"Dean, Faculty of Native Studies"

Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The University of Alberta has engaged DHR International Canada Inc. to manage this search. To explore this exciting opportunity further, please contact or submit your resume to lmiller@dhrglobal.com

The University of Alberta and the Faculty of Native Studies invites applications for the appointment of Dean, Faculty of Native Studies.

Under the leadership of the University’s 14th President and Vice Chancellor, Bill Flanagan, the University of Alberta continues to move forward with purpose as one of the world’s most respected public universities. At its foundation lie talented people - students, faculty, and staff - who with their creativity, ingenuity and drive, join in advancing human knowledge and pursuing scientific inquiry for the benefit of all. We celebrate creativity, a wide range of perspectives and experiences, perseverance, and a spirit of collaboration that enables people to thrive through shared learning and mutual support.

As the first and only stand-alone Faculty of Native/Indigenous Studies in North America, the Faculty of Native Studies is a warm, friendly and safe space that nurtures a family-like environment of student-led learning. Our diverse team of faculty and staff are world leaders in the exciting and multi-dimensional discipline of Indigenous studies.

The Faculty of Native Studies Is:

• Student CentredOurs is a mission that goes beyond the classroom. Our faculty, staff, and students are motivated to produce lasting change in the world, and to empower students as the next generation of leaders. At the heart of the Faculty are our students, whose energy, drive and success are the force behind all we do.
• Research FocusedWe are a centre of research excellence, using our scholarship to challenge convention, support communities, and realize a better future. We have a history of scholarly excellence, and with a growing Faculty, we are constantly expanding our reach and scope, bringing exciting new projects to life.
• Community EngagedFor almost 40 years, the Faculty of Native Studies has thrived on the real relationships we've built with our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners. From this solid foundation we have emerged as a leader in Indigenous studies, and it is from these relationships that we look to our future. The Faculty of Native Studies is not just an academic unit, but also a community, a family, a place of refuge, and a site of intellectual revitalization.

ResponsibilitiesReporting to the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the Dean of the Faculty of Native Studies is responsible for the leadership and administration of all aspects of the operations, including budget and fund development. In addition to the role of senior officer of the Faculty and a member of the Deans’ Council, the Dean is a senior administrator of the University. The Dean fosters an environment in which world-leading research and excellence in teaching and engaged scholarship flourish.

As the face of the Faculty, the Dean is a champion of curricular initiatives, research, and scholarship, professional training, global outreach, and recruitment of high quality faculty and student talent. The Dean cultivates an environment in which students, faculty and staff thrive.

QualificationsAs Dean, you will have at a minimum, a Doctorate or equivalent in Indigenous/Native Studies or a related field and qualifications commensurate with an appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor. In addition, you are a distinguished scholar who has maintained an active program of scholarly enquiry while holding a senior-level administrative position within an academic environment. You demonstrate leadership experience with an emphasis on collegiality, collaboration and openness with demonstrated ability to act decisively and to foster strong relations and a culture of cooperation and respect among teams, staff, and students.

There is a preference for applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit to fill this role. Those who wish to identify as having Indigenous citizenship or membership please include this information in the cover letter. Candidates who do share this information and who are invited for an interview will be asked to contribute documents for verification / affirmation of their Indigenous citizenship or membership.

The Selection Committee will begin reviewing application packages on March 20, 2026.

This position is excluded from the bargaining unit. This position is a full-time position with an initial appointment for a five-year term, and offers a comprehensive benefits package and an annual salary commensurate with experience. The salary range is $256,386 to $375,500 per annum.