Department Chair, Civil, Environmental Geospatial Engineering

Department Chair, Civil, Environmental, & Geospatial Engineering

Apply now Job No: 25268
Department: Civil, Environ & Geospatial Engrg
Work Type: Staff - Full Time
Location: Main Campus (Houghton, MI)
Full Time / Part Time: Full Time
Categories: Engineering, Academic Administrator, Environmental

The College of Engineering at Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE) to begin July 1, 2026.

The CEGE department includes 32 faculty, seven professional staff, more than 125 graduate students, and over 600 undergraduate students, with robust research and teaching programs spanning infrastructure resilience, intelligent and reconfigurable structures, advanced and automated construction, environmental and public health, sustainable water infrastructure and environmental systems, transportation and mobility, geospatial analytics, and climate adaptation. CEGE faculty actively collaborate with several research centers and institutes, including the Great Lakes Research Center, Michigan Tech Research Institute, and Michigan Tech Transportation Institute.

The department seeks an accomplished individual with a record of leadership and scholarly, professional, and administrative achievement to advance our mission of excellence in research, education, and service, while fostering a safe and collaborative environment. The successful candidate will lead efforts to enhance the department’s national and international prominence, grow externally funded research, strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations, further our strong tradition of hands‑on experiential education, and expand our undergraduate, MS, and PhD programs.

The Chair serves as the chief administrative officer of the department and is responsible for strategic planning, budgeting, hiring, resource management, and fundraising in support of department goals, as well as fostering faculty, staff, and student success. The Chair serves as the primary liaison between the department and the rest of the university, and external constituents, and is expected to foster collaborations both internal and external to the university that advance the department’s mission.

Michigan Tech attracts world‑class faculty and staff who enrich the educational experience of smart, motivated, and adventurous students. Applicants who are committed to promoting a learning environment based on respect for all and academic excellence are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Provide leadership to the department that respects shared governance and supports excellence for department faculty, staff, and students.
• Serve as the chief administrative officer of the department with responsibility for strategic planning, budgeting, resource allocation, personnel management, and departmental operations.
• Develop a vision and practices to support continued growth and excellence in hands‑on experiential education and undergraduate and graduate enrollments.
• Support and expand externally funded research, encourage collaborative and interdisciplinary initiatives, and strengthen the department’s national and international visibility.
• Manage and evaluate faculty and staff, including recommendations for hiring, reappointment, tenure, promotion, and salary raise.
• Facilitate professional development of faculty, staff, and students through mentoring, guidance, and recognition of achievement.
• Ensure compliance and excellence in ABET and university assessment activities, and lead continuous improvement of undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Strengthen relationships with alumni, industry, government, and professional organizations to support education, research, and outreach initiatives.
• Lead fundraising efforts and cultivate relationships with alumni and donors to advance the department’s strategic priorities in collaboration with the dean and the university’s Office of Advancement.
• Provide leadership to foster a culture of safety; promote safety through actions, communication, and training.

PhD in Civil,…