Department Chair Jobs
Department chair jobs are open across higher education, K-12 school districts, and vocational institutions, at every level from first-time chairs to tenured senior administrators, with specializations in academic affairs, curriculum leadership, and faculty management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Department Chair JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 100+ Department Chair jobs
- JR10016637
- On Site
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Faculty
Job Category:
FacultyEmployment Type:
RegularJob Profile:
ProfessorJob Summary:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) in the College of Engineering (COE). The department is a vibrant and growing unit, currently enrolling 640 undergraduates across three degree programs in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Geological Engineering and an additional 170 undergraduates in an Architecture Certificate. The graduate program includes 130 students across master’s and doctoral programs in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry and Technology, and Geological Engineering. CEE is home to 30 core faculty members plus administrative, instructional, and research staff, a vibrant Professors of Practice group, and affiliated faculty from different colleges and schools on campus. CEE at UW-Madison is recognized for world-class, collaborative research that produces safe, sustainable, and impactful solutions to our built and natural environments, including construction engineering materials & management, environmental engineering & science, environmental chemistry & technology, geological engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and water resources engineering & science. These efforts are driven by our vision to lead and inspire positive change for public and environmental good through world-class transformative research, innovative teaching, and the development of engineering leaders. The department operates with an annual budget of $6 million and supports over $18 million in research expenditures.
The Chair will enter the COE at a transformative period of major investments including the Phillip A. Levy Engineering Center, a $420 million investment in state-of-the-art facilities for learning and discovery. This 395,000-square-foot facility will be the centerpiece of our engineering campus and will feature shared laboratories that unite faculty, staff and students from all engineering disciplines around common challenges.
The successful candidate will be a visionary leader who is deeply committed to UW–Madison’s public mission, able to lead effectively in an environment of shared governance and dedicated to fostering student engagement and success. They will be an accomplished scholar whose own record of research excellence enables them to inspire and mentor faculty, support innovation, and elevate the department’s research profile. They will be eager to listen and collaborate with a broad community of stakeholders, cultivate an inclusive and supportive departmental culture that strengthens community both within and beyond the university, and advance cross-disciplinary partnerships that bring together diverse perspectives. The Chair will also be committed to fundraising and to building strong connections with alumni, industry, and other academic partners. The initial term of appointment is five years, subject to annual review, and is eligible for reappointment.
Key Job Responsibilities:
Department Leadership: Shape and promote a vision, mission, and strategic plan for the department; promote and support high-impact research initiatives; support and enhance the educational mission of the department, college, and university; manage the administrative, financial, and space components of the department; grow development by engaging alumni and external partners; enhance the national and international recognition and reputation of the department.
Faculty and Staff Oversight, Recruitment and Development: Support and promote the teaching, research, and service activities of the department's faculty and staff members; identify areas of current and future faculty needs for the department's research and teaching mission; lead recruitment efforts in conjunction with departmental faculty; mentor and support junior and senior faculty and staff in their professional growth.
Instruction and Research: Teaching and developing undergraduate and graduate courses for civil and environmental engineering degree programs, mentoring graduate students and supervising their research; developing and directing a successful, extramurally funded research program; participating in departmental and university faculty governance; and contributing to professional and public service.
College Leadership: Serve on the Dean's Leadership Council with other department Chairs and Associate Deans.
Department:
- College of Engineering, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Compensation:
- Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing / renewable
Required Qualifications:
- Expresses a clear vision for the future for the department
- Established record of professional activities and leadership in professional organizations
- Demonstrated accomplishments in research and teaching appropriate for a tenured faculty appointment at UW-Madison.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Preferred qualifications include demonstrated intellectual leadership and administrative skills in an academic/university environment or equivalent, active engagement with the student body and broader campus community; deep understanding of shared governance and university culture, knowledge of the current landscape and emerging trends in civil engineering, environmental engineering, and geological engineering.
Education:
- PhD in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering or Geological Engineering - or a closely related field
How to Apply:
Please upload a SINGLE PDF with the following materials:
- A cover letter outlining the vision for the department and relevant leadership experience
- A curriculum vitae highlighting research accomplishments (including complete list of publications), teaching, mentoring experience and administrative roles
- A statement of leadership philosophy
- A statement of research and teaching
- Names and contact information for three references.
