Chair and Professor-Civil & Environmental Engineering

Overview

Chair and Professor-Civil & Environmental Engineering, Tampa, FL, United States. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the University of South Florida (USF) invites applications for the position of Department Chair with an expected start date in Fall 2026. This leadership role demands strategic vision and day‑to‑day management to guide a productive faculty, advance research, teaching, and service, and strengthen collaborations within the College of Engineering and with external partners.

• Provide strategic leadership and manage departmental operations.
• Promote a vibrant, collaborative research culture and excellence in teaching and mentoring across all programs.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain talented faculty and staff; broaden participation among students, faculty, and staff.
• Manage resources and budgets effectively and transparently.
• Strengthen relationships with alumni, donors, industry partners, and local, state, and federal agencies and organizations.
• Collaborate with other department chairs and college leadership.

• Eligibility for appointment as a tenured full professor in a CEE department at a Carnegie R1 institution.
• Earned doctoral degree in CEE or a closely related field from an accredited research institution.
• Demonstrated understanding of the CEE discipline and community.
• Proven leadership experience in higher education administration.
• Strong commitment to high‑quality pedagogy, curricular and student development.

• Commitment to fostering a collegial, collaborative, and supportive departmental culture.
• Demonstrated availability, responsiveness, and excellent communication skills.
• Ability to develop and sustain relationships with alumni, donors, industry partners, and government agencies.
• Qualifying record of securing significant research funding, including multidisciplinary initiatives.
• Scholarly record with publications in top‑tier journals and conferences in CEE.
• Experience mentoring faculty, students, and staff for professional development and long‑term success.
• Leadership in recruiting, program development, team building, and staff supervision.
• Effective budget management practices in consultation with faculty and staff.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at USF has 25 tenure-track/tenured faculty, two instructors, five supporting faculty from CUTR, and three staff members. The department offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, serving approximately 700 undergraduates, 54 master's, and 42 PhD students. The college promotes interdisciplinary research focused on sustainability and infrastructure, with ABET accreditation for the BSEV program (2024) and strong rankings in US News & World Report.

The college collaborates across the university and with external agencies and organizations, and maintains active research funding with agencies such as FDOT, NSF, EPA, and DOE. USF is located in the vibrant Tampa Bay area with opportunities for collaboration with state agencies and environmental organizations.

USF was established in 1964 and is led by the College of Engineering. It is ranked among leading public universities and has substantial research expenditures and centers. The university emphasizes student success and community engagement across its campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee.

An application package should include a cover letter outlining interest and qualifications, a curriculum vitae (CV), a detailed letter of interest (1–2 pages) describing leadership philosophy and experience, and contact information for at least three professional references. Applications should be submitted as one PDF file to the USF careers site. Applications will be considered starting immediately until the positions are filled.

USF is an equal opportunity, equal access academic institution that embraces diversity in the workplace and does not discriminate on any protected characteristic. Applicants may request reasonable accommodations in the application process. Additional information about Title IX protections and resources is available through the university. The job description does not constitute an employment contract.