Dean - College of Engineering

North Carolina State University; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

NC State University’s College of Engineering seeks a Dean to provide strategic leadership for nine departments, research centers, and partnerships, guiding academic programs, faculty, staff, and students toward excellence in teaching, research and engagement.

The role emphasizes fundraising, external partnerships with industry and government, and responsible stewardship of resources, with a commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and student success across a large,

Qualifications

• Distinguished record of scholarship and leadership for tenure.
• Experience as a key member of an institutional leadership team.
• Experience managing a complex organization with fiscal, personnel and operational responsibilities.
• Commitment to excellence in teaching, research and scholarship.
• Outstanding communication skills (written and spoken).

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership that advances the college's strategic priorities and national/international reputation.
• Recruit, retain and develop outstanding faculty, staff and students and foster a thriving academic community.
• Support interdisciplinary research, partnerships with industry and government to enhance impact.
• Lead fundraising efforts and cultivate relationships with alumni, donors and partners.
• Oversee resources and governance to ensure sustainable and accountable operations.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Post-Baccalaureate degree

Tenure eligible/Professor

Job description

About the Department

The College of Engineering at NC State University is among the largest and most preeminent engineering colleges in the nation, recognized for its excellence in education, research, innovation and service. As a cornerstone of NC State's land-grant mission, the college prepares engineers and computer scientists to solve complex challenges and improve lives through discovery, collaboration and technological advancement. With more than 12,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College of Engineering is one of the largest in the nation. Across nine academic department and three additional affiliated departments in other colleges, the college offers 18 bachelor's degree programs, 23 master's degree programs and 14 doctoral degree programs across a broad range of engineering disciplines. The college's faculty and staff support a nationally recognized educational and research enterprise. The college's research expenditures are nearly $290 million annually, placing NC State Engineering among the top engineering colleges in the nation for research activity. The college's research portfolio spans critical areas of national importance including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor technologies, energy systems, cybersecurity, materials innovation, biotechnology, sustainability and resilient infrastructure. The College of Engineering is home to more than 20 federally funded research centers and institutes, along with additional laboratories and collaborative research initiatives that advance interdisciplinary discovery, large-scale sponsored research and partnerships with industry, government and nonprofit organizations. The college has a distinguished record of leadership in major national research efforts, including two National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Centers (ERC) - ASSIST and FREEDM - and is one of only two institutions nationally to have simultaneously led two ERCs and one of only two institutions to have been awarded leadership of three ERCs. Among its nationally recognized initiatives are PowerAmerica, a Manufacturing USA Institute advancing wide-bandgap semiconductor technologies; AERPAW, a national platform for advanced wireless research; the Secure Computing Institute; the Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center; and major research efforts in artificial intelligence, clean energy, nuclear engineering, advanced manufacturing and sustainable engineering. The Department of Nuclear Engineering is also positioned at the forefront of the next generation of nuclear technologies. NC State's long standing leadership in nuclear engineering research and education has been strengthened by significant state investment in advanced reactor research, supporting the university's role in advancing innovative nuclear energy technologies, workforce development and national leadership in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. Together, these efforts position NC State Engineering as a national leader in research areas critical to technological innovation, economic competitiveness and societal impact. The majority of the College's departments are located on NC State's Centennial Campus, a groundbreaking research campus that brings together academia, private businesses and government agencies and is a model for the 21st-century research-intensive university campus. The newest engineering building in the complex, Fitts-Woolard Hall, opened in 2020 and is home to two academic departments, plus the dean's administrative offices. The college is continuing to expand its physical infrastructure and educational capacity through major state-supported investments. Engineering North Carolina's Future, a state-supported initiative, is enabling the college to expand engineering and computer science enrollment and includes significant investment in faculty growth, equipment and facilities. In addition, the North Carolina General Assembly has provided $5 million in recurring funding for the initiative as well as major capital support for a new Engineering Classroom Building on Centennial Campus, a transformational facility designed to expand instructional capacity and support innovative approaches to engineering education. The college's outstanding faculty includes 12 members of the National Academy of Engineering, three members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, three winners of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation and an Emmy Award winner. The outstanding young faculty members regularly receive NSF CAREER awards, averaging three to five per year over the past 10 years. U.S. News & World Report currently ranks the college No. 28 in graduate programs and No. 13 among public colleges of engineering. The college offers a robust online learning program called Engineering Online and is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top program among online graduate engineering and computer information technology programs. Efforts to engage the college's 82,485 living engineering alumni are led by the NC State Engineering Foundation. As of June 2026, the college received $401.3M in endowment support.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Propositionand learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Essential Job Duties

Reporting to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, the dean serves as the chief academic, administrative and budgetary officer and principal spokesperson for the College of Engineering. The dean provides strategic leadership for the college's nine academic departments, research centers and institutes, academic programs, faculty, staff and students, while advancing the college's mission of excellence in education, research and engagement.

