Hybrid Program Chair for Biotechnology bei Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology

Description

 Who We Are:

Are you ready to work at a dynamic institution that believes in higher education with lower obstacles? Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (now known as Franklin Cummings Tech) is a nationally accredited non-profit, technical college serving Eastern Massachusetts and beyond. The college was seeded in 1791 with funds from the estate of Benjamin Franklin given to the City of Boston to proliferate access to education and level the playing field for aspiring talent with meager financial means. 

Today, Franklin Cummings Tech continues to build on that legacy by offering post-secondary education in high-demand technical and skilled trade fields that lead to excellent careers. Our majors intentionally focus on select industries connected to sustainability and the clean energy transition including electric vehicle technology, smart manufacturing, practical electricity, power engineering, heat pumps/HVAC, biotechnology, automation, construction management, and more. 

With a mission to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement, we offer a unique mix of certificate and degree-granting programs that appeal to enterprising students and respond to employer’s demand for a well-prepared workforce. Intentional partnerships with the industries we serve coupled with high graduation and job placement rates, recently attracted the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the college from the Cummings Foundation. 

Last year, Franklin Cummings Tech educated more than 1,000 learners across three student types: 1) certificate and degree seekers, 2) continuing education clients, and 3) high schoolers pursuing early college. As further evidence that our mission holds resonance, this year the college tracked a 25% year-over-year jump in fall new student enrollment and applications soared.

We seek team members who are optimistic, entrepreneurial, data-informed, and excited about the prospect of continuing to strategically increase student success outcomes and total enrollment from 1,000 learners today to at least 1,500 learners by 2030. Join us in this mission-driven work!

Position Overview:

We are seeking an entrepreneurial, collaborative, and outcomes-focused person to lead our Biotechnology associate’s degree program and teach courses within it. The Biotechnology program launched in September 2024 with generous support from Samuels & Associates, Moderna, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, and the City of Boston. 

The Program Chair will have a unique opportunity to shape this young program. They will communicate a clear and compelling vision for the program to a variety of audiences, including industry partners, funders, and prospective students. Partnering with faculty and colleagues in Admissions, Student Success, Academic Affairs, and others, the Program Chair will ensure that all aspects of the program are designed and executed to promote economic advancement for our students. The position is hybrid, with an estimated 2-3 days on campus per week. 

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

Program chairs are responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and supervising all activities within programs in accordance with the mission, vision, values, policies, goals, and outcomes of Franklin Cummings Tech. This position requires substantial administrative, managerial, instructional and student-centered experience along with leadership qualities and ability. The key responsibilities of the position are to: 

• Plan all aspects of program launch and ensure execution to the highest standard

• Manage department faculty including their development and overall effectiveness 

• Manage departmental resources, including effective curriculum development and utilization of financial resources 

• Facilitate the development of industry and community partnerships to build educational and financial resources 

• Ensure the department is up to date with current industry standards and practices 

• Facilitate departments’ integration and involvement with the overall college community and environment, including staff, faculty, and students, as well as related activities 

• Manage departmental budget development and implementation 

• Teach courses within the program or as needed, across the curriculum

• Other duties as specified in the Employee Handbook

Within these responsibilities, the individual must establish priorities, exercise judgment and initiative, and have keen decision-making abilities. 

Qualifications: 

• PhD in a relevant field from a recognized college or university (preferred), or master’s degree combined with significant industry experience.
• Two years of teaching experience, preferably at the college level. Industry or entrepreneurial experience may be substituted for teaching experience at the discretion of the Dean for Academic and Student Affairs and the hiring manager. 
• Experience working with individuals from diverse academic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• A collaborative and inclusive style
• Commitment to ensuring economic opportunity for all

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Two (2) or more years of industry experience.
• Experience developing college-level curriculum.
• Experience teaching online; knowledge of proven approaches to teaching online synchronously and asynchronously

Application Process:

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications without a tailored cover letter will not be reviewed.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

Franklin Cummings Tech is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on any grounds protected under federal, state, or local law, including race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, pregnancy, disability (including those related to pregnancy or childbirth), sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other characteristic or activity protected under federal, state or local law.