Dean, Faculty of Public and Global Affairs

Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, seeks a Dean for the Faculty of Public and Global Affairs. The Dean reports to the Provost and leads academic, financial, and external engagement priorities, shaping enrolment and student experience while upholding the faculty's scholarly values.

Ideal candidates will bring distinguished scholarship, tenured leadership experience, and a record of building consensus across diverse units.

Qualifications

• PhD and distinguished record of scholarship and teaching for tenured Full Professor appointment.
• Proven senior leadership experience within a university setting.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.
• Experience guiding enrolment growth, program renewal, and student success.
• Strong financial management and resource allocation capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and academic leadership for the Faculty of Public and Global Affairs.
• Lead long-term planning in research, teaching and recruitment.
• Foster collaboration across units and maintain open communication.
• Strengthen external engagement, partnerships and fundraising.
• Model transparent governance and inclusive decision-making.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Academic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Financial acumen

Policy/public affairs knowledge

Education

PhD

Job description

Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario

Carleton University is seeking an accomplished scholar, strategic leader and community builder to serve as its next Dean, Faculty of Public and Global Affairs.

The Role

Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the Dean is the chief academic and administrative leader of the Faculty of Public and Global Affairs and a member of Carleton University’s senior leadership team. The Dean provides strategic leadership to advance the Faculty’s academic, research, financial, and external engagement priorities while fostering a collegial and engaged academic culture. Working closely with faculty, staff, students, alumni, community partners, and university leaders, the Dean will bring the strategic insight and leadership necessary to strengthen enrolment, support financial sustainability, enhance the student experience, foster innovative research, and position FPGA for continued relevance and impact while preserving the collegial and scholarly values that define the Faculty.

The challenges facing the modern university present a unique opportunity for inspired strategic leadership. The Dean will need to bring an innovative and entrepreneurial approach, leveraging the Faculty's existing strengths in teaching, research, and community engagement to strengthen and advance Carleton University's reputation as a leading institution for policy innovation and academic excellence. They must foster connections across the Faculty's diverse units, drawing on these relationships and a commitment to consultation, open communication, and transparent decision‑making. Through this collaborative approach, they will build a shared vision of excellence and cultivate broad consensus around the Faculty's future direction.

The Faculty values thoughtful consultation, open communication, and collaborative decision-making. The successful candidate will be a visible and trusted leader who builds consensus around shared goals and inspires confidence through transparency, authenticity, and engagement.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Strategic and Academic Leadership: Provide leadership at a pivotal moment for the Faculty and the University, inspiring its diverse academic communities to rally around a bold, shared vision for the future. Lead strategic planning that facilitates a dynamic approach to research, teaching, and recruitment, and aligns resource allocation decisions. Foster collaboration across diverse academic units, strengthen a shared sense of purpose and identity, and build trust through open communication, consultation, and transparent decision-making.
• Research Excellence and Scholarly Impact: Champion and strengthen FPGA’s research culture by supporting faculty success, interdisciplinary collaboration, and external partnerships.
• Financial Stewardship and Sustainability: Provide sound financial leadership and strategic resource management to support the Faculty's long-term sustainability and strategic goals. Align resources with strategic priorities, strengthen enrolment and program vitality, and pursue alternative sources of financial support such as fundraising and partnerships, while maintaining the Faculty's academic mission and values.
• Student Success and Educational Excellence: Advance an exceptional student experience by supporting teaching excellence, curriculum innovation, innovative experiential pedagogy, inclusive culture, and practical work opportunities that prepare students for leadership and meaningful careers. Foster success across undergraduate and graduate education by ensuring programs are relevant, accessible, and responsive to evolving student and societal needs.
• Community Engagement and External Relations: Serve as an ambassador and advocate for the Faculty and its students, developing influence and strengthening relationships with governments, alumni, donors, community organizations, and other partners.

The Ideal Candidate

You are an accomplished scholar and academic leader who combines intellectual credibility with outstanding strategic, financial, and interpersonal capabilities. You are known for approaching problems constructively and with creativity. You build trust, listen carefully, navigate complexity, and bring people together around shared objectives. You value consultation and relationship-building and are comfortable engaging with diverse perspectives in a large and multifaceted academic environment.

