JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

Worcester Polytechnic Institute invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Business School. This is an exceptional opportunity for a visionary leader to advance business education and research at a premier technological university known for its distinctive project-based learning model, where students tackle real-world challenges through hands-on projects that connect academic disciplines to societal needs and professional practice.

The Dean will join WPI following the university's recent achievement of Carnegie R1 research university status and recognition by U.S. News & World Report as No. 18 nationally for best return on investment. This leader will shape the future of WPI's Business School while contributing to WPI's continued rise in international prominence.

The Business School at WPI is an accredited member of AACSB International, with its industrial engineering program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. It offers seven STEM-designated undergraduate programs reflecting emerging technologies and industry needs, including two newly launched degrees in marketing analytics and business analytics & applied AI. At the graduate level, WPI provides MBAs, STEM-designated master's programs, doctoral programs, and certificates that integrate business fundamentals with analytics, technology, and leadership through hands-on, experiential learning. These offerings emphasize real-world application and allow students and working professionals to build targeted, high-demand skills.

The Dean will report directly to Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Andrew Sears and serve as a key member of the provost's leadership team, with a significant opportunity to shape WPI's academic strategy. Notably, the successful candidate will help guide a time of transformative growth for the school, leading a group of highly motivated, distinguished, and collaborative faculty to significantly expand student enrollment, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, forge a robust network of industry relationships, and nurture continued research excellence. The successful candidate will have imagination, resourcefulness, integrity, humility, and the ability to bridge both technical expertise and business acumen. The ideal leader will demonstrate strategic vision, excel at building partnerships across disciplines, and be able to attract top faculty and students while showcasing the school's unique strengths in bridging technical expertise with humanistic understanding.

For full application instructions and the executive search profile, please see the link below.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Dean of the Business School provides visionary, strategic, and operational leadership to advance the school's distinctive role.

Academic Leadership

• Continue the growth trajectory of enrollment.
• Oversee curriculum development, academic program review, and the accreditation process.
• Recruit, evaluate, and support faculty in teaching, research, outreach, and professional development.
• Promote scholarly excellence by leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration within and beyond WPI.
• Foster a culture of student professionalism, innovation, and success.
• Provide leadership and oversight for faculty development, resource allocation, and program quality.
• Champion recruitment, retention, advancement, and well-being to foster a strong, inclusive academic community.
• Strengthen and expand the school's research enterprise.

Administrative Management

• Provide strategic and operational oversight of the school, including substantial budgetary responsibility, resource planning, and external representation.
• Develop and manage the budget, resources, and staffing for the Business School. The Dean will manage a budget of over $7M and provide leadership for the Dean's Office, comprising four direct reports: Department Head, Assistant Dean, Business Programs, Assistant to the Dean, Operations Manager.
• Lead strategic planning initiatives aligned with institutional goals.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and relevant external regulations.
• Ensure decision-making processes reflect fairness, transparency, and ethical stewardship of resources.

Student Success & Engagement

• Support student recruitment, retention, advising, and graduation initiatives.
• Foster supportive learning environments and co-curricular programming.
• Address student concerns and uphold academic integrity standards while modeling the professionalism expected of a polytechnic business school.
• Advance interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship that prepares graduates to address complex global challenges, particularly at the intersection of business, technology, analytics, and societal impact.
• Champion academic program innovation by working collaboratively with faculty to develop new and responsive programs.
• Advance the school's role in WPI's distinctive project-based learning model.

External Relations & Advancement

• Build and sustain strategic partnerships with industry leaders, international institutions, alumni, and community organizations to enhance research opportunities, enrich student experiences, and elevate the school's national and global profile.
• Lead fundraising efforts and secure external grants and sponsorships.
• Represent the school in university-wide committees and public forums.

University-Wide Leadership

• Serve as an engaged member of the Provost's Council and the President's leadership team, contributing to university-wide initiatives while advocating for the school's mission and strategic priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

• A doctoral degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field, with a record of scholarship and academic leadership appropriate for appointment as a tenured professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
• A minimum of five years of leadership and administrative experience, including experience in higher education.
• Proven experience in strategic planning, change management, team building, and budget management, including oversight of complex financial and human resources.
• Effective leadership and team building across various constituent groups, with the ability to inspire and motivate faculty, staff, and students toward shared goals.
• Demonstrated success in teaching, research, and service, or equivalent experience in a complex organization.
• An understanding of and commitment to the evolving nature of a new R1 university.
• A track record of successful donor stewardship and fundraising.
• The ability to attract and retain talented faculty, staff, students, donors, and partners.
• Demonstrated financial acumen and experience managing large budgets and resource allocation.
• Demonstrated commitment to the highest standards of integrity, ethical conduct, and professional responsibility in all leadership, academic, and administrative activities.
• Strategic thinking and long-term planning capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse internal and external communities, and a professional presence appropriate for senior institutional leadership.
• A willingness to engage with all members of the WPI community, including maintaining a strong presence on campus for school and university-wide programs and events.
• An innovation-oriented mindset, with the ability to take thoughtful, calculated risks, coupled with an unwavering commitment to the highest standards of personal and professional integrity.
• Data-informed decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated engagement with the business community, providing practical insight into contemporary market dynamics, organizational challenges, and workforce needs.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational structures and drive institutional change.
• Ability to build partnerships across academic, industry, and community sectors.
• A record of promoting ethical decision-making and professional conduct within complex academic or organizational environments.