Programme Director in Chemical and Environmental Engineering for Climate Resilience

Position: Director Position in Chemical and Environmental Engineering for Climate Resilience
Academic Rank: The program director is expected to be appointed at least at the level of an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering.
Contract Type: Contractual, Renewable
Location: Chittagong, Bangladesh
Start Date: At the earliest possible date

About AUW

The Asian University for Women (AUW) is an independent, international university based in Bangladesh. It is dedicated to women’s education and leadership development, emphasizing excellence in teaching and research within a liberal arts and sciences framework. AUW currently enrolls over 1,700 students from 17 countries, many of whom are first-generation learners from underrepresented backgrounds. AUW fosters an inclusive academic environment and promotes service-oriented leadership, innovation, and intercultural understanding. Approximately 60% of AUW graduates pursue graduate studies, reflecting the University’s strong academic foundation.

Recognizing the urgent need for climate resilience and environmental sustainability, AUW is launching the Program on Chemical and Environmental Engineering for Climate Resilience to equip future leaders with the technical expertise and problem-solving skills necessary to address global environmental challenges. The initiative is supported by faculty from Imperial College London. The Chemical and Environmental Engineering program will be housed in a newly established research laboratory, originally designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, providing a purpose-built space to support teaching, research, and innovation. As part of this initiative, AUW has also established the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health (3CEH), which serves as a hub for research, policy engagement, and community-driven climate solutions. The Centre integrates academic expertise with real-world environmental challenges, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to develop sustainable strategies for climate adaptation and public health resilience. It will play a pivotal role in supporting the Program through research opportunities, partnerships, and practical training.

About the Position

AUW invites applications for a full-time position for the role of Program Director to lead the Chemical and Environmental Engineering program and associated strategic initiatives. This is a unique opportunity to shape a flagship programme focused on climate resilience, sustainability, and environmental innovation within a liberal arts and sciences framework. The successful candidate will provide academic and strategic leadership, oversee curriculum development, support faculty recruitment and development, and ensure programme excellence aligned with AUW’s mission of educating women leaders committed to addressing global challenges.

You will contribute to teaching and curriculum design, undertake high-impact research, mentor students, and support interdisciplinary collaboration across the university. The role also includes active participation in academic service and programme development, strengthening partnerships, and advancing AUW’s commitment to inclusive education and sustainable development.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates committed to empowering women in STEM and supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Teaching Contribution

You will contribute to interdisciplinary undergraduate teaching aligned with your expertise. Depending on specialisation, teaching may include areas such as:

• Advanced Process Optimization and Control
• Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Environmental Fluid Mechanics
• Process Engineering and Process Design
• Control, Instrumentation and Process Safety
• Process Integration and Intensification
• Separation Processes
• Waste Management and Resource Recovery
• Environmental Chemistry and Pollution Control
• Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution Control
• Environmental Modelling

What you would be doing

You will:

• Deliver high-quality teaching, tutorials, and assessments across assigned courses
• Contribute approximately 28 credits of teaching per academic year
• Serve as an academic advisor and mentor to students
• Supervise senior thesis projects, including data analysis, writing, and presentation
• Develop research activities and seek external funding opportunities
• Contribute to academic committees and institutional initiatives
• Maintain regular office hours and student support
• Support the development of professional networks to enhance internships and career opportunities for students

Program Leadership Responsibilities

As Program Director, you will:

• Lead the strategic recruitment and assembly of an outstanding cohort of faculty members benchmarking against leading international institutions. And serving as a magnet for high-quality scholars to join the program. Provide ongoing mentorship and foster a supportive environment that nurtures faculty excellence, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Develop and maintain the curriculum and degree roadmap for approval by academic governance bodies
• Oversee periodic curriculum review and continuous improvement
• Support the design, operation, and management of laboratories and teaching facilities
• Build partnerships with national and international academic, industry, and policy stakeholders
• Develop annual teaching schedules and coordinate faculty assignments
• Monitor teaching quality through classroom visits, evaluations, and course reviews
• Conduct annual programme performance reviews and lead continuous improvement processes
• Together with program faculty, conduct annual reviews of program performance.
• Lead accreditation processes, including IChemE accreditation
• Direct the advising work of program faculty. Assign students to advisors.
• Oversee academic advising systems and monitor student progression
• Support the recruitment of visiting faculty where appropriate
• Manage faculty workload allocation and conduct annual performance reviews
• Conduct annual performance reviews of faculty in the program.
• Contribute to institutional strategic planning and academic development
• Approve major selections, internships for credit, and student leave requests as appropriate
• Work with the Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs to improve program performance and professional development of faculty.
• Support faculty professional development and programme enhancement
• Organise programme meetings, seminars, and academic events
• Prepare and manage the programme’s annual budget

What we are looking for

Essential criteria

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field
• Strong research profile with evidence of scholarly impact and external funding potential
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence and student mentoring
• Experience in curriculum design and educational assessment
• Academic leadership experience and ability to guide programme development
• Understanding of inclusive and student-centered learning environments
• Ability to lead and inspire a diverse academic team
• Strong awareness of emerging trends in engineering education and technology integration

Desirable criteria

• Experience within liberal arts or interdisciplinary educational environments
• Experience working in Asia and/or women-focused educational institutions
• Expertise in environmental technologies, climate resilience, or data-driven environmental systems
• Commitment to advancing women in STEM and supporting underrepresented communities
• Experience teaching multilingual and culturally diverse student cohorts

Contract & Benefits

Duration: 3 years, renewable based on satisfactory performance

Compensation: According to AUW policy

Additional Benefits: Semi-furnished shared accommodation for outstation candidates, medical allowance

How to Apply

Please submit the following materials to ChemEnv@auw.edu.bd, with the subject line: Faculty Position in Chemical and Environmental Engineering.

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV), including the list of peer-reviewed publications
• Teaching statement
• Research statement
• Statement of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Copies of academic certificates
• Names and contact information of three references

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Incomplete applications will not be considered for review.