Department Head - Architectural Engineering

Head of the Architectural Engineering Department

The Architectural Engineering Department in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is seeking applications for a full-time Department Head at the rank of Associate or Full Professor to begin September 16, 2024. The position is tenure track with the possibility for tenure to be granted at the time of the appointment.

The ideal candidate will be an inspiring leader who engages the department’s stakeholders in developing and achieving its vision, mission and goals while championing inclusive excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship, research, professional engagement, and service. The Head works closely with faculty and staff to sustain the quality of academic programs and manage the department’s fiscal, human and physical resources, including the recruitment and retention of students, and partnering with the college’s development officer on fundraising. The successful candidate will be a passionate advocate for Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing tradition, and a collegial collaborator who contributes to the college’s administrative team and builds partnerships with alumni, industry, and communities.

The position reports to the Dean of the college and carries both administrative and academic duties. The Department Head teaches courses ranging from first year undergraduate to master’s level and engages in scholarly activities appropriate to tenure status and rank. Civil or structural engineering expertise is required. The administrative assignment is for an initial period of three years, renewable at the Dean’s discretion. Academic rank and salary will be commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. 

Required Qualifications

Required qualifications for the position are demonstrated experience in effective administrative and strategic leadership, a distinguished record of accomplishments commensurate with the rank of an Associate or Full Professor and either: a doctorate in structural engineering or a closely related field, along with evidence of scholarship related to building structures; or a master’s degree in structural engineering, a structural engineering license or the equivalent, and 10 or more years of professional engineering practice experience. Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language; demonstrated commitment to student-centered learning and teaching; the ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary settings; and evidence of supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion are also required. 

Preferred Qualifications

Special consideration will be given to candidates with experience in both the academic environment and structural engineering practice; experience with fundraising, budget planning, and personnel management; experience with recruitment and retention of engineering students; experience with the ABET accreditation process; and successful collaborations with stakeholders outside the university including industry partners and alumni.

Special Conditions 

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California.  At Cal Poly, tenure-line facul