Department Chair Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Department Chair roles at U.S. universities and colleges routinely qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring at least a master's degree in a directly related field. Many institutions are cap-exempt, meaning your petition bypasses the annual lottery and can be filed any time of year.
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s College of Arts & Sciences invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Mathematics at the Daytona Beach Campus. This is an exceptional opportunity to guide the department at an exciting stage of growth. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build upon a strong foundation of teaching excellence, expand a growing research enterprise, and help shape the next generation of academic programs in computational mathematics and data science.
The Department Chair provides academic leadership, administrative oversight, and strategic direction for the department. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, the Chair ensures the quality, integrity, and relevance of departmental programs while supporting the University’s mission, academic goals, and commitment to excellence in aerospace and aviation education.
The Mathematics Department combines a culture of dedicated instruction and student mentorship with growing strengths in interdisciplinary research and curricular innovation. The teaching of the department's 33 faculty members—8 tenure-track, 11 tenured, and 14 non-tenure-track—plays a central role in supporting other programs and the university's student success goals.
The department offers bachelor's degrees in Computational Mathematics and Data Science, a master’s degree in Data Science, and minors in Applied Mathematics, Computational Mathematics, and Applications of AI. Faculty are poised to develop a doctoral program that builds on existing strengths in undergraduate and master’s level education.
Department research shows a strong growth trajectory. In recent years, research expenditures have increased to over half a million dollars per year, with support from organizations including the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Office of Naval Research, and the US Department of Transportation. Continued growth in research in both computational mathematics and data science is anticipated due to recent strategic hiring of early-career and established research faculty.
This position includes a 9-month tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Professor and a 12-month administrative extension.
Explore the Department of Mathematics:
https://erau.edu/academics/colleges/daytona-beach-college-of-arts-and-sciences/mathematics
About the College of Arts & Sciences
Embry-Riddle's College of Arts & Sciences provides the scientific, mathematical, and intellectual foundation that supports the University's distinctive focus on aviation, aerospace, and emerging technologies. Through innovative academic programs, interdisciplinary research, and experiential learning, the College prepares students to think critically, solve complex problems, and contribute meaningfully to rapidly evolving industries. The College brings together disciplines spanning mathematics, physical sciences, human factors and behavioral neurobiology, humanities and communication, and security studies and international affairs. Faculty and students collaborate across disciplinary boundaries, connecting scientific inquiry, analytical reasoning, and real-world applications.
Explore the College of Arts & Sciences:
https://erau.edu/academics/colleges/daytona-beach-college-of-arts-and-sciences
About Embry-Riddle
For over 100 years, Embry-Riddle has been the world's leading aviation and aerospace university, educating more than 30,000 students across residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, as well as through a global network of Worldwide locations and online programs. With more than 165,000 alumni around the world, our impact reaches every corner of the aerospace, aviation, defense and technology industries.
Today, our faculty, researchers and professional staff are advancing innovation across aviation, space, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, autonomous systems and next-generation engineering. Working alongside industry leaders, government agencies and innovators, they are solving real-world challenges and shaping the technologies that will define tomorrow.
Whether you are an educator, researcher, administrator, technologist or industry professional, your work at Embry-Riddle will contribute to something bigger than a job. Join a community driven by discovery, purpose and excellence—and help shape the future of aerospace.
Qualifications
- Earned doctorate in mathematics, statistics, data science, or related field.
- Record of successful teaching, scholarship, and service appropriate for a tenured appointment at the rank of professor.
- Record of obtaining or facilitating the growth of external research funding.
- Demonstrated academic leadership or administrative experience, preferably as a department chair, program director, associate dean, or comparable academic administrator.
- Demonstrated commitment to student success in first and second year mathematics courses within a U.S. higher education context.
- Knowledge of curriculum development, assessment, accreditation, and continuous improvement practices.
- Experience recruiting, mentoring, evaluating, and developing faculty.
- Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, administrators, and external stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience as a department chair overseeing a diverse portfolio of research and academic programs.
- Research alignment with existing strengths and growth areas of the department.
- Experience in growing program enrollment, developing curriculum, increasing student retention, and improving graduate outcomes.
- Experience in improving student success for students in first and second year mathematics courses.
- Experience with advanced graduate program development or successful PhD student supervision.
Required Documents
Interested candidates should submit the following materials through Embry-Riddle's online application system:
- Cover letter
- CV
- Contact information for at least three professional references (references will not be contacted without prior notification of the candidate)
Current Embry-Riddle employees: Please apply directly through the ERAU Employee Hub Central application within Workday.
