplishments in teaching, research/scholarly activities, and service 

(Additional Requirements)

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) 

• Excellent organizational skills 

• Strong leadership acumen 

• Ability to problem solve 

• Detail oriented 

• Strong work ethic 

• Ability to think critically and strategically 

• Facility in promoting a positive culture and climate 

(Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience with transdisciplinary research.  

• Experience in budget planning and decision-making 

• Experience in personnel supervision and management 

• Experience in curriculum and program development 

• Experience in program accreditation and program outcomes evaluation 

• Qualifications consistent with appointment at full professor status 

• Experience in fundraising including donor relations 

• Demonstrated skill in team building and strategic planning 

• Prior roles engaging directly with university-level administration