Dean - Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dean of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design at the University of Houston will report to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.

This Chief Academic and Administrative Officer leads academic programs, strategic planning, and shared governance while coordinating with UH leadership to advance the college's mission. The role emphasizes faculty recruitment, budget oversight, external fundraising, and the development of multidisciplinary, internationally

Qualifications

• Have an outstanding record of scholarly and/or creative achievement commensurate with appointment as a full professor.
• Terminal degree in architecture, design, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrate the capacity to bridge theory and practice.
• Be an effective fundraiser and advocate for external partnerships and philanthropy.
• Have proven people skills and be a strong listener and communicator.
• Be a seasoned, decisive yet compassionate servant leader with organizational and consensus-building skills.
• Commit to high-quality educational experiences and student success.
• Demonstrate commitment to assessment and accountability aligned with UH’s Strategic Plan.
• Demonstrate ability to build multidisciplinary programs with international focus.
• Bring an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to the Dean position.
• Be familiar with emerging technologies including AI, computational design, and design automation.
• Be adept at fiscal management and budgeting.
• Share UH’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, resilience, and community impact.

Responsibilities

• Provide energetic, visionary leadership for the College and its strategic directions.
• Oversee faculty recruitment, appointments, promotions, and tenure processes.
• Manage the College budget and allocate resources to support faculty and student programs.
• Represent the College to external constituents and donors, and lead fundraising initiatives.
• Collaborate with UH leadership, other colleges, and divisions on interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Foster hands-on management and shared governance to advance excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Communication

Strategic Planning

Stakeholder Collaboration

Governance

Financial Management

Advocacy

Student-Centric

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Education

Terminal degree in architecture/design

Job description

Department: Office of the Provost Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Description

Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Dean serves as the Chief Academic and Administrative Officer of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design. The Dean is responsible for providing energetic, visionary, and effective leadership in the following areas:

• Academic Leadership and Strategic Planning: These responsibilities include directing and overseeing the programs of the College as well as developing the strategic directions of the College in concert with the University’s Strategic Plan. The Dean articulates the long‑range vision, specific strategies, and detailed administrative and fiscal provisions to ensure the continued excellence of the College programs and faculty. The Dean works closely with the University’s executive leadership and with other University of Houston Deans on multidisciplinary hiring and on research and teaching programs. The successful candidate will promote the University and the Hines College and actively participate in hands‑on management and open decision‑making in a culture of shared governance.
• Faculty Appointments: The Dean of the Hines College is responsible for the recruitment, appointment, reappointment, promotion, and tenure of faculty in the College. The Dean works through the established appointment, promotion, and tenure processes of the College and the University and is responsible for maintaining the integrity of these processes. The Dean works with the faculty to implement long‑range recruiting strategies for the Hines College, formulated in collaboration with the Provost. The Dean is responsible for meeting or exceeding the University’s recruiting objectives for quality and productivity with intentionality to maintain disciplinary representation across the College's design disciplines and strategic goals.
• Budgetary and Administrative Oversight: The Dean is responsible for overseeing the College’s budget and for the strategic allocation of resources in the College. The Dean allocates the resources necessary to support the faculty research agenda, facilitate extramurally funded research, and fund graduate students and programs, and the Dean is responsible for the establishment of effective internal cost controls within the College. The Dean is responsible for coordinating the activities of program directors, the Hines College faculty, associate and assistant Deans, and staff. And the Dean is responsible for the allocation of academic and research facilities, planning for future facilities’ needs, overseeing non‑faculty staffing decisions and organization, and developing collaborative teaching and research programs with other UH colleges and divisions.
• Stewardship and Development: The Dean plays a pivotal role in representing the needs of the Hines College and UH to external constituents and donors – on regional, national, and international levels. The Dean has primary responsibility for articulating the philanthropic aspirations of the Hines College in conjunction with the long‑range strategic plans of the University. The Dean works collaboratively with the President’s leadership team and other academic and University leaders across campus in planning for the College’s fundraising priorities and goals. In executing those plans the Dean engages proactively with the University’s development staff, development officers and liaisons, volunteer advisory boards, and with the College’s own academic leadership. In addition, the Dean plays a critical role in ensuring that philanthropic donations are well stewarded in accordance with donor expectations, address needs within the College, and are communicated fully and in a timely manner with both the College and University communities.

Qualifications

• Have an outstanding record of scholarly and/or creative achievement commensurate with appointment as a full professor in one of the College’s programs;
• Possess a terminal degree in architecture, design, or a closely related field;
• Demonstrate the capacity to bridge theory and practice;
• Possess the ability to serve as an engaging fundraiser and advocate on behalf of the Hines College at the local, national, and international levels; and to further develop the College’s external relationships to not only increase philanthropic donations but to stimulate productive partnerships with external constituencies;
• Have proven people skills and be a highly effective listener and communicator with both academic and non‑academic audiences;
• Be a seasoned and decisive but also a compassionate, empathetic servant leader with strong organizational and consensus‑building skills, integrity, and the ability to inspire and lead a highly accomplished faculty with diverse interests;
• Have a commitment to providing students with a high‑quality educational experience and aggressively addressing issues related to student success;
• Demonstrate a commitment to assessment and accountability measures that will help to guide and enhance strategic planning goals in accordance with UH’s Strategic Plan, and to appropriately track and articulate the College and University’s national competitiveness;
• Have demonstrated ability to build multidisciplinary programs and to create an internationally focused, professionally engaged, and outwardly facing educational environment for students;
• Bring an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to the Dean position and serve as a catalyst for new and compelling initiatives in the College;
• Demonstrate familiarity with, and a forward‑looking perspective on, emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, computational design, and design automation, and their implications for both the practice and pedagogy of architecture and design;
• Be adept at fiscal management, both in establishing and implementing budgets and in effectively allocating resources; and
• Share the commitment by UH to innovation, collaboration, and resilience; to the personal and educational enrichment of its faculty, staff, and students; and to the passion for the College’s role in ensuring the success of every member of its community.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.