Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Memorial University is seeking an inspirational and dynamic leader as its next Dean for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
The Organization
We acknowledge that the lands on which Memorial University's campuses are situated are in the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi'kmaq, Innu, and Inuit of this province.
Founded in 1925, Memorial University is Newfoundland and Labrador's only university and one of Atlantic Canada's leading teaching and research institutions. Memorial fulfills its special obligation to the people of NL by serving students across multiple campuses and locations. The University is recognized for its commitment to teaching, research, innovation, and public engagement.
The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS) is one of Memorial's outstanding professional schools, recognized for its commitment to excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and experiential learning supported by our unique mandatory undergraduate co-op program. Currently, Memorial's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science has more than 80 faculty positions, 925 graduate students and up to 1300 undergraduates. Through accredited undergraduate and graduate programs, including two that are unique in Canada, the Faculty prepares graduates to address complex challenges and contribute to economic and social development locally, nationally, and internationally.
The Role
Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the Dean is a senior member of Memorial University's leadership team and is responsible for fostering excellence in innovation, research, service, and undergraduate and graduate education within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. The Dean provides visionary, collegial leadership to a diverse academic community and advances the Faculty's strategic priorities through collaboration, evidence-informed decision-making, and a commitment to student success. The Dean is expected to integrate principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, anti-racism, and reconciliation throughout the Faculty's academic, research, administrative, and community-engaged activities, ensuring these commitments inform planning, policies, governance, and culture. The Dean will also play a leadership role in advancing Indigenization and decolonization within the Faculty through meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, the inclusion of Indigenous knowledges and perspectives, and the cultivation of learning, research, and workplace environments where all members of the community can thrive.
Key areas of oversight and responsibility are:
As the ideal candidate, you are a respected academic leader with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service. You possess strong strategic, financial, and operational leadership capabilities and have a proven ability to build collaborative relationships across diverse communities. You have experience embedding equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, anti-racism, and reconciliation principles into institutional strategy, governance, academic planning, and organizational culture. You understand the importance of Indigenization and decolonization within higher education and can demonstrate how you have advanced these priorities through leadership, partnership, and sustained action. You bring strong communication and relationship-building skills, sound judgement, and the ability to inspire confidence among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external partners.
Qualifications and Education
While the Search Committee recognizes that no one candidate is likely to meet all qualifications in equal measure, those listed below are desirable and will be used to compare candidates.
This is a unique opportunity to lead one of Memorial University's outstanding professional Faculties at a pivotal time in its evolution. As Dean, you will work with a highly engaged community of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners to advance excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement while strengthening the Faculty's impact locally, nationally, and internationally.
Apply Now
Application review will begin on October 12, 2026.
Memorial University is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women; Indigenous peoples; people of any gender identity or expression; racialized persons; and persons with disabilities. We acknowledge and value diverse career paths, ways of knowing, and forms of communicating knowledge.
Memorial University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process by contacting accommodations@kbrs.ca.
If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Abbey MacLeod at amacleod@kbrs.ca, Kyle Steele at ksteele@kbrs.ca, or Dr. Jennie Massey at jmassey@kbrs.ca or submit your full application package by clicking "Apply Now."
Memorial University is seeking an inspirational and dynamic leader as its next Dean for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
The Organization
We acknowledge that the lands on which Memorial University's campuses are situated are in the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi'kmaq, Innu, and Inuit of this province.
Founded in 1925, Memorial University is Newfoundland and Labrador's only university and one of Atlantic Canada's leading teaching and research institutions. Memorial fulfills its special obligation to the people of NL by serving students across multiple campuses and locations. The University is recognized for its commitment to teaching, research, innovation, and public engagement.
The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS) is one of Memorial's outstanding professional schools, recognized for its commitment to excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and experiential learning supported by our unique mandatory undergraduate co-op program. Currently, Memorial's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science has more than 80 faculty positions, 925 graduate students and up to 1300 undergraduates. Through accredited undergraduate and graduate programs, including two that are unique in Canada, the Faculty prepares graduates to address complex challenges and contribute to economic and social development locally, nationally, and internationally.
