Job Overview

WittKieffer is assisting the University of Cincinnati in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by December 15, 2023. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal. TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ROLE, PLEASE DO NOT APPLY TO THIS POSTING. YOU MUST APPLY THROUGH WITTKIEFFER'S CANDIDATE PORTAL.

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to more than 50,000 students, about 11,000 faculty and staff and 332,000 alumni, UC combines a Top 35 public research university with a physical setting The New York Times calls “the most ambitious campus design program in the country.”

The University of Cincinnati seeks an innovative and dynamic leader to serve as Dean of the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). CCM, whose mission is to provide life-changing experiences within a highly creative and multidisciplinary artistic environment, is a premier higher education institution of performance and media arts, administration, and production. The college hosts 1,000 events each year from solo recitals to fully staged theatrical performances. One of 15 distinct colleges at UC, CCM offers nine degree programs in more than 100 possible majors and is nationally and internationally recognized for its programs. To learn more about our world-class college and its 150-year history visit http://ccm.uc.edu.

Essential Functions

The Dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of the college with responsibility for leading the faculty and staff; ensuring the integrity, accountability and continuous improvement of academic programs and services; building and maintaining relationships with the community; promoting student success and satisfaction; promoting significant fundraising activities; increasing enrollment; managing resources; enhancing the scholarly, creative, and research missions of the college; and maintaining effective relations with other UC units. The ideal candidate will be a fiscally responsible and visionary leader, with demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, who will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, UC’s president, provost, and other deans to develop, refine, and enhance the college’s role within the university and connection to the community at large. In particular, the Dean will ensure that CCM continues to be a distinctive, internationally renowned college of music, theater, and dance, as well as an integral part of the University of Cincinnati’s strategic direction as a premier urban university guided by the institution’s Next Lives Here vision, especially in the areas of media, performance and production.

Reporting to the university’s Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Dean is a member of the Council of Deans and participates in the governance of the university. The Dean will be responsible for implementing the policies and procedures developed by the Board of Trustees and administrative leadership of the campus and the University as a whole. In accomplishing this task, the Dean will seek opportunities for collaboration with colleges, schools and other academic units on the main academic campus, and the medical and regional campuses.

Required Experience

While it is expected that the Dean will possess a distinguished scholarly and/or creative academic record and qualify for placement academically in one of the College’s academic units, the committee will also consider candidates whose leadership abilities and outstanding accomplishments could be translated into innovative leadership of the college. Regardless of one’s career pathway, the Dean must demonstrate a commitment to outstanding teaching and research (scholarly and creative). Above all, they will maintain the highest personal and professional character and ethical standards necessary to lead an academic institution of UC’s caliber. We are looking for an individual who will demonstrate the personal qualities of integrity, compassion, collaboration, intellectual curiosity and honesty, fairness, decisiveness, fortitude, patience, and perseverance necessary to lead an academic institution of the highest caliber. Administrative experience is a must, and fundraising skills are highly desired.

Minimum Requirements

Candidates must also demonstrate successful experience in or knowledge of each of the following areas:

A record as an accomplished scholar or noted contributor to the profession, possessing at minimum a Master’s degree and artistic excellence satisfying the requirements for the rank of tenured full professor in one of CCM’s academic units.
Ability to conceptualize a vision of CCM’s future that will motivate the faculty and staff and inspire students; and articulate this vision in terms of measurable goals and enlist the support of essential constituencies;
Ability to provide leadership and guidance to CCM in fulfilling its educational mission as a public, urban college;
Recruitment and retention of students, faculty, and staff. Supporting the university’s students, faculty, and staff by valuing their backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and thoughtfully addressing their needs.
Commitment to student success in all phases of their academic career (access, retention and graduation);
Supporting and championing path-breaking research, disciplinary innovation, and interdisciplinary discovery;
Budget planning, management, and fiscal responsibility;
Effective communication skills;
Academic planning and leadership;
Ability to promote the importance of CCM on and off campus, and in interactions with the artistic, musical and donor communities of Cincinnati;
Ability to invest CCM in partnerships that advance university priorities;
Fund-raising;
Supporting entrepreneurial innovations to generate revenue;
Reappointment, promotion, and tenure processes.

Additional Minimum Requirements

Additionally, candidates must have a commitment to:

Supporting the excellent research, scholarship, creative works, teaching and service in the college, while striving for continuous improvement.
Shared governance and transparency in decision making;
Empowering faculty and staff and encouraging innovations and interdisciplinary efforts;
Fiscal innovation in revenue generation;
Being student centric;
Partnering with the provost and other university administrators to address challenges and opportunities;
Articulating college needs and advocating persuasively for the college;
Preparing the college to succeed in the changing landscape of higher education;
Positioning CCM as a critical player in the Next Lives Here pathways, especially as they pertain to the Society and Culture pathway;
Building interdisciplinary partnerships with the other colleges at the university; and
Partnering with the community to fulfill our vision as a premier urban university to address challenges and opportunities.

Additional Qualifications Considered

The ability to provide visionary leadership within a context of shared governance;
Participation in the assessment of student learning;
A strong record of research, creative activity, and/or scholarship, as well as a strong commitment to mentoring activities with students;
Experience at an urban university, and/or at a R1 university;
Involvement in obtaining external funds to support research and creative works;
Demonstrable history of programmatic growth through innovative selection, scheduling, and distribution of courses; and
A foundation in traditional educational values, but with an openness to new teaching and learning technologies.

Application Process

The Search Committee invites nominations, applications (letter of interest, full resume/CV, and contact information for at least five references), or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm. In addition, the University of Cincinnati, as a multi-national and culturally diverse university, is committed to providing an inclusive, equitable, and diverse place of learning and employment. As part of a complete job application, you will be asked to provide a Contribution to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement.

WittKieffer is assisting the University of Cincinnati in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by December 15, 2023. TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ROLE, PLEASE DO NOT APPLY TO THIS POSTING. YOU MUST APPLY THROUGH WittKieffer’s Candidate Portal. Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. For additional information, please contact:

Melissa Fincher and Corin Edwards

UCDeanCCM@wittkieffer.com

For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by December 15, 2023. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

The University of Cincinnati is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer / Minority / Female / Disability / Veteran.

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers a wide array of complementary and affordable benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, health, and wellness needs of you and your family. Eligibility varies by position and FTE.

Competitive salary range dependent on the candidate's experience.
Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.
Flexible spending accounts and an award-winning employee wellness program, plus an employee assistance program.
Financial security via our life and long-term disability insurance, accident and illness insurance, and retirement savings plans.
Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave, annual holidays, and winter season days in addition to paid parental leave.
Tuition remission is available for employees and their eligible dependents.
Enjoy discounts for on and off-campus activities and services.

As a UC employee, and an employee of an Ohio public institution, if hired you will not contribute to the federal Social Security system, other than contributions to Medicare. Instead, UC employees have the option to contribute to a state retirement plan (OPERS, STRS) or an alternative retirement plan (ARP).

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our careers page at https://www.uc.edu/careers.html.

For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact Human Resources at jobs@uc.edu.

The University of Cincinnati, as a multi-national and culturally diverse university, is committed to providing an inclusive, equitable and diverse place of learning and employment. As part of a complete job application you will be asked to include a Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion statement.

The University of Cincinnati is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer / Minority / Female / Disability / Veteran.

REQ: 94015

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Dean - College-Conservatory of Music