Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences

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Founded in 1848, the is the world’s largest French-English bilingual university and a leading Canadian research institution, with $194m in scholarships and financial aid. The university has over 49,000 students, 6,000 faculty and staff, 300,000 alumni and offers 400 programs. Located in the heart of the nation’s capital, uOttawa reflects Canada’s diversity, bilingualism, and spirit of openness. A member of the university received half a billion dollars in research funding in 2024, and ranked 2nd in Ontario for Tri-council funding (2019–2023), 3rd in Canada for faculty awards (2025), and 4th for research intensity (2024).

The brings together more than 250 professors and 10,000 students across nine academic units. It offers interdisciplinary and bilingual programs that combine research excellence with experiential learning. Faculty members are nationally and internationally recognized for advancing knowledge, shaping public policy, and making a meaningful impact on communities. The Faculty has achieved a 61% increase in research intensity since 2018, and it has secured $18.4 million in research funding over the past year.

More than half (52%) of this research is supported by Tri-Council agencies, and faculty members hold 30 research and university chairs. Guided by its core values of critical thinking, interdisciplinarity, bilingualism, reconciliation, social innovation, and global collaboration, the Faculty dedicates its resources to fostering community and global engagement.

The University of Ottawa seeks a Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences
. Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs, the Dean will be responsible for all aspects of the Faculty’s operations, including budget and fund development. As well as fostering innovative research, providing excellent learning experiences for students, developing and supporting faculty and staff, and forging strong relationships with the Faculty’s many partners, the next Dean will be a passionate leader, who will be able to execute a strategic vision for the Faculty.

The ideal candidate will hold a doctorate, be appointable at the rank of full professor, and bring a distinguished record of academic leadership in the social sciences. Bilingual in French and English, they will possess significant leadership experience, specifically when leading significant change and transformation, financial management, a commitment to reconciliation and inclusive excellence, and a compelling vision for a leading deepened research impact and continued quality in teaching and learning.

Highly collegial, collaborative, and transparent, the Dean will possess exceptional communication skills, a record of leading through change, and the ability to inspire faculty, staff, and students towards collective goals. A student-centred leader, the successful candidate will bring creativity, energy, and passion to the role.

To learn more about this opportunity, or to submit a nomination, please contact Michael Williams and Andrea Patrick of Odgers at . Expressions of interest are encouraged immediately and should be submitted online ideally by the end of January 2026, at

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minorities members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities.

Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups are asked to complete the confidential Self-Identification Questionnaire, to be completed at the time of application.

All qualified candidates are invited…