College of Engineering Department Chair Positions (Req. IDs 2349, 2350, 2351, 2352)

College of Engineering

The College of Engineering invites applications for four (4) Department Chair positions as part of the College’s leadership team. The successful candidates will also hold tenured faculty appointments at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

Chair appointments are for five-year terms and will be made in accordance with Article 20 of the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA) Collective Agreement. The Chairs will play a critical role in shaping the academic, research, and administrative direction of the College’s four departments. Reporting to the Dean, the Chairs are responsible for ensuring the orderly, effective, and collegial operation of their departments, supporting faculty and staff in fulfilling their academic responsibilities, and contributing to the strategic development of the College of Engineering. They will provide visionary leadership to elevate their department’s visibility, amplify its scholarly, societal, and community impact, and strengthen its reputation nationally and internationally.

Role of the Chair

Department of Civil, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (Requisition ID 2349)

The Chair will lead the advancement of programs addressing key societal challenges related to infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and water systems. Responsibilities include strengthening curriculum and experiential learning in areas such as structures, materials, geotechnical engineering, water resources, environmental systems, and transportation, including laboratory- and field-based learning experiences. The Chair will foster research excellence in areas including sustainable and smart infrastructure, circular economy and responsible resource management, and resilient community design, while strengthening partnerships with municipalities, industry, consulting firms, conservation authorities, and government agencies to expand experiential learning, applied research, and co-op opportunities.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Requisition ID 2350)

The Chair will guide the development and growth of programs in electrical and computer engineering, advancing curriculum and experiential learning in fields such as electronics, computing, intelligent systems, and sustainable technologies. The role includes supporting technical and administrative staff and advancing faculty research excellence in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and digital systems, while ensuring effective coordination of teaching laboratories across electronics, computing, communications, and controls. The Chair will also foster interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering programs and strengthen industry and community partnerships that enhance applied research and co-op education pathways.

Department of Interdisciplinary Engineering (Requisition ID 2351)

The Chair will shape the development of the Department of Interdisciplinary Engineering, supporting programs that integrate multiple engineering disciplines and emphasize design-based, team-driven learning. The role includes advancing interdisciplinary curriculum development, strengthening experiential and co-op learning opportunities, and supporting research collaborations that bridge traditional engineering boundaries in areas such as bioprocess technologies, biomedical engineering, mechatronics, and sustainability-focused design. The Chair will foster a collaborative academic culture among faculty and staff from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and support partnerships with industry and community organizations.

Department of Mechanical Engineering (Requisition ID 2352)

The Chair will provide leadership in advancing programs in mechanical engineering through strategic curriculum planning, accreditation and quality assurance processes, and the continued development of design-focused and experiential learning frameworks. The role includes supporting faculty and staff development and research excellence in areas such as mechanical design, thermo-fluids, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable energy systems, while overseeing design-intensive laboratories and experiential learning environments. The Chair will also strengthen partnerships with industry and professional organizations to support applied research and student training.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will be a tenured faculty member (or appointable as such) with an excellent record of scholarship, teaching, and service. They will have demonstrated academic and administrative leadership experience and the ability to work collaboratively within a complex academic environment. They will foster shared leadership, build consensus, and inspire the pursuit of inclusive excellence within their department. The Chair must demonstrate commitment to Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonial practices and support an accessible and inclusive environment for faculty, staff, and students.

The successful candidate will:

• Hold an undergraduate university degree and a terminal degree (PhD or equivalent) in an applicable engineering discipline or a closely related field.
• Be licensed as a Professional Engineer in Ontario or eligible for licensure with Professional Engineers Ontario within one year of appointment.
• Have a strong record of scholarly publications in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals, and demonstrated success in securing external funding for their research program.
• Have experience in curriculum development, program accreditation, and student-centred teaching methodologies.
• Have demonstrated skill in fostering collaboration across departments, industry, and external partners while navigating complex academic governance.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Have a record of effective leadership, demonstrating the ability to inspire teams, guide change, and advance strategic priorities in complex academic or organizational settings.

Core scholarship areas:

• Civil, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering: sustainable and smart civil and environmental systems; byproduct valorization and circular economy; green infrastructure; monitoring and modelling of water systems; detection and remediation of environmental contamination; and design of resilient, equitable built environments.
• Electrical and Computer Engineering: artificial intelligence and intelligent systems, robotics and automation, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure, communications technologies, electrified and autonomous systems, next-generation electronic and computing systems, and related areas.
• Interdisciplinary Engineering: mechatronics and integrated systems engineering, bioprocess technologies, biomedical engineering technologies, cross-disciplinary engineering innovation, sustainability-driven engineering design, and related areas.
• Mechanical Engineering: advanced mechanical systems design and manufacturing, thermo-fluids and energy systems, advanced and digital manufacturing, sustainable engineering technologies for next-generation industrial and societal applications, and related areas.

Term and Appointment

The successful candidate will be appointed as a tenured faculty member at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, initiating their employment with the University with a chair term of five (5) years in accordance with the UGFA Collective Agreement, Article 20. A Letter of Appointment outlining more specific responsibilities will be provided.

Application Process

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page to be considered as an internal applicant. SuccessFactors: Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

Assessment of applications will begin on May 29, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should create an account on https://careers.uoguelph.ca/ and apply under the correct requisition ID corresponding to the position of interest, as follows:

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Water Engineering (Req. ID 2349)
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Req. ID 2350)
Department of Interdisciplinary Engineering (Req. ID 2351)
Department of Mechanical Engineering (Req. ID 2352)

Applications submitted under an incorrect requisition may not be considered.

Applicants should submit the following materials (in an integrated single PDF file):

• A cover letter outlining qualifications, leadership experience, and vision for the Department (maximum 3 pages).
• A statement on equity, diversity and inclusion (maximum one page).
• A curriculum vitae.
• The names and contact information of three referees (referees will be contacted only for shortlisted applicants).

Applications should be sent to the attention of:

College of Engineering Hiring Committee
College of Engineering
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1

Questions about the application process may be directed to the College of Engineering Administrative Officer, Ashliegh Sayer, at coeexec@uoguelph.ca.

This position is represented by the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA).