Associate Dean Research and Graduate Studies

Department: CoE-Office of the Dean
This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant. 
 Career Opportunities (sapsf.com) 

Position Title: Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies

College: College of Engineering

Location: Guelph, ON

Reports to: Dean, College of Engineering
Primary Category: Academic Leadership

Term: Five (5) years, renewable once

Search Type: Internal

Requisition ID: [Insert]

Position Description

With gratitude, the University of Guelph recognizes that its campuses are located on the lands of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum and the traditional lands of the Hodinöhsö:ni’, Anishinaabeg and Huron Wendat, offering respect to the Mississaugas of the Credit, Six Nations of the Grand River, the Delaware Nation at Moraviantown, and the diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities who reside on these lands. The University further recognizes that its teaching, learning, and research activities occur on Indigenous lands across Turtle Island and is committed to honouring and respecting Indigenous peoples and their territories.

Research-intensive and learner-centred, the University of Guelph is consistently ranked among Canada’s leading comprehensive universities. Guided by its shared purpose, To Improve Life, the University advances excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement across disciplines.

Building on the strong legacy of the School of Engineering, the College of Engineering (CoE) is a well-established academic unit with a recognised reputation for innovation in sustainable systems, emerging technologies, interdisciplinary design, and experiential learning. The College is experiencing significant growth, marked by expanding undergraduate and graduate enrolments, increasing research intensity, ongoing faculty recruitment, and planned investments in infrastructure and facilities.

We invite applications from internal University of Guelph faculty members for the position of Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies. Reporting to the Dean, the Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies is a core member of the College’s executive leadership team.

Role of the Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies

The Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies (ADRGS) provides strategic leadership for the advancement of the College’s research enterprise and graduate programs, fostering excellence, impact, and long-term sustainability. As a key advisor to the Dean and a member of the College’s senior leadership team, the ADRGS plays a central role in shaping and advancing the College’s strategic priorities in research, graduate education, and innovation.

Working collaboratively with department chairs, faculty, staff, and central administrative units, the ADRGS helps identify and build areas of emerging research strength, align departmental initiatives with institutional priorities, and ensure that research activity and graduate programs remain responsive to disciplinary developments and evolving external funding opportunities. The ADRGS also represents the College on University-level research and graduate governance bodies, helping to ensure that the College’s priorities are reflected in institutional planning, policy, and investment decisions, while engaging external partners to strengthen competitiveness, expand opportunities, and support sustained growth in research funding and impact, and excellence in graduate education.

Key Responsibilities

Research Strategy, Capacity, and Infrastructure

• Articulate and implement a College-wide research vision aligned with University priorities and evolving funding landscapes.
• Strengthen research capacity across engineering disciplines, with emphasis on interdisciplinary, collaborative, and impact-driven research.
• Advance interdisciplinary research initiatives and collaborations across the University and with external partners, bridging engineering, science, and the social sciences.
• Support faculty success in securing external research funding (e.g., Tri-Agency, CFI, OMAFA, industry, and emerging funding opportunities).
• Provide leadership and coordination for research infrastructure, major equipment planning, and space planning and allocation in collaboration with College and University partners.
• Mentor early- and mid-career faculty in research development, grantsmanship, and research leadership.
• Support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in research, graduate training and advancing innovation.

Graduate Programs and Student Success

• Provide leadership and oversight for all existing and new graduate programs within the College, ensuring academic quality, sustainability, and growth.
• Oversee graduate program governance, quality assurance, and reporting requirements, including IQAP processes.
• Support graduate recruitment, retention, funding allocation, and student success initiatives.
• Promote excellence in graduate supervision, mentorship, and professional development for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
• Play a key leadership role in growing course-based master’s programs and attracting domestic and international students to these programs.

Research Governance, Centres, and Partnerships

• Implement and oversee research governance within university policies and frameworks.
• Support and coordinate interdisciplinary research centres, institutes, and thematic initiatives associated with the College.
• Strengthen partnerships with industry, government, municipalities, and community organizations to advance applied research and knowledge mobilization.
• Represent the College on relevant University committees and external research bodies.

Leadership, Advocacy, and Culture

• Advocate for the College’s research locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Promote visibility of research achievements through strategic communications and reporting.
• Foster a collegial, inclusive, and transparent research culture aligned with Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility commitments.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will:

• Be a tenured Associate or Full Professor at the University of Guelph.
• Hold undergraduate and doctoral degrees in engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrate a strong, sustained research record and success in securing external funding.
• Have significant experience in graduate supervision and graduate program leadership.
• Demonstrate leadership in developing and growing sustainable course-based master’s programs.
• Demonstrate leadership in the development and growth of research infrastructure, centres, and strategic partnerships, enhancing research capacity, collaboration, and external impact.
• Demonstrate collaborative, consultative, and inclusive leadership skills.
• Show a clear commitment to Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in research and graduate education.
• Hold a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) licence.

Term and Appointment

The term of the appointment is five (5) years, renewable once. A Letter of Appointment will define responsibilities and terms.

Application Process

Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter outlining leadership experience and vision for research and graduate studies (maximum 3 pages).
• A curriculum vitae.
• Names and contact information for three references.

Review of applications will begin on May 11, 2026, and continue until the position is filled.

The appointment is expected to begin on or about July 1, 2026.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility

The University of Guelph is committed to equity in employment and encourages applications from women, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA); applicants requiring accommodation are encouraged to contact the College of Engineering Administrative Officer, Ashliegh Sayer at coeexec@uoguelph.ca.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date:  April 27, 2026 
Closing Date:  May 11, 2026