"Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology (ECET)"

Job Description

DEPARTMENT CHAIR
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Rochester Institute of Technology invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology (ECET). RIT seeks a dynamic, visionary leader who fosters innovation and collaboration in a shared governance environment to lead its vibrant educational, research, and service activities while ensuring efficient operations of administrative functions. Preferred candidates will have academic preparation and professional experience enabling them to support and grow the department's undergraduate and graduate programs both within RIT and in industry along with a documented record of teaching, research/scholarship, and service experience commensurate with the qualifications for tenure at the academic rank of full professor.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Engineering Technology (CET) and interacting with leadership of other units on campus, the department chair serves as the principal representative of the ECET department with authority and responsibility for administrative decisions. The department chair is responsible for leading a growing department to support the academic missions of the university including developing new programs, strengthening existing programs, expanding the research profile of the department, growing collaborative relationships, student recruitment and retention initiatives, and nurturing programs and departmental faculty activity. The department chair leads the department faculty and staff with excellent strategic, organizational and communication skills capable of garnering support for a common vision. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence and collaborative leadership; expand faculty and student scholarship; and strengthen innovation and excellence in educational programming.

The department chair also oversees the department budget, coordinates teaching assignments, evaluates and mentors department faculty and staff, and ensures student engagement and success. The ideal department chair candidate will have a strong record of research and academic accomplishments, teaching excellence, and record of service commensurate with the rank of full professor. The department chair is expected to provide strategic vision and leadership to the academic department, including management of the academic program and research labs, continued development of faculty to expand rigorous research, educational, and interdisciplinary programs, and implement student success programs. This position is an 11-month academic tenured appointment with administrative, teaching, research, and service responsibilities. The department chair will have dedicated time for administrative, educational, strategic and research initiatives. The successful candidate will have the ability and interest to contribute to a vibrant community committed to student success; professional development and scholarship; integrity and ethics; respect for RIT's core values; innovation and flexibility; teamwork and collaboration.

Follow the links to understand RIT's core values and honor code.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establishing and maintaining a welcoming, collaborative, engaging, creative, and productive work and learning environment based on continuous improvement and the vision, mission, goals and values of the university, college and the department
• Providing facilitative leadership to the department in all teaching, research, development, and outreach programs
• Providing strong, transparent, and regular communication to convey outstanding academic and scholarly vision, organizational management, mentorship, guidance, and fiscal prudence for the success of the department
• Promoting excellence in teaching, with a commitment to high quality, student-centered teaching, career oriented programs, and advanced education programs, with a balance between undergraduate and graduate programming
• Actively engaging in the recruitment of new faculty to support the growth and advancement of the department and the programs
• Creating a vision to promote scholarly initiatives and facilitating internal and external research and scholarly collaborations
• Collaborating with faculty, academic partners, industry, and alumni to identify existing and emerging global opportunities and developing strategic short- and long-term plans for the department's enhancement
• Providing leadership for world-class lab development, including nurturing industry relationships that may result in equipment and software donations
• Establishing strong relationships with regional and national industry associations and partners related to the areas of ECET
• Maintaining active and vibrant ECET Industry Advisory Boards (IAB)
• Implementing CET and RIT policies and strategic plan initiatives including but not limited to enrollment, persistence, on-time graduation, and inclusive excellence goals
• Developing and implementing outstanding student recruitment and retention strategies, identifying appropriate feeder channels and nurturing ongoing student admissions both at the undergraduate and graduate levels
• Recruiting, developing and retaining outstanding faculty and staff, assigning responsibilities, evaluating performance, and promoting faculty and staff development

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

RESEARCH ADVANCEMENT
The department chair supports the pursuit and advancement of world-class interdisciplinary research by assisting principal investigators and other faculty in efforts to secure grant funding. The chair enhances the undergraduate and graduate programs of the department and makes necessary changes to ensure excellence of graduate training and research in the college.

FISCAL OVERSIGHT AND COMPLIANCE
The department chair leads the financing and budgeting processes for the department, incorporating views on financial decisions into consideration while effectively managing and leveraging allocated resources ensuring that applicable policy, procedures, regulations, and laws are followed.

PHILANTHROPY
The department chair works with fellow institutional leaders to facilitate advancement programs and presents the department and college's case for major financial support from potential donors.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned Ph.D. in a field of engineering/engineering technology, or related field; or an earned doctorate in STEM education with a master's degree in engineering/engineering technology, or related field
• Approximately ten years of professional experience related to engineering/engineering technology/STEM education teaching and scholarly pursuits
• Demonstrated track record of sustained scholarly activity through publications and funded research which is aligned with and enhances the department and college's research interests
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching and/or training in the department's fields of expertise
• Demonstrated administrative and management experience leading and managing an organizational unit including budget oversight, and human resource problem-solving
• Experience with management of personnel-related activities, such as recruitment, new hire recommendations, and performance evaluations, and overseeing departmental financial processes
• Demonstrated relevant industry involvement such as association leadership, standards committees, and/or conference participation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Democratic and collaborative style of leadership; someone who leads with high levels of transparency and strong listening ability; the candidate can foster a culture of inclusion and belonging for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners
• Distinguished record as a scholar commensurate with an appointment at the rank of full professor
• Demonstrated commitment to student centeredness and optimization of student learning reflected by active and visible engagement in student activities, initiatives, and programs
• Previous higher education administrative experience as a leader/chair of an academic department and/or academic program
• Ability to represent and advocate for the department within the school and university, and to external partners
• Demonstrated record of success in recruiting and developing high-caliber faculty
• Appreciation of new teaching methods and educational technology
• Ability to mentor early career faculty, especially those who are under-represented minorities (especially in supporting career faculty to succeed in promotion and tenure)
• Experience recruiting, retaining, and graduating students (undergraduate, and graduate levels)
• Ability to lead the department toward enhanced sponsored research

Application Details

PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY
Applications and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled. Confidential review of materials and screening of candidates will begin immediately. Harris Search Associates is assisting RIT for this search. Applications should include a letter of interest and curriculum vitae. Please send application materials to one of the emails below or contact for further search details.

Jeffrey Harris, Managing Partner | O: 614-798-8500 | M: 614-354-2100 | jeff@HarrisSearch.com
Peter Rosenthal, Senior Consultant | O: 614-798-8500 | M: 585-406-4199 | peter@HarrisSearch.com

SALARY RANGE OR PAY GRADE (Employer Provided)
Estimated target compensation of $125,000-$170,000