Dean of Academic Affairs, Tampa, FL

Role Overview

Excelon Associates is conducting a search on behalf of a private university client for a Dean of Academic Affairs in Tampa, Florida. The Dean provides the leadership necessary to fulfill the mission, objectives, plans, and goals of the campus across all education and training areas, and plans, organizes, directs, staffs, trains, coordinates, motivates, supervises, and evaluates all facets of the campus Education Department. The position is full time, on campus, and pays $80,000 to $85,000 per year.

The ideal candidate is patient, empathetic, and adaptable, enjoys problem-solving, and can adjust quickly to new and rapidly changing situations. The Dean is accountable for retention and attendance goals and for the quality of instruction across every program, and typically works alongside an Associate Dean of Academic Affairs who coordinates reentry, SAP advising, and faculty coverage day to day.

What Does a Dean of Academic Affairs Do?

A Dean of Academic Affairs is the senior academic leader of a campus. The role owns academic quality and student retention, builds the master course schedule, recruits and develops faculty, conducts classroom observations and evaluations, and supervises registrar, student services, and library functions to meet institutional and accreditation standards.

Academic leadership of this kind operates within the standards of accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and reflects faculty development expectations common across accredited institutions. The Tampa campus serves the Hillsborough County market on the west side of the city.

Primary Responsibilities

Academic Operations and Retention

• Meet or exceed the monthly and annual retention goals of the college.
• Meet or exceed the daily student attendance rate goal of 85 percent.
• Develop and maintain the master schedule for all programs and courses.
• Verify all classes have appropriate coverage, including instructors and teaching assistants, and that instructors complete contractual agreements through module end dates.

Faculty Recruitment and Development

• Recruit, interview, and train quality faculty, staff, and teaching assistants.
• Provide appropriate orientation and training programs for new hires.
• Conduct quarterly formal classroom observations of instructors.
• Schedule and provide faculty development, in-service, and professional growth activities to meet accreditation criteria.
• Develop individual annual faculty professional development plans with instructors and monitor progress quarterly.
• Complete annual performance evaluations on faculty and staff members in a timely manner.

Quality Assurance and Supervision

• Verify instructors' maintenance of administrative duties, including grades, attendance, and record keeping.
• Conduct student satisfaction surveys on all instructors at the end of each grading period, then summarize and share results to reinforce or improve instructional quality.
• Supervise the Registrar, Student Services, and Library and Resource Center personnel and all related reports, functions, and operations.
• Lead staff meetings with faculty members and support the performance appraisal process.
• Develop people through coaching and mentoring.

What Are the Qualifications?

Education and Experience

• Master's degree in Education from an institution accredited by a regional or national accrediting body approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Minimum of five years of supervisory experience in a college-level educational setting.
• Minimum of three years of successful teaching experience at the college level.

Skills and Availability

• Patient, empathetic, and adaptable, with strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to adapt to new and rapidly changing situations.
• Ability to work extended hours, including evenings and Saturdays, to meet business objectives.
• For best consideration, candidates should upload credentials along with a resume, with personal information (date of birth, social security number) redacted.

Salary and Benefits

The posted salary range for the Dean of Academic Affairs position in Tampa is $80,000 to $85,000 per year, paid as a full-time salaried role. The client also offers the benefits package below to full-time employees.

Dean of Academic Affairs roles at proprietary and career colleges in Florida are typically benchmarked against the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics category for postsecondary education administrators (SOC 11-9033). Campus-level dean seats at career colleges generally pay below the university median for that category, and the published range reflects a single-campus department head role with supervisory scope over faculty, registrar, student services, and library staff.

Core Benefits

• Medical coverage, including HSA and FSA options (dependent and health care).
• Dental and vision insurance.
• 12 paid holidays, paid time off, and a paid volunteer day.
• 401(k) with 50% employer matching.
• Short-term disability and life insurance, with supplemental life insurance options.
• Growth opportunities, education assistance, and professional development benefits.

No-Cost Benefits

• Group life insurance.
• Long-term disability coverage.
• Talent referral program.
• TicketsatWork discount entertainment program.
• Paid day off on your birthday for full-time employees after two years.

Who Thrives in This Role?

This role rewards an academic leader who runs a campus education department with both rigor and heart. The strongest candidates hold a master's in education, bring real college-level supervisory and teaching experience, and own retention and attendance as hard targets rather than aspirations. They build the master schedule, keep every class covered, and hold the operational details together.

Faculty leadership is central. People who do well here recruit, train, observe, and develop instructors, run classroom observations and satisfaction surveys, and build individual development plans that raise instructional quality over time. Patience, empathy, and adaptability matter as much as process discipline.

Finally, this is a broad supervisory seat spanning the Registrar, Student Services, and the Library and Resource Center. The best fit coaches and mentors across those functions, keeps the campus aligned to accreditation criteria, and adjusts quickly when situations change.

About Excelon Associates and the Client

Excelon Associates is a retained and contingency executive search firm founded in 2007, headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida, and a dedicated higher education recruitment practice. This search is being conducted by Excelon Associates on behalf of a private university client, and the firm publishes its search fees and engagement terms so clients and candidates know how it works.

The client's Tampa campus fosters a community devoted to academic excellence, innovation, and human development, supported by a culture of teamwork, respect, and ongoing learning. Employees enjoy professional growth opportunities, career stability, and the satisfaction of contributing to an organization that changes lives through education. You can browse current open roles or review recent campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Apply for the Dean of Academic Affairs Role

The client is an equal opportunity employer and values all applications. Excelon does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, marital or veteran status, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.