Dean of the Faculty of Science

The University of Winnipeg is currently seeking a student-focused, innovative, collaborative, and collegial leader as the next Dean of the Faculty of Science. The initial appointment will be for a five-year term starting August 1, 2026, or as otherwise negotiated, with the possibility of renewal.

About the Role

The University of Winnipeg seeks a forward-thinking Dean to lead its Faculty of Science. Serving on the University's senior leadership team, the Dean will contribute to institutional goals and priorities through leadership of the Faculty. Working with students, faculty, senior administration, and staff to foster excellence in teaching, research, and student success, the Dean will also effectively represent the Faculty and the University to the external community.

Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, the Dean of the Faculty of Science will work cooperatively with the Deans of the Faculties of Arts, Business and Economics, Education, Kinesiology, Graduate Studies, the Global College, Collegiate, Library, Student Services, and with the broader university community, to advance the interests of the University.

The Dean will provide effective and inclusive leadership and guidance in all aspects of the Faculty’s operations, both academic and administrative, as well as advance educational opportunities for students to discover science in new and exciting ways and to expand scholarly work. The Dean will also champion the Faculty’s strong commitment to community engagement, Indigenization and decolonization, reconciliation, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Key areas of responsibility:

• Build and maintain strong community relationships with a wide range of local, regional, national, and international communities and partners to advance the Faculty’s and the University’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Foster a culture that values and supports excellence and innovation in teaching, research, and scholarly activity.
• Advance the Faculty’s commitment to Indigenization and decolonization, reconciliation, and equity, diversity, and inclusion in research, academic programming, and day-to-day operations.
• Communicate with clarity, integrity, and transparency to cultivate trust across the Faculty and broader university community.
• Lead strategic initiatives that engage faculty, staff, students, and administrators, and encourage collaboration across disciplines to achieve institutional goals.
• Operate effectively within a shared-governance structure, promoting an inclusive and collegial environment where all community members feel valued and connected.
• Provide sound financial leadership, including overseeing budget planning, resource allocation, and fiscal management aligned with academic priorities.
• Monitor enrolment trends and align them with budgetary planning to ensure the Faculty’s sustainability and growth.
• Anticipate and respond to the infrastructure needs of the Faculty of Science, using creative problem-solving and strategic insight.
• Demonstrate effective leadership by mentoring and developing academic and administrative staff, delegating responsibilities appropriately, and fostering a supportive, high-performance environment.
• Provide leadership and operational oversight of the Dean’s Office staff, including supervision, performance management, and workforce planning, ensuring services are delivered effectively and in alignment with collective agreements and institutional policies.

About the Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will possess a distinguished academic record including teaching, research, and service. Strong operational administrative abilities and experience and demonstrated collaborative and responsive leadership qualities to steer the Faculty are essential. The ability to work externally in areas such as community outreach and university advancement will be considered an important asset.

• Ph.D. in discipline relevant to the scholarship of the Faculty of Science.
• Minimum 10 years of experience as an academic in post-secondary education.
• Ideally at the rank of Full Professor with a strong record of teaching, research, and service achievements.
• Proven administrative leadership experience including significant experience in academic administration in positions such as Department Head/Chair, Associate Dean, Dean or equivalent.
• Experience working within a unionized environment with knowledge of collective agreements.
• Commitment to Indigenization and decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenous methodologies across teaching, learning, research, and outreach activities of the Faculty of Science.
• Strong commitment to the equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility goals of an urban university serving diverse populations.
• Understanding the teaching and research supports required to foster undergraduate and graduate programs in the Sciences, interdisciplinary studies, and professional disciplines.
• Experience in fostering university and community relations.
• Forward-thinking innovator with a vision for science education and research.
• Excellent leadership and mentorship skills, with demonstrated effectiveness at cultivating positive and constructive relationships with colleagues.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Experience in collective bargaining and policy development.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, administration, students, and the community.
• Demonstrated effectiveness working in a diverse, multi-cultural environment.

Candidates interested in this opportunity should contact Lynn Hepner, HR Advisor, at l.hepner@uwinnipeg.ca, or submit your application including a CV and cover letter online at: https://www.northstarats.com/University-of-Winnipeg

Review of applications will begin May 24, 2026.