Embry-Riddle is committed to fostering a workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We strive to ensure that all faculty, staff, and students are treated fairly and provided equal opportunities for employment, advancement, compensation, training, and other benefits of employment. Embry-Riddle makes employment decisions — including hiring, promotions, compensation, and other terms of employment — based on individual merit, qualifications, and abilities. Embry-Riddle is strongly opposed to discrimination and harassment, and such behavior is prohibited by university policy. Embry-Riddle does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, veteran status, predisposing genetic characteristics, age, religion, or pregnancy status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law, in its employment, educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, or other school-administered programs or activities. For further information, please visit our website.
Embry-Riddle does not accept unsolicited assistance from staffing or recruitment agencies. Agencies interested in partnering with the University should contact eraujobs@erau.edu and should not contact hiring managers or other University employees directly.
To preserve the integrity and authenticity of our hiring process, candidates are expected to participate without AI-assisted coaching, real-time response generation, or recording during interviews or assessments. Embry-Riddle does not use AI to automatically screen, rank, or select candidates.
Job Description
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s College of Arts & Sciences invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Mathematics at the Daytona Beach Campus. This is an exceptional opportunity to guide the department at an exciting stage of growth. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build upon a strong foundation of teaching excellence, expand a growing research enterprise, and help shape the next generation of academic programs in computational mathematics and data science.
The Department Chair provides academic leadership, administrative oversight, and strategic direction for the department. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, the Chair ensures the quality, integrity, and relevance of departmental programs while supporting the University’s mission, academic goals, and commitment to excellence in aerospace and aviation education.
The Mathematics Department combines a culture of dedicated instruction and student mentorship with growing strengths in interdisciplinary research and curricular innovation. The teaching of the department's 33 faculty members—8 tenure-track, 11 tenured, and 14 non-tenure-track—plays a central role in supporting other programs and the university's student success goals.
The department offers bachelor's degrees in Computational Mathematics and Data Science, a master’s degree in Data Science, and minors in Applied Mathematics, Computational Mathematics, and Applications of AI. Faculty are poised to develop a doctoral program that builds on existing strengths in undergraduate and master’s level education.
Department research shows a strong growth trajectory. In recent years, research expenditures have increased to over half a million dollars per year, with support from organizations including the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Office of Naval Research, and the US Department of Transportation. Continued growth in research in both computational mathematics and data science is anticipated due to recent strategic hiring of early-career and established research faculty.
This position includes a 9-month tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Professor and a 12-month administrative extension.
Explore the Department of Mathematics:
https://erau.edu/academics/colleges/daytona-beach-college-of-arts-and-sciences/mathematics
About the College of Arts & Sciences
Embry-Riddle's College of Arts & Sciences provides the scientific, mathematical, and intellectual foundation that supports the University's distinctive focus on aviation, aerospace, and emerging technologies. Through innovative academic programs, interdisciplinary research, and experiential learning, the College prepares students to think critically, solve complex problems, and contribute meaningfully to rapidly evolving industries. The College brings together disciplines spanning mathematics, physical sciences, human factors and behavioral neurobiology, humanities and communication, and security studies and international affairs. Faculty and students collaborate across disciplinary boundaries, connecting scientific inquiry, analytical reasoning, and real-world applications.
Explore the College of Arts & Sciences:
https://erau.edu/academics/colleges/daytona-beach-college-of-arts-and-sciences
About Embry-Riddle
For over 100 years, Embry-Riddle has been the world's leading aviation and aerospace university, educating more than 30,000 students across residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, as well as through a global network of Worldwide locations and online programs. With more than 165,000 alumni around the world, our impact reaches every corner of the aerospace, aviation, defense and technology industries.
Today, our faculty, researchers and professional staff are advancing innovation across aviation, space, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, autonomous systems and next-generation engineering. Working alongside industry leaders, government agencies and innovators, they are solving real-world challenges and shaping the technologies that will define tomorrow.
Whether you are an educator, researcher, administrator, technologist or industry professional, your work at Embry-Riddle will contribute to something bigger than a job. Join a community driven by discovery, purpose and excellence—and help shape the future of aerospace.
Qualifications
- Earned doctorate in mathematics, statistics, data science, or related field.
- Record of successful teaching, scholarship, and service appropriate for a tenured appointment at the rank of professor.
- Record of obtaining or facilitating the growth of external research funding.
- Demonstrated academic leadership or administrative experience, preferably as a department chair, program director, associate dean, or comparable academic administrator.
- Demonstrated commitment to student success in first and second year mathematics courses within a U.S. higher education context.
- Knowledge of curriculum development, assessment, accreditation, and continuous improvement practices.
- Experience recruiting, mentoring, evaluating, and developing faculty.
- Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, administrators, and external stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience as a department chair overseeing a diverse portfolio of research and academic programs.
- Research alignment with existing strengths and growth areas of the department.
- Experience in growing program enrollment, developing curriculum, increasing student retention, and improving graduate outcomes.