As a member of the university's academic leadership team, you will work collaboratively with fellow deans, university leadership and external partners to advance NC State's strategic priorities and strengthen engineering's role in addressing society's most pressing challenges. You will foster an environment that supports excellence in teaching, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and public engagement while ensuring student success and preparing graduates to lead in an increasingly complex and technology-driven world.

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Providing visionary leadership that advances the College of Engineering's strategic priorities and strengthens its national and international reputation.
• Serving as a collaborative member of the university's leadership team and advocating effectively for the college within the university while contributing to institution-wide priorities.
• Providing strategic leadership for the college's continued growth, including expansion of academic programs, research infrastructure and state-supported capital investments.

People & Academic Excellence

• Recruiting, retaining, supporting, and developing an outstanding faculty, staff, and student community while cultivating an environment where all members can thrive and contribute fully.
• Recognizing and valuing the contributions of everyone in the college, encouraging the high performance and excellence of faculty, staff and units within the college and the delivery of high-quality academic programs.
• Adapting the college's programs to shifting educational landscape and leading advancement of engineering education.

Research & Partnerships

• Strengthening the college's nationally recognized research enterprise by supporting interdisciplinary scholarship, expanding sponsored research and fostering collaboration across the university and with external partners.
• Building strategic partnerships with industry, government, national laboratories, alumni and philanthropic partners that enhance the college's educational, research and economic impact.

Engagement & Institutional Impact

• Engaging with internal and external constituencies regarding the development implementation, and evaluation of programs.
• Leading comprehensive fundraising efforts in partnership with University Advancement, the NC State Engineering Foundation and the Engineering Foundation Board of Directors to secure philanthropic support for the college's strategic priorities.

Stewardship & Resources

• Managing the college's financial and physical resources with transparency, accountability and sound stewardship while effectively advocating for new investments.

If you are ready to bring your scholarship, leadership and vision to an opportunity with broad impact, we invite you to consider the role of Dean. You will have the opportunity to shape the college's future, cultivate a strong academic community, and advance its contributions through research, teaching and service.

Other Responsibilities

n/a

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

Requires a relevant post-Baccalaureate degree with a minimum of three (3) years or greater of related professional experience, or a relevant undergraduate degree and a minimum of five (5) years or greater of relevant experience may be substituted for the advanced degree.

Other Required Qualifications

• A distinguished record of scholarship, research and academic leadership that merits appointment as a tenured full professor in one of the College of Engineering's academic departments.
• Experience working effectively as a key member of an institutional leadership team, advocating for organizational priorities, and building productive partnerships across organizational units and with external stakeholders.
• Experience managing a complex organization with significant fiscal, personnel, and operational responsibilities.
• Strong leadership skills and a demonstrated commitment to personal integrity and professional ethics.
• A demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship.

Preferred Qualifications

• A demonstrated ability to provide visionary, strategic leadership for a large, complex academic and research organization while fostering collaboration, accountability and shared purpose.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, setting priorities, allocating resources and leading organizational change in support of institutional goals.
• A record of success in advancing excellence in research, education and innovation, including support for interdisciplinary scholarship and high-impact research initiatives.
• Experience leading or supporting successful fundraising and philanthropic engagement, with the ability to build enduring relationships with alumni, donors and corporate partners.
• Experience recruiting, developing and retaining outstanding faculty, staff and students while fostering a culture that values excellence, collaboration, professional growth and broad participation.
• Outstanding interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present, listen, and engage effectively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry leaders, government officials, donors and other external partners.
• A record of fostering an environment that supports collaboration, innovation, academic excellence and student success.
• A strong commitment to excellence in undergraduate, graduate and professional education and to preparing students for leadership in engineering, technology, and related professions.
• Demonstrated success in developing partnerships with industry, government agencies, national laboratories and other academic institutions that advance research, education and economic impact.
• Experience supporting entrepreneurship, technology translation, and commercialization of university research.
• A demonstrated ability to support faculty, staff, and students, and coordinate across departments during periods of challenge or uncertainty while fostering resilience, cohesion, and continued progress toward shared academic

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

n/a

Valid NC Driver's License required

No

Commercial Driver's License required

No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date: 09/30/2026

Anticipated Close Date: Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants:

NC State has retained Charles Kaler and Kirk Schulz of CSA Search & Consulting to assist with this dean search.

Confidential inquiries, nominations, and candidate materials should be sent via email to: Charles Kaler & Kirk Schulz; CSA Search & Consulting [e-mail]

Please include a CV/Resume and an Executive Summary (other document 1) that includes a bullet-point summary of key accomplishments in each leadership role held. A letter of interest is welcomed but not required.

Position Details

Position Number: 00001606

Position Type: SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week): 1.00

Appointment: 12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather: Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events: Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID: 020101 - Exec Vice Chancellor & Provost's Office

EEO:

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity. If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail]. Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit. NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.