Assistant Dean of Urban Agriculture (Grant-Funded)

Assistant Dean of Urban Agriculture (Grant-Funded)

Olive-Harvey College

Reporting to the Dean of Urban Agriculture, the Assistant Dean of Urban Agriculture supports academic leadership for the Urban Agriculture Department. The Assistant Dean assists with day-to-day academic and operational activities, greenhouse management, industry partnerships, and work-based learning opportunities.

This role fosters an environment of academic excellence, student success, and collaboration by assisting in program development, curriculum management, compliance, workforce connections, and student engagement initiatives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Academic Program Support: Assists in the development, implementation, and evaluation of academic programs, certificates, and continuing education courses in Urban Agriculture disciplines. 
• Curriculum Management and Integration: Collaborates with faculty and administrators to ensure curriculum quality and relevance aligned with industry standards and emerging workforce needs. Supports the integration of cannabis-related content into broader academic programs such as business, criminal justice, environmental studies, and public health.
• Industry Partnerships: Supports relationship-building with regional employers, advisory councils, and community organizations to develop work training and career pathways for students.
• Student Success Initiatives: Assists with the development and implementation of strategies to improve student enrollment, retention, completion, career placement, and successful transfer to four-year institutions.
• Operational Oversight: Helps manage the day-to-day operations of the Urban Agriculture Greenhouse and related facilities, ensuring proper maintenance, safety, sustainability, and effective use of new technologies.
• Compliance and Accreditation: Aids in ensuring program compliance with district policies, state and federal laws, and Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation standards. Maintains awareness of emerging legal and regulatory changes affecting cannabis education programs.
• Faculty and Staff Support: Assists in recruiting, onboarding, and supporting vocational lecturers, adjuncts, and support staff; monitors instructional quality and professional development needs.
• Alumni Engagement and Network Building: Leverages alumni relationships to support student internships, mentorship, job placements, and program visibility within the cannabis and urban agriculture sectors. 
• Marketing and Outreach: Collaborates with the Marketing Department to support promotional campaigns, community outreach events, and external partnership development.
• Fundraising and Social Equity: Supports the planning and management of fundraising activities and social equity initiatives aligned with the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (Bill 1438), including partnering with organizations focused on cannabis equity and inclusion. Assists in identifying grant opportunities to support program development and expansion.
• Data Collection, Evaluation, and Reporting: Monitors and evaluates program performance through data collection and assessment tools, preparing internal and external reports as needed.
• Budget Monitoring: Aids in the monitoring of program budgets, including tracking expenditures, purchasing needs, and resource allocations for department operations and training programs.
• Continuous Improvement: Identifies operational challenges and recommends solutions to promote continuous growth, student-centered innovation, and program excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters degree from an accredited institution with industry experience and/or relevant education in Urban Agriculture, Agribusiness, Environmental Science, Education, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of administrative or program management experience in agriculture, science, education, or cannabis industries.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered based managements discretion.
• Experience in grant management and project management required.
• Experience supporting curriculum development and program operations in an academic setting.
• Knowledge of Urban Agriculture practices, systems, and industry trends.
• Knowledge of Illinois cannabis laws, regulations, and industry practices preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of planning, program development, evaluation, and budgeting, preferably in a community college setting 
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across academic departments, community partners, and external stakeholders.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive, culturally responsive academic environment.
• Self-directed, resourceful, and capable of contributing to innovative strategies for departmental growth and success.
• Ability to work occasional weekends as needed
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Outlook, Teams)

Salary Range: $70,251 - $75,000 annually

Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as other factors such as internal equity.

Benefits information is found at https://www.ccc.edu/departments/Benefits/

WE OFFER: Excellent health and welfare benefit package and long-term savings and investment programs including 403(b) & 457(b) Investment Plans and a pension plan with the State University Retirement System (SURS) Plan. Generous vacation, holiday, personal and sick days, and tuition reimbursement. For a more detailed overview of benefits, please visit the benefits page of our website. 

Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within six (6) months of hire. 

We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. 

Thank you for your interest in City Colleges of Chicago!