The Role
Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the Dean is a senior member of Memorial University's leadership team and is responsible for fostering excellence in innovation, research, service, and undergraduate and graduate education within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. The Dean provides visionary, collegial leadership to a diverse academic community and advances the Faculty's strategic priorities through collaboration, evidence-informed decision-making, and a commitment to student success. The Dean is expected to integrate principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, anti-racism, and reconciliation throughout the Faculty's academic, research, administrative, and community-engaged activities, ensuring these commitments inform planning, policies, governance, and culture. The Dean will also play a leadership role in advancing Indigenization and decolonization within the Faculty through meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, the inclusion of Indigenous knowledges and perspectives, and the cultivation of learning, research, and workplace environments where all members of the community can thrive.
Key areas of oversight and responsibility are:
- Strategic Leadership and Governance – Collaboratively develops a collegial vision for the Faculty aligned with Memorial's strategic priorities, working with leadership, the FEAS Advisory Council, governance bodies, employees, and students to advance Faculty goals. Actively supports decolonization, recruitment, and retention strategies and champions equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, anti-racism, reconciliation, and Indigenization.
- Administrative Management – Provides operational leadership to the Faculty, centring student success, overseeing budget and resources, supporting employee development and ensuring healthy workplace practices. Leads accreditation and Senate-mandated program review, ensuring equity, accessibility and decolonization principles are embedded in all programs.
- Relationship Building – Establishes meaningful relationships with students, alumni, industry partners, governments, professional organizations, and community partners, raising the Faculty’s profile through advocacy and actively pursuing advancement and fundraising partnerships. Supports experiential learning, co-operative education, and research opportunities, while fostering partnerships that advance reconciliation, accessibility, and inclusive excellence. Maintains productive relationships with provincial regulatory bodies and accreditation partners.
- Research and Scholarly Activity – Fosters research productivity, innovation, and excellence and supports interdisciplinary collaboration and diverse perspectives. Advances funding opportunities that enhance research infrastructure and capacity, including opportunities that support community-engaged, Indigenous, and equity-informed research.
- Teaching and Learning – Oversees undergraduate and graduate programming and promotes excellence in teaching and learning through robust planning and innovative curriculum development. Ensures values and priorities are centred in teaching and learning practices, while supporting the Faculty's co-operative education model and advancing inclusive, accessible, and culturally responsive learning environments.
As the ideal candidate, you are a respected academic leader with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service. You possess strong strategic, financial, and operational leadership capabilities and have a proven ability to build collaborative relationships across diverse communities. You have experience embedding equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, anti-racism, and reconciliation principles into institutional strategy, governance, academic planning, and organizational culture. You understand the importance of Indigenization and decolonization within higher education and can demonstrate how you have advanced these priorities through leadership, partnership, and sustained action. You bring strong communication and relationship-building skills, sound judgement, and the ability to inspire confidence among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external partners.
Qualifications and Education
While the Search Committee recognizes that no one candidate is likely to meet all qualifications in equal measure, those listed below are desirable and will be used to compare candidates.
- An earned doctorate (PhD) in Engineering.
- Registered as a professional engineer in Canada or eligible for licensure with Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL).
- A record of teaching, research, and service, ideally commensurate with appointment at the rank of professor.
- Academic leadership experience (e.g. department chair, program director, associate dean, dean, or equivalent)
- Experience leading strategic planning and managing budgets and resources.
- Experience with curriculum development, accreditation, and co-op education.
- Demonstrated ability to support fundraising and alumni engagement activities.
- Experience leading teams and managing complex change.
- Demonstrated record of support for Indigenization and decolonization through respectful and sustained engagement with Indigenous communities.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism, including embedding these principles into strategy, policy, and practice.
- An authentic, collaborative, and collegial leadership style.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and active listening skills.
- The ability to motivate and influence people around a shared vision.
- The ability to navigate complexity while maintaining focus on strategic objectives.
- Sound judgement, integrity, and accountability.
- A commitment to student success, scholarship, and continuous improvement.
This is a unique opportunity to lead one of Memorial University's outstanding professional Faculties at a pivotal time in its evolution. As Dean, you will work with a highly engaged community of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners to advance excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement while strengthening the Faculty's impact locally, nationally, and internationally.
Apply Now
Application review will begin on October 12, 2026.
Memorial University is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women; Indigenous peoples; people of any gender identity or expression; racialized persons; and persons with disabilities. We acknowledge and value diverse career paths, ways of knowing, and forms of communicating knowledge.
Memorial University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process by contacting accommodations@kbrs.ca.
If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Abbey MacLeod at amacleod@kbrs.ca, Kyle Steele at ksteele@kbrs.ca, or Dr. Jennie Massey at jmassey@kbrs.ca or submit your full application package by clicking "Apply Now."