- Experience in improving student success for students in first and second year mathematics courses.
- Experience with advanced graduate program development or successful PhD student supervision.
Required Documents
Interested candidates should submit the following materials through Embry-Riddle's online application system:
- Cover letter
- CV
- Contact information for at least three professional references (references will not be contacted without prior notification of the candidate)
Current Embry-Riddle employees: Please apply directly through the ERAU Employee Hub Central application within Workday.
Embry-Riddle is committed to fostering a workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We strive to ensure that all faculty, staff, and students are treated fairly and provided equal opportunities for employment, advancement, compensation, training, and other benefits of employment. Embry-Riddle makes employment decisions — including hiring, promotions, compensation, and other terms of employment — based on individual merit, qualifications, and abilities. Embry-Riddle is strongly opposed to discrimination and harassment, and such behavior is prohibited by university policy. Embry-Riddle does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, veteran status, predisposing genetic characteristics, age, religion, or pregnancy status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law, in its employment, educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, or other school-administered programs or activities. For further information, please visit our website.
Embry-Riddle does not accept unsolicited assistance from staffing or recruitment agencies. Agencies interested in partnering with the University should contact eraujobs@erau.edu and should not contact hiring managers or other University employees directly.
To preserve the integrity and authenticity of our hiring process, candidates are expected to participate without AI-assisted coaching, real-time response generation, or recording during interviews or assessments. Embry-Riddle does not use AI to automatically screen, rank, or select candidates.
See all 68+ Department Chair Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Department Chair Jobs
Verify your institution's cap-exempt status
Universities, affiliated research organizations, and nonprofit research institutions are typically H-1B cap-exempt. Confirm this before accepting an offer, cap-exempt filing means no lottery wait and year-round petition submission through USCIS.
Document administrative leadership as specialty work
Chair roles blend teaching, research, and departmental oversight. When your employer files your LCA, ensure the job description explicitly ties administrative duties to your discipline's specialized degree requirements, not just general management functions.
Check prevailing wage tiers before salary negotiation
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level II or III prevailing wage for postsecondary teachers in your specific location. Your certified LCA must meet that threshold, so knowing it ahead of negotiations prevents offer complications.
Find institutions with active sponsorship histories on Migrate Mate
Search Migrate Mate to identify colleges and universities that have filed LCAs for Department Chair and related faculty-leadership roles. Targeting employers with verified sponsorship histories shortens your search and reduces offer-stage surprises.
Start PERM early if you want permanent residence
Many institutions sponsor green cards for tenured or tenure-track chairs through the EB-2 or EB-3 category. PERM labor certification can take 18 months or more, so ask about the institution's green card policy before or during the offer stage.
Get foreign credentials evaluated before applying
If your terminal degree was earned outside the U.S., obtain a course-by-course credential evaluation from a NACES-recognized evaluator. Hiring committees and USCIS both need confirmation that your degree is equivalent to a U.S. doctoral or master's degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Department Chair role qualify as a specialty occupation for the H-1B?
Yes. Department Chair positions at accredited institutions require at least a master's degree, and typically a doctorate, in the specific academic discipline you oversee. That direct degree requirement satisfies USCIS's specialty occupation definition. The administrative component of the role doesn't disqualify it, provided the chair duties remain grounded in the specialized field.
Do university employers sponsoring Department Chairs have to go through the H-1B lottery?
Most do not. Accredited colleges, universities, and affiliated nonprofit research organizations are cap-exempt under the H-1B rules. That means your sponsoring institution can file your I-129 petition with USCIS at any time of year, without waiting for the annual April registration window or hoping for a lottery selection.
Which visa types are typically available for Department Chair candidates?
H-1B is the most common path for multi-year appointments. J-1 visa is an option for shorter-term visiting chair positions through a designated exchange sponsor. TN visa status can apply to Canadian or Mexican nationals whose discipline appears on the USMCA profession list. Institutions also sponsor green cards via EB-2 or EB-3 for tenured or tenure-track chairs pursuing permanent residence.
How do I find colleges and universities actively sponsoring Department Chairs?
Browse Department Chair listings on Migrate Mate, which shows employers with verified LCA sponsorship histories for academic leadership roles. Targeting institutions that have already sponsored similar positions gives you a clearer picture of which employers are set up to file and familiar with the process.
Does my foreign doctorate meet the degree requirement for H-1B sponsorship as a Department Chair?
A foreign doctorate is generally accepted if it's evaluated as equivalent to a U.S. degree in the same field. USCIS expects the employer to document degree equivalency, usually by including a credential evaluation from a NACES-recognized evaluator with the I-129 petition. Ensure your evaluation is course-by-course, not just a general degree-level assessment.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Department Chair jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.