Position Title / Rank: Chair, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Water Resources Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Guelph
Department: Department of Civil Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
Position Description:
The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Water Resources Engineering at the University of Guelph invites applications for the position of Department Chair. The successful candidate will also hold a tenured faculty appointment at the Associate Professor or Professor level.
The Chair appointment is a five-year term and will be made in accordance with Article 20 of the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA) Collective Agreement. Chairs play a critical role in shaping the academic, research, and administrative direction of their departments. Reporting to the Dean, Chairs are responsible for ensuring the orderly, effective, and collegial operation of their department, supporting faculty and staff in fulfilling their academic responsibilities, and contributing to the strategic development of the College of Engineering. They will provide visionary leadership to elevate their department’s visibility, amplify its scholarly, societal, and community impact, and strengthen its reputation nationally and internationally.
The Chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering will lead the advancement of programs addressing key societal challenges related to infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and water systems. Responsibilities include strengthening curriculum and experiential learning in areas such as structures, materials, geotechnical engineering, water resources, environmental systems, and transportation, including laboratory- and field-based learning experiences. The Chair will foster research excellence in areas including sustainable and smart infrastructure, circular economy and responsible resource management, and resilient community design, while strengthening partnerships with municipalities, industry, consulting firms, conservation authorities, and government agencies to expand experiential learning, applied research, and co-op opportunities.
The College of Engineering (CoE), building on decades of achievement and the strong legacy of the University’s School of Engineering, is a well-established academic unit with a strong reputation for innovation in sustainable systems, emerging technologies, interdisciplinary design, and experiential learning. The College is entering a period of significant momentum, marked by expanding undergraduate and graduate enrolments, increasing research intensity, ongoing faculty renewal, and planned future investments in infrastructure and facilities.
Research-intensive and learner-centred, the University of Guelph is recognized nationally and internationally for excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement. As a comprehensive university with strengths across engineering, the sciences, business, social sciences, arts, and agricultural and veterinary sciences, Guelph advances innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impactful solutions to complex societal challenges.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will be a tenured faculty member (or appointable as such) with an excellent record of scholarship, teaching, and service. They will demonstrate academic and administrative leadership experience, as well as the ability to work collaboratively within a complex academic environment. The successful candidate will foster shared leadership, build consensus, and inspire the pursuit of inclusive excellence within the department. A demonstrated commitment to Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonial practices is essential.
The successful candidate will:
- Hold an undergraduate degree and a terminal degree (PhD or equivalent) in an applicable engineering discipline or a closely related field.
- Be licensed as a Professional Engineer in Ontario, or be eligible for licensure with Professional Engineers Ontario within one year of appointment.
- Have a strong record of scholarly publications in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals and demonstrated success in securing external research funding.
- Have experience in curriculum development, program accreditation, and student-centred teaching methodologies.
- Demonstrate the ability to foster collaboration across departments, industry, and external partners while navigating complex academic governance structures.
- Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Have a demonstrated record of effective leadership, including the ability to inspire teams, guide change, and advance strategic priorities in complex academic or organizational settings.
Core Scholarship Areas include:
Sustainable and smart civil and environmental systems; byproduct valorization and circular economy; green infrastructure; monitoring and modelling of water systems; detection and remediation of environmental contamination; and design of resilient, equitable built environments.
Term and Appointment
The successful candidate will be appointed as a tenured faculty member at a commensurate rank, with a Chair term of five (5) years, renewable once, based on performance. The Chair is appointed in accordance with Article 20 of the UGFA Collective Agreement. A Letter of Appointment outlining specific responsibilities will be provided.
The University of Guelph resides on the traditional lands and territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and Huron Wendat. These lands are now home to a rich diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. We offer our respect and gratitude to our Indigenous neighbours and affirm our responsibility to realize our commitments to reconciliation through ongoing action. We are guided in this work by Bi-Naagward | It Comes into View, the Indigenous Initiatives Strategy.
The University of Guelph is the third largest employer in Guelph, a city of over 144,000 people, located about an hour drive west of Toronto, Ontario. University of Guelph is a top-ranked comprehensive university in Canada with an enrolment of more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across more than 40 academic units. The University is known for its commitment to student learning, innovative research, and collaboration with world-class partners. It is a unique place, with transformative research and teaching and a distinctive campus culture. People who learn and work here are shaped and inspired by a shared purpose: To Improve Life. Reflecting that shared purpose in every experience connected to our university positions us to create positive change, here and around the world. Our University community shares a profound sense of social responsibility, a drive for international development, and an obligation to address global issues.
Application Process
If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page to be considered as an internal applicant. SuccessFactors: Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)
Assessment of applications will begin on May 29, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should create an account on https://careers.uoguelph.ca/ and apply for the advertised faculty position (Requisition ID #2349) by submitting the following materials (in an integrated Single PDF file):
- A cover letter outlining qualifications, leadership experience, and vision for the Department (maximum 3 pages).
- A statement on equity, diversity and inclusion (maximum one page).
- A curriculum vitae.
- The names and contact information of three referees (referees will be contacted only for shortlisted applicants).
Questions about the application process may be directed to Ashliegh Sayer, Administrative Officer, College of Engineering at
[email protected].
Date Posted: 04/29/2026
Deadline: 05/28/2026 or until a suitable candidate is found.
This position is represented by the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA).
The University of Guelph commits to fostering inclusive excellence through promoting Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Inclusion is a core pillar of Our Time, our strategic plan, which pledges to “transform our human resources, governance and student services and practices across the University to enable us to recruit a diverse student, faculty and staff body and support them in achieving their personal, professional and scholarly goals.” The University commits to creating and maintaining “equitable work environments that empower us in our pursuit of student, faculty and staff success, research excellence, innovation and impact.”
The University of Guelph invites applications from all qualified individuals; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from members of designated groups in employment, including Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons.
The University of Guelph recognizes that career paths can be diverse and career interruptions may occur. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like considerations given to the impact of any circumstances, such as (but not limited to) those due to health and/or family reasons, that may have affected an applicant’s record of achievement. You are not required to disclose these circumstances in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these circumstances do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position.
The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing medical accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52674. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the hiring process or for more information and support, please visit the University’s Occupational Health and Wellness or contact OHW at
[email protected].