The deadline for assuring full consideration is December 11, 2026. However, the position will remain open, and applications may be considered, until this position is filled.
Contact Information:
Professor Brian Pfleger
Search Committee Chair
brian.pfleger@wisc.edu
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.
- JR10016637
- On Site
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Faculty
Job Category:
FacultyEmployment Type:
RegularJob Profile:
ProfessorJob Summary:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) in the College of Engineering (COE). The department is a vibrant and growing unit, currently enrolling 640 undergraduates across three degree programs in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Geological Engineering and an additional 170 undergraduates in an Architecture Certificate. The graduate program includes 130 students across master’s and doctoral programs in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry and Technology, and Geological Engineering. CEE is home to 30 core faculty members plus administrative, instructional, and research staff, a vibrant Professors of Practice group, and affiliated faculty from different colleges and schools on campus. CEE at UW-Madison is recognized for world-class, collaborative research that produces safe, sustainable, and impactful solutions to our built and natural environments, including construction engineering materials & management, environmental engineering & science, environmental chemistry & technology, geological engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and water resources engineering & science. These efforts are driven by our vision to lead and inspire positive change for public and environmental good through world-class transformative research, innovative teaching, and the development of engineering leaders. The department operates with an annual budget of $6 million and supports over $18 million in research expenditures.
The Chair will enter the COE at a transformative period of major investments including the Phillip A. Levy Engineering Center, a $420 million investment in state-of-the-art facilities for learning and discovery. This 395,000-square-foot facility will be the centerpiece of our engineering campus and will feature shared laboratories that unite faculty, staff and students from all engineering disciplines around common challenges.
The successful candidate will be a visionary leader who is deeply committed to UW–Madison’s public mission, able to lead effectively in an environment of shared governance and dedicated to fostering student engagement and success. They will be an accomplished scholar whose own record of research excellence enables them to inspire and mentor faculty, support innovation, and elevate the department’s research profile. They will be eager to listen and collaborate with a broad community of stakeholders, cultivate an inclusive and supportive departmental culture that strengthens community both within and beyond the university, and advance cross-disciplinary partnerships that bring together diverse perspectives. The Chair will also be committed to fundraising and to building strong connections with alumni, industry, and other academic partners. The initial term of appointment is five years, subject to annual review, and is eligible for reappointment.
Key Job Responsibilities:
Department Leadership: Shape and promote a vision, mission, and strategic plan for the department; promote and support high-impact research initiatives; support and enhance the educational mission of the department, college, and university; manage the administrative, financial, and space components of the department; grow development by engaging alumni and external partners; enhance the national and international recognition and reputation of the department.
Faculty and Staff Oversight, Recruitment and Development: Support and promote the teaching, research, and service activities of the department's faculty and staff members; identify areas of current and future faculty needs for the department's research and teaching mission; lead recruitment efforts in conjunction with departmental faculty; mentor and support junior and senior faculty and staff in their professional growth.
Instruction and Research: Teaching and developing undergraduate and graduate courses for civil and environmental engineering degree programs, mentoring graduate students and supervising their research; developing and directing a successful, extramurally funded research program; participating in departmental and university faculty governance; and contributing to professional and public service.
College Leadership: Serve on the Dean's Leadership Council with other department Chairs and Associate Deans.
Department:
- College of Engineering, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Compensation:
- Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing / renewable
Required Qualifications:
- Expresses a clear vision for the future for the department
- Established record of professional activities and leadership in professional organizations
- Demonstrated accomplishments in research and teaching appropriate for a tenured faculty appointment at UW-Madison.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Preferred qualifications include demonstrated intellectual leadership and administrative skills in an academic/university environment or equivalent, active engagement with the student body and broader campus community; deep understanding of shared governance and university culture, knowledge of the current landscape and emerging trends in civil engineering, environmental engineering, and geological engineering.
