Department Chair Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Southwest Tennessee Community College is a comprehensive, multicultural, public, open—access college. Southwest has four campuses/centers from which it offers over 100 programs and over 20 technical certificate programs.

We foster student success, transform lives, and increase the educational level of a growing community in Shelby County. Southwest is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Title: Department Chair - Technologies

Employee Classification: Faculty

Institution: Southwest Tennessee Community College

Department: Technologies

Campus Location: SWTCC- Multiple Campus Locations

Job Summary

The Department Head/Chair of Technologies provides academic leadership, administrative oversight, and strategic direction for a multidisciplinary technologies unit. The role provides strategic direction, operational oversight, and faculty leadership to advance high quality teaching, applied learning, workforce aligned programs, and continuous improvement. The Chair ensures curricular integrity, supports accreditation compliance, manages departmental resources, and represents the department within the college, institution, and external community.

Job Duties

• Academic Leadership and Strategic Planning
  • Provide vision and leadership for departmental programs, aligning goals with college and institutional priorities.
  • Facilitate development and implementation of multi year academic plans that strengthen teaching, research, applied learning, and community engagement.
  • Maintain a climate that promotes innovation, creativity, and exemplary professional practice.
• Curriculum, Program Oversight, and Scheduling
  • Oversee curriculum design, program development, and continuous review to ensure relevance to industry needs and institutional learning outcomes.
  • Coordinate semester course schedules, instructor assignments, and program delivery in consultation with faculty and the dean’s office.
  • Monitor enrollments and adjust course offerings to support student success and efficient resource use.
• Faculty Recruitment, Development, and Evaluation
  • Lead recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention of qualified full time and adjunct faculty.
  • Provide mentoring, guidance, and professional development opportunities for faculty.
  • Conduct annual faculty evaluations, oversee promotion and tenure processes, and ensure transparent review practices.
  • Supervise adjunct faculty and support faculty’s industry engaged activities.
• Student Success and Engagement
  • Support high quality instruction, advising structures, and student learning experiences across technology programs.
  • Ensure timely response to student concerns and promote a positive, inclusive learning environment.
  • Collaborate with student services, workforce development, and advising teams to strengthen retention and completion.
• Compliance, Accreditation, and Institutional Effectiveness
  • Ensure departmental compliance with institutional, state, federal, and accreditation requirements.
  • Maintain accurate records, documentation, and reporting processes that support audits, program reviews, and accreditation cycles.
  • Promote a culture of compliance and ethical practice within the department.
• Budget, Resource, and Facilities Management
  • Prepare and manage departmental budgets, monitor expenditures, and allocate resources to priority initiatives.
  • Coordinate equipment requests, facilities planning, and shared space usage to support teaching and applied learning.
  • Identify efficiencies and opportunities for grants, partnerships, and external funding.
• Industry, Community, and Institutional Engagement
  • Engage with industry advisory boards, employers, and community partners to ensure programs remain aligned with workforce needs.
  • Represent the department on college and university committees, communicating departmental needs and priorities.
  • Support outreach, recruitment, marketing, and fundraising activities that strengthen departmental visibility.
• Administrative Operations and Communication
  • Lead regular departmental meetings, maintain clear communication channels, and ensure timely dissemination of policies and decisions.
  • Oversee staff supervision, workload distribution, and operational processes within the department.
  • Report on faculty and staff appointments, separations, and performance matters.
• Teaching
  • Prepare & teach one course within the technologies discipline per semester.
  • Maintain scholarly, applied research, or industry engaged activities appropriate to rank and discipline expectations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s or doctoral degree in a technology-related field (e.g., Engineering Technologies, Computer Information Technology, Mechatronics, Aviation, Networking, or related discipline).
• Evidence of three (3) years of full-time teaching experience.
  
• Strong organizational, communication, and administrative skills.
  
• Ability to work collaboratively with an ever-growing college population of faculty, staff, students, and external partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated academic leadership experience (program director, coordinator, associate chair, or similar).
  
• Three (3) years of experience in administration, with higher education administration preferred.
  
• Demonstrated experience with ABET & ATMAE

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of technologies disciplines, higher education academic operations, accreditation requirements, workforce trends, and resource management.
  
• Strong leadership, communication, strategic planning, analytical, project management, and faculty development skills.
  
• Ability to resolve conflicts, interpret data, manage complex initiatives, and support continuous improvement.
  
• Ability to lead an academic department, cultivate industry partnerships, and oversee budgets effectively.
  
• Ability to supervise faculty and staff, navigate institutional structures, adapt to evolving technologies, and uphold confidentiality, sound judgment, and ethical standards.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Candidates who are called for an interview must notify Human Resources in writing at least five (5) days in advance of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

First consideration will be given to current Southwest Tennessee Community College employees who meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

In order to be considered for the position, the following items must be uploaded:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Unofficial Transcripts

A summary of our benefits can be found below: 

https://www.southwest.tn.edu/hr/benefits-overview.php

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The TBR does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. 

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies:  LeVetta Hudson, Vice President of People & Culture, myhr@southwest.tn.edu, 737 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, 901-333-5000. See the full non-discrimination policy.