Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is Canada’s only polytechnic university, proudly serving the South Fraser region for more than 40 years. With campuses in Surrey, Richmond, Langley, and Cloverdale, KPU is deeply connected to the communities it serves and to the diverse cultures, backgrounds, and lived experiences of its students. Through academic excellence, applied learning, innovation, and strong industry and community partnerships, KPU prepares students for meaningful futures.
As an open-access university, KPU is powered by the people who live and work here. We believe every employee plays a meaningful role in supporting student learning and success. We are honoured to carry the name of the Kwantlen First Nation and are committed to equity, inclusion, reconciliation, and respectful relationships. As one of BC’s Top Employers, KPU is dedicated to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and engaged workplace where employees feel valued, connected to purpose, and empowered to make an impact.
We invite you to explore your next career opportunity at KPU and discover how your work can contribute to a university where thought truly meets action.
Competition ID: 4773
Internal Closing Date: Open Until Filled
External Closing Date: Open Until Filled
# of Openings: 1
Salary Information: 14 – Administrative Salary Grid - $114,071 to $174,909
Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Workplace Type: On-Site
Travel Frequency: Occasional travel between campuses is required.
Employee Group: Administration/Management
Days of Work (BCGEU): Hours of Work (BCGEU): Hours per Week (BCGEU):
The Opportunity
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is seeking a collaborative and experienced Associate Dean to join the leadership team within the Faculty of Trades and Technology. Reporting to the Dean, Faculty of Trades and Technology, the Associate Dean provides strategic, administrative, and educational leadership across a diverse range of departments and disciplines.
Working closely with the Dean, the Director, Strategy and Business Development, and other administrative leaders, you will help advance the Faculty’s academic priorities while supporting excellence in programs, curriculum, teaching, and the student experience. You will bring a strong understanding of the BC trades training system, a commitment to academic excellence, and the ability to navigate complex operational, employee, and student matters in a collaborative and solutions-focused manner.
As Associate Dean, Faculty of Trades and Technology, you will:
- Lead, coach, and support direct reports, including the Coordinator, Program Inventory and Support, by setting shared goals, guiding performance, and fostering a collaborative and respectful culture.
- Contribute to positive employee and labour relations by administering collective agreements, representing management in grievance processes, and consulting with Human Resources on interpretation and processes.
- Engage departments in collaborative long-term planning to advance Faculty and University objectives.
- Provide leadership and shared oversight for academic programs and curriculum, including curriculum development, program review, revisions, and the facilitation of program changes.
- Monitor faculty workload assignments, course offerings, enrolment patterns, and projections to support effective academic planning and resource allocation.
- Lead Faculty recruitment and hiring processes, chair faculty and staff search committees, and support the orientation, retention, evaluation, and assignment of employees.
- Respond to and resolve student complaints, appeals, academic integrity matters, and other complex student issues in accordance with University and Faculty policies.
- Review and oversee processes related to academic waivers and substitutions, transfer credit, independent study, and prior learning assessment.
- Participate in the development and monitoring of the Faculty’s budget, approve expenditures as a designate of the Dean, and support responsible resource management.
- Work with the Dean’s office, faculty, staff, and the Occupational Health and Safety Committee to support effective communication and coordination of health and safety matters.
- Represent the Faculty on departmental, divisional, University, and external committees, councils, and community bodies.
- Model high standards of service, accountability, professional practice, and continuous learning through assigned duties, education, and training.
- Promote and maintain a safe, equitable, respectful, and inclusive work environment grounded in University policies, procedures, and mandatory training.
What You Bring
You are an experienced academic leader who understands the opportunities and complexities of delivering high-quality trades and technology education in a post-secondary environment. You bring a collaborative and supportive leadership style, sound judgment, and the ability to balance strategic priorities with day-to-day academic and operational demands.
Your communication skills, relationship-building approach, and commitment to academic and service excellence enable you to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, senior leaders, unions, and external partners. You are comfortable addressing complex issues, making thoughtful decisions, and guiding teams through change while maintaining a culture of respect and accountability.
We’re Looking For Someone Who
- Holds a master’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Brings at least five years of teaching experience in a post-secondary environment, including significant committee experience.
- Has demonstrated success in a leadership role with progressively increasing responsibility; experience as a Department Head, Chair, Associate Dean, or in a similar post-secondary academic leadership role is preferred.
- Has a fundamental understanding of the BC trades training system.
- Demonstrates knowledge of trades and technology programs and a strong commitment to academic excellence and the student learning experience.
- Understands academic programs, curriculum, faculty workload, enrolment planning, and faculty management processes.
- Has experience hiring, mentoring, coaching, and building leadership capacity among faculty and staff.
- Demonstrates strong interpersonal and communication skills and a record of developing effective working relationships.
- Can analyze complex situations, exercise sound judgment, and develop practical and effective solutions.
- Is able to work effectively under pressure, manage competing priorities, and resolve sensitive or complex matters.
- Brings strong organizational skills and the ability to manage academic, operational, and logistical responsibilities.
- Has experience working in a teaching-intensive post-secondary institution and a unionized academic environment; both are considered assets.
- Fosters a supportive, respectful, collaborative, and inclusive working environment.
The Location
KPU is a multi-campus institution. The Trades and Technology offices are located on the Cloverdale campus, however, frequent travel between campuses will be required.
Want to know more?
Job Description
Click here to view the full job description.
Application Process
To apply for this opportunity, please submit your cover letter and resume as one document via KPU’s Career Centre. Resume review will be conducted on October 14, 2026; however, the competition will remain open until filled.
For inquiries or recommendations related to this position, please contact:
Evita Gandhi
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Email: evita.gandhi@kpu.ca
Salary Information
The above compensation range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. Typically, initial salary placement is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum. This represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and approximately halfway of the salary range for a job with consideration given to internal equity.
Total Rewards
As a part of our total rewards offerings, KPU also offers extended health and dental benefits, healthcare spending account, generous vacation package, defined pension plan, parenthood top-up, sick leave, long-term disability, life insurance, professional development days, tuition waiver, inhouse training & development, inter-campus transportation, and more!
Note: Eligibility requirements apply, benefits may vary depending on the employee group the position belongs to and whether the position offered is temporary or part-time.
Visit https://www.kpu.ca/hr for more information on KPU’s workplace, culture and total rewards.
Note to Applicants
Kwantlen Polytechnic University welcomes and encourages applications from equity deserving groups and diverse experiences including, but not limited to, Indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, and members of the 2S/LGBTQIA+ community.
If there are any barriers that you are experiencing or an accommodation that we can provide to support you through the application process, please reach out to us at talentacquisition@kpu.ca.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University is committed to protecting the safety and welfare of employees, students, and the general public, and upholding the reputation and integrity of the University. For this reason, final applicants will be asked to undergo a background check.
We thank all applicants for their interest in employment with KPU. Only candidates who are legally eligible to work in Canada will be considered; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
