Assistant Dean, College of Natural Sciences

Grand Canyon University!  One of Arizona’s leading institutions of higher learning.  Located in the Valley of the Sun in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. GCU is an institutionally accredited, private, nondenominational Christian University. 

The Assistant Dean of the College of Natural Sciences assists the Dean in providing strategic, academic, and operational leadership for programs, faculty, staff, and initiatives within the College. This role advances academic excellence, fosters a Christ-centered learning community, and drives innovation and growth aligned with the mission and vision of Grand Canyon University.

GCU is a missional, Christ-centered university with an innovative and adaptive spirit that addresses the world’s deep needs by cultivating compassionate Christian community, empowering free and virtuous action and serving others in ways that promote human flourishing.

Through academic excellence, the university equips students with knowledge of the Christian worldview, instilling in them a sense of purpose and vocational calling that enables them to be innovative thinkers, effective communicators, global contributors and transformative leaders who change their communities by placing the interests of others before their own.

The Assistant Dean operates at a managerial level, ensuring that academic, operational, and student success systems are effectively completed through a distributed, centralized, shared-services model. The Assistant Dean is expected to contribute significantly to sustainable enrollment growth across ground and online modalities through strategic program development, market alignment, and effective collaboration with university partners.

Location: 3300 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85017

What you will do:

Christ-Centered Leadership & Community

• Promote and model a Christ-centered worldview in all aspects of leadership, decision-making, and student and faculty engagement

• Foster a strong sense of community and shared purpose among faculty, staff, and students

• Support the development and integration of Christian character and professional virtue education, associated with healthcare and science professions

• Encourage integration of faith and learning across curriculum, instruction, and student engagement

Strategic Leadership, Innovation & Growth

• Lead program innovation and expansion, including online and on-campus, undergraduate and graduate levels, general education and pre-requisite coursework, bridges, AI integration, free enterprise integration, and other emerging program opportunities

• Support the University’s commitment to growth with quality programs, ensuring scalability without compromising academic standards

Academic Excellence & Accreditation

• Ensure the integrity, rigor, and consistency of all academic programs

• Provide execution and oversight of curriculum, instruction, and assessment within the greater university systems

• Ensure programs meet/maintain accreditation and regulatory standards

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement; assessments lead to measurable actions resulting in improved learning outcomes and increased retention

• Support scholarly activity, student-focused research, program recognition, and opportunities for institutional visibility and impact

Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

• Establish clear ownership, accountability, and performance expectations among faculty and staff reports

• Ensure alignment between curriculum, faculty execution, operations, and student outcomes

• Build shared-services systems with other colleges and university departments that promote efficiency, transparency, and reliability at scale

Faculty Leadership & Development

• Effective faculty hiring, oversight, and management, including performance, engagement, and accountability

• Promote instructional excellence, pedagogical development, and innovation in teaching

• Support faculty in integrating faith, learning, and professional preparation

• Foster a culture of continuous growth, mentorship, and academic professionalism

Operational Stewardship & Resource Management

• Provide input into the college budget and resource allocation

• Ensure responsible stewardship of resources aligned with institutional priorities

Student Success & Outcomes

• Use university systems to track and analyze student retention, performance, progression, engagement, and graduation

• Support a coordinated, data-informed approach to student success and intervention strategies

External Relations & Institutional Alignment

• Serve as a representative of the College to university leadership, accrediting bodies, and external partners

• Support enrollment, marketing, and outreach initiatives in collaboration with internal departments and service partners leveraging the centralized, shared-services model

What you need:

• Masters or Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline

• 3 or more years university administrative experience or industry-specific experience in leadership role Experience in academic program development, assessment, and faculty leadership

• Experience working within complex organizational structures or partnerships

• Strong strategic, organizational, and leadership skills

Bonus:

• Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline

• Experience leading an academic unit

• Experience with online and hybrid program delivery

• Background in healthcare or science program development

• Experience collaborating with external service providers or OPM partners

• Evidence of scholarly or professional contributions

Why work at GCU:

• Exceptional workplace benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401K savings plan

• Generous time off plan and 11 paid holidays

• Paid time off to volunteer in the community or at GCU sponsored events

• Free covered parking

• We also offer full-time employees, their spouses, and dependent children an Education Tuition Discount Program

• Free on-site gyms on campus

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