Education:
- PhD in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering or Geological Engineering - or a closely related field
How to Apply:
Please upload a SINGLE PDF with the following materials:
- A cover letter outlining the vision for the department and relevant leadership experience
- A curriculum vitae highlighting research accomplishments (including complete list of publications), teaching, mentoring experience and administrative roles
- A statement of leadership philosophy
- A statement of research and teaching
- Names and contact information for three references.
The deadline for assuring full consideration is December 11, 2026. However, the position will remain open, and applications may be considered, until this position is filled.
Contact Information:
Professor Brian Pfleger
Search Committee Chair
brian.pfleger@wisc.edu
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.
See All 100 Department Chair Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Department Chair JobsDepartment Chair Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education22
- Healthcare & Medical Services3
- Science & Research1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in department chair jobs.
- Terminal degree in the department's primary discipline required
- Five or more years of full-time teaching experience at the appropriate level
- Demonstrated experience managing faculty, staff, or academic programs
- Familiarity with accreditation standards relevant to the department's field
- Experience with curriculum development, assessment, and program review processes
- Strong record of scholarly or professional activity in the discipline
Tips for Your Department Chair Job Search
Tailor your CV to leadership metrics
Department chairs are evaluated on program growth, faculty retention, and accreditation outcomes, not just teaching credentials. Reframe your CV around measurable results like curriculum redesigns you led, grant funding you secured, or enrollment changes tied to your initiatives.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists department chair openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Get your references search-committee ready
Search committees for department chairs expect references who can speak to your administrative judgment, not just your scholarship. Line up a dean, a provost-level administrator, or a faculty union rep who has watched you handle budget decisions or faculty disputes firsthand.
Read the institution's accreditation status first
If a school is on probationary accreditation status or in the middle of a reaccreditation cycle, your first year as chair will center on compliance documentation. Check the relevant regional or programmatic accreditor's website before you apply so the expectation is clear going in.
Prepare for the governance interview round
Many institutions run a separate interview with faculty governance bodies, such as a faculty senate or curriculum committee, before making a final offer. Anticipate questions about shared governance philosophy, how you handle faculty grievances, and your approach to academic freedom in curriculum decisions.
Negotiate startup funds and release time separately
Administrative chairs frequently receive a course release or stipend in addition to base pay, and those terms are often negotiated apart from salary. Ask specifically about teaching load reduction, departmental operating budgets, and whether administrative support staff are included in the role before you accept.
Department Chair Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most department chairs?
The companies hiring the most department chairs right now include University of Pittsburgh, Thomas Jefferson University & Jefferson Health, and Kennesaw State University, with the largest share of openings in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Openings are distributed across community colleges, four-year universities, and large K-12 district systems.
How many department chair jobs are remote?
About 10% of department chair openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of faculty oversight and campus operations. The sub-areas most likely to offer hybrid arrangements are online program departments and continuing education divisions, where instruction itself is delivered virtually and in-person presence requirements are lower.
How do you become a department chair?
Start by completing a terminal degree in your field and building several years of teaching experience at the institution level you're targeting. Take on committee work, curriculum review roles, or program coordinator duties to demonstrate administrative readiness. When you apply, emphasize leadership outcomes, not just academic credentials. Most chairs are either elected by faculty or appointed by a dean after a formal search process.
Can you get a department chair job with little administrative experience?
Some institutions, especially smaller community colleges or growing online programs, will hire candidates whose teaching and scholarly record is strong even if direct administrative experience is limited. Coordinating a program, serving as a committee chair, or managing an accreditation self-study can substitute for formal supervisory experience. Framing any project where you led colleagues toward a shared academic outcome strengthens your candidacy.
What does the department chair interview process look like?
Most searches involve an initial screening call with HR or a search committee, followed by a full campus visit that includes separate meetings with the provost or dean, current faculty, and sometimes students. Candidates are typically asked to deliver a presentation on their vision for the department. A faculty governance interview round is common at institutions with strong shared governance structures, and reference checks happen before any offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to department chair jobs?
You can find and apply to department chair jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from institutions across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your discipline, institution type, and experience level, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 100 Department Chair Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Department Chair Jobs