Job Description

The Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering (IMSE) at the University of South Florida (USF) invites applications for the position of Department Chair. This position offers a leadership opportunity in one of the nation's rapidly rising industrial engineering departments at a top-50 public research university. We seek an accomplished scholar and dynamic leader who will guide a highly productive faculty, respect and strengthen the department's collaborative culture, address faculty and students' needs, and foster continued excellence in research, teaching, and service. The successful candidate is expected to provide strategic vision and day-to-day management for the IMSE Department while advancing its role in achieving the College's strategic mission. Responsibilities include: providing strategic leadership and effective management of departmental operations; promoting a strong research culture aligned with the College's reputation for scholarly impact; advancing excellence in teaching across all programs; recruiting, mentoring, and retaining talented faculty and staff; managing resources and budgets effectively; strengthening relationships with industry partners, alumni, and donors; and collaborating with other department chairs and college leadership.

The IMSE Department currently has 16 full-time faculty members and offers BSIE, MSIE, and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial Engineering, together with an M.S. degree in Engineering Management (MSEM) and an M.S. degree in Data Intelligence (MSDI), and is highly engaged in distance learning. The department currently hosts 266 undergraduates, 125 master's, and 27 full-time doctoral students. IMSE faculty have strong collaborations with other departments within the College of Engineering, the Colleges of AI Cybersecurity and Computing, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Business, and Arts & Sciences. The department has strong ties with various centers and institutes such as the Institute of Applied Engineering, Center for Urban Transportation Research, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, USF Sleep Research Center, and with organizations outside of USF such as City of Tampa, Tampa Electric Company, Tampa General Hospital, and James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital.

Established in 1964 and currently led by Dean Levi Thompson, the College of Engineering at the University of South Florida is ranked #56 among public institutions (#89 overall) by U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Engineering & Specialties Rankings. The college serves more than 3,700 students, offering nine bachelor's programs as well as 12 master's and eight doctoral degrees. The college is actively engaged in local and global research activities, with $46 million in research expenditure for the fiscal year 2023-2024. The college has 12 major research centers and institutes and is actively engaged in local and global research activities focused on sustainability, biomedical engineering, computing technology, and transportation.

The University of South Florida is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. Over the past ten years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News and World Report's national university rankings than USF. Further, USF joined the American Association of Universities (AAU) in 2023. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee, the Florida Board of Governors designated USF as a Preeminent State Research University, placing it in the most elite category among the state's 12 public universities. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications include: (1) eligibility for appointment as at least a tenured associate professor, with a clear path to promotion to full professor soon after appointment, in an Industrial Engineering department at a Carnegie R1 institution; (2) a doctoral degree in Industrial Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited research institution; (3) demonstrated understanding of the industrial engineering discipline and community; (4) proven leadership experience in higher education administration; and (5) commitment to high-quality pedagogy and student development. Preferred qualifications include: (1) eligibility for appointment as a tenured full professor at a Carnegie R1 Industrial Engineering department; (2) a proven commitment to fostering a collegial and supportive departmental culture; (3) demonstrated availability, responsiveness, punctuality, and excellent communication skills; (4) a proven ability to develop and sustain enduring relationships with industry, academic partners, alumni, donors, and sponsors; (5) a strong record of leadership in securing competitive and significant research funding from various sources; (6) a strong record of scholarship with publications in top-tier journals and conferences in industrial engineering research areas aligned with the department's strengths in intelligent decision-making through, among others, optimization, data science, and AI; (7) longstanding engagement in mentoring faculty, students, and staff, to promote their professional development and long-term success; (8) proven leadership in recruiting, program development, team building, and staff supervision; and (9) effective budget management practices in consultation with faculty and staff.

Applicants should submit a cover letter outlining their interest and qualifications for the position with respect to the above job description, a detailed curriculum vitae, and contact information for at least four professional references who can speak to scholarly achievements, leadership abilities, and administrative experience. The application must also include a statement of leadership philosophy, interests, and strategic vision, as well as a statement describing current research and future research plans. The cover letter should be addressed to Dr. Manjriker Gunaratne, Search Committee Chair, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, ENG 030, Tampa, Florida, 33620. Review of applications will begin on December 5, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants must electronically submit the application packet as one PDF file to this advertisement.