Provost and Vice Chancellor Academic and Student Affairs

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs

Job no: 529529

Position type: Staff Full Time

Benefit Status: Benefited-Non-Union

Campus: UMass Lowell

Department: Provost's Office

Salary: Anticipated salary range about $390,000–$440,000

Applications Open: Jan 29 2026

Applications Close: Open until filled

General Summary of Position

The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) seeks an accomplished, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs (Provost). The Provost will build on UMass Lowell’s recent momentum and accelerate the university’s evolution by advancing its academic and scholarly mission, deepening engagement with the surrounding community, and guiding the institution to new levels of achievement and renown.

Location:

UMass Lowell, 30 miles north of Boston, Merrimack River, urban public research university.

UMass Lowell is a dynamic urban public research university named the #1 public university in Massachusetts by The Wall Street Journal. With a mission grounded in access, affordability, and impact, it delivers rigorous academics, cutting‑edge research, and unmatched experiential learning to approximately 16,850 students. The university has earned R1 research status, the highest sustainability rating in Massachusetts, and an annual economic impact of $1.2 billion in the Merrimack Valley.

Reporting to the Chancellor, the Provost is UMass Lowell’s chief academic officer and a key member of the university’s executive leadership team. The Provost will collaborate closely with vice chancellors, deans, and vice provosts to build on the university’s recent momentum, advance student success and inclusive excellence, strengthen master’s and doctoral programs, and enhance program distinctiveness, partnerships, and research impact. Through this work, the Provost will help elevate the university’s national and global reputation.

The Provost will foster a culture of innovation and collaboration—leveraging technology, catalyzing cluster hires, empowering college and unit leadership, and connecting academic strengths to emerging fields and partner industries. As an anchor institution, UMass Lowell’s deep relationship with the city of Lowell remains central. The Provost will champion community‑engaged scholarship, experiential learning, and initiatives that strengthen the regional economy and civic life—ensuring the campus and city continue to thrive together.

• Proven ability to be an inspiring leader and collaborative colleague across the university.
• Ability to motivate faculty and staff efforts to carry out the university’s mission, and to align academic departments, ensuring the coherent advancement and sustainability of the university.
• A collaborative leadership style that empowers and delegates responsibilities to deans, unit heads, and other colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability to make effective and transparent decisions using data.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting the promotion and tenure process.
• Evidence of setting priorities within an academic unit seeking input from the bottom up and helping to put in place the systems and structure to fulfill those priorities.
• Commitment to the professional development of faculty and staff.
• Experience fulfilling a vision for academic and student affairs at a transformational time for an institution.
• Proven success of change management.
• Broad appreciation for the spectrum of disciplines offered at a comprehensive research institution such as UMass Lowell.
• Successful track record in building and sustaining interdisciplinary programs and research.
• Vision for the role that academic research libraries play during the transformation of an institution.
• Experience with and vision for the role technology plays in the landscape of higher education today and in the future, particularly artificial intelligence.
• Understanding of and appreciation for the role of experiential learning and applied research within a comprehensive university.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills in both formal and informal environments, oral and written.
• Demonstrated commitment…