You understand the importance of balancing research excellence, student success, financial sustainability, and community impact. You bring the judgment and leadership required to lead a complex faculty through change while preserving and strengthening its distinctive culture and strengths.

Qualifications and Experience

• A PhD and a distinguished record of scholarship and teaching with the qualifications required for appointment as a tenured Full Professor within one of FPGA's academic disciplines.
• A demonstrated record of successful academic leadership within an academic institution, including strategic planning, change leadership, and resource management.
• A sound understanding of and commitment to research excellence, graduate education, and scholarly impact.
• Demonstrated decision‑making that contributed to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, reconciliation and belonging.
• Demonstrated success supporting enrolment growth, academic program renewal, and enhance student recruitment, retention, and success.
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing complex budgets within post-secondary or similar public sector environments.
• Experience fostering collaboration across diverse academic units and building consensus in collegial governance environments through trust‑building, engagement and transparent communication.
• An extensive network of relationships and an ability to engage effectively with governments, community organizations, research partners, alumni, donors, and other external partners.
• International experience and a global perspective that aligns with the Faculty's mandate and aspirations is desired.
• Experience outside academia such as work in government, politics, private sector, etc. is considered an asset.

Skills and Attributes

• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to articulate a clear vision and shared identity for a diverse and interdisciplinary academic community.
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and political acuity, and sound financial and operational judgment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify opportunities, build partnerships, and secure alternative funding sources.
• Skilled relationship‑builder who fosters trust, collaboration, and a strong sense of community across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Commitment to student success, academic excellence, and community engagement.
• Inclusive leader who inspires confidence, trust, and shared purpose.

The University

Located in Ottawa on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation, Carleton University is a dynamic research and teaching institution dedicated to excellence in scholarship, innovation, and societal impact. Home to more than 31,000 students and over 5,400 faculty and staff, Carleton fosters a caring, inclusive, and connected community where people are empowered to challenge convention, advance knowledge, and create meaningful change. Carleton’s location is integral to its identity and its possibilities. Situated beside the Rideau Canal and Rideau River and minutes from downtown Ottawa, the University is part of one of Canada’s most consequential urban environments: the national capital, a centre for public policy and diplomacy, technology and innovation, national cultural institutions, media, community organizations and a diverse network of public, private and not‑for‑profit partners.

Guided by a vision of Inclusive Impact and Prominence, Together, Carleton is committed to being a leader in higher education and a catalyst for positive social, economic, and cultural impact. The university strives to create an environment in which all members of its community can thrive, contribute, and belong, while advancing research, teaching, and engagement that address the complex challenges facing Canada and the world.

The Faculty

The Faculty of Public and Global Affairs (FPGA) is Canada’s only faculty dedicated exclusively to the study of public and global affairs. With more than 200 faculty members, 60 staff, and over 8,000 students across eleven academic units, FPGA is recognized for its innovative programs, research excellence, and commitment to addressing the complex public challenges facing Canada and the world. The Faculty leverages strong relationships with governments, international institutions, community organizations, and industry partners to advance research, learning, and public impact. Its globally recognised scholarship, interdisciplinary approach, and outward‑facing culture make FPGA one of Carleton's most distinctive and influential academic communities.

FPGA occupies a unique place within the University and the broader higher education landscape. Bringing together disciplines that examine public policy, governance, economics, communication, international issues, journalism, law, politics, philanthropy, community care, and social change, the Faculty is united by a commitment to understanding and addressing complex societal challenges. The Faculty's next chapter presents an opportunity to strengthen connections across its academic communities while building on the rich histories, traditions, and public contributions of its schools, departments, and programs.

Why Join Carleton?

This is an opportunity to shape the future of one of Canada’s leading universities by empowering people and supporting culture evolution. Carleton offers a supportive, collegial work environment, competitive compensation, and the chance to make a lasting impact in an institution that values innovation, compassion, and community.

Support and accommodations will be provided to applicants with disabilities, upon request. Applicants in need of an accommodation to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process can contact [e-mail] or identify their needs to the recruitment professional named in the job description.

KBRS does not use artificial intelligence to review applications or screen candidates. This is a current vacancy at the institution.