Department Chair and Associate/Full Professor EHS

University of Massachusetts Boston; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Massachusetts Boston invites qualified individuals to apply for tenure-system Associate or Full Professor to serve as Chair of the Exercise & Health Sciences (EHS) Department. The Chair will provide strategic, academic, and administrative leadership to advance research productivity, external funding, and national visibility.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate transformational leadership, experience mentoring faculty, and a strong record of scholarly achievement.

Qualifications

• Doctorate in kinesiology, exercise sciences, rehabilitation sciences, behavioral sciences or related field.
• Experience in academic leadership roles and external grant funding.
• Strong record of peer‑reviewed scholarship and doctoral education.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and administrative leadership to the EHS Department.
• Advance research productivity and external funding.
• Oversee departmental operations, budgets, curricula, and planning.
• Foster inclusive excellence within the college and university.

Skills

Transformational leadership

Mentoring faculty

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Campus/external engagement

Strategic leadership

Education

Doctorate in kinesiology or related field

Job description

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Department Chair and Associate/Full Professor EHS

Job no: 530095
Position Type: Faculty Full Time
Campus: UMass Boston
Department: Exercise & Health Science
Pay Grade: 04
Date opened: 14 Aug 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:

Job Description:

The Donna M. and Robert J. Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Boston invites qualified individuals to apply for a tenure-system Associate or Full Professor to serve as Chair of the Exercise & Health Sciences (EHS) Department. Individuals currently serving as an advanced Associate or Full Professor are encouraged to apply.

About the Department:

The Department of Exercise and Health Sciences (EHS) (https://www.umb.edu/nursing-health- sciences/departments-centers/exercise-health-sciences/ ) is one of the largest undergraduate programs on campus and offers a full range of academic programs, including bachelor’s, master’s (accelerated and traditional), and doctoral degrees, with emphases in Applied Exercise Physiology or Physical Activity and Health Promotion. Faculty are expected to maintain active, externally funded research programs. EHS faculty have been funded by the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and other federal agencies and foundations. Faculty scholarship spans multiple levels of inquiry, from cellular and integrative physiology to population-based and community-engaged research focused on physical activity, often focusing on chronic conditions, aging, and/or health inequities.

The Department is positioned to contribute to interdisciplinary, translational, and community-engaged research that aligns with the University’s R1 status and its commitment to addressing complex health challenges in urban and diverse communities.

Department Mission & Vision:

The mission of the Department is to engage faculty, students, and communities in scientific discovery and dissemination of knowledge for the advancement and promotion of physical activity and healthy lifestyles in diverse individuals and communities. The department aspires to be nationally recognized for excellence in advancing health equity, promoting physical activity, and preparing students through innovative research, teaching, and community engagement.

Role of the Chair:

The Chair is expected to provide strategic, academic, and administrative leadership to achieve the Department’s mission and vision, including advancing research productivity, external funding, and national visibility.

The Chair will be expected to:

• Maintain an active and visible research program
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses
• Advise and mentor students and faculty
• Support faculty across career stages, including promotion and tenure
• Lead and strengthen undergraduate and graduate programs
• Advance interdisciplinary collaborations within the College and across the University.
• Oversee departmental operations, such as managing budgets, personnel, curricula, and strategic planning.
• Be committed to fostering inclusive excellence in University and community settings

Ideal Candidate will Demonstrate Evidence of:

• A transformational leadership approach that is inspirational, visionary and advances a culture of collaboration, transparency, and excellence.
• Strong engagement with campus and external communities, including professional societies, research partners, and other key stakeholders
• Excellence in mentoring faculty across career stages, including research development and advancement.
• Demonstrated ability to support and grow faculty research productivity and external funding
• Experience enhancing departmental reputation and visibility at the regional and national level
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience with exercise and health sciences undergraduate and graduate programs (or similar programs), with the ability to develop, implement, and evaluate curricula.

Required & Preferred Applications

Applicants must possess a doctorate in kinesiology, exercise sciences, rehabilitation sciences, behavioral sciences or a related field. Preferred qualifications include prior academic and/or research leadership roles (e.g. program director, associate chair, division lead), experience with doctoral education, and a sustained program of research consistent with the appointment to Associate or Full Professor with tenure, including a strong record of peer-reviewed scholarship and external grant funding, and experience teaching and mentoring faculty and students.

Institutional Context & Commitment

UMass Boston is the only public R1 research university in the Boston area and is considered number one in the US for student access to top-tier research by the Carnegie Institute. UMass Boston is the third most diverse university in the country, with more than 60% of our undergraduate students coming from minoritized communities and groups and more than half of our students are first‑generation college students. Thus, our students come to us from richly diverse life experiences and backgrounds; they bring to our classrooms and research settings the robust range of perspectives growing out of the socio‑cultural, economic, and historical contexts …

Given this context, applicants should articulate in their letter of interest their approach to teaching, advising, mentoring, and research:

• Engages with the diverse life experiences of students,
• Reflects an appreciation for students’ holistic identities in academic settings
• Reflects how the applicant’s own experiences shapes commitments as an instructor, mentor, researcher, and academic leader.

• Names and contact information of 3 references
• A letter of interest that includes: 1) prior administrative experiences relevant to the Department Chair position; 2) a vision and strategies for advancing research, doctoral education, teaching and inclusive excellence.

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and previous experience.

Submit applications by 10/07/26. The position will remain open until filled.

For questions, contact the Search Committee Chair: Dr. Tracy Baynard, University of Massachusetts Boston

UMass Boston expects to pay within an approximate range between $130,000 and $185,000 for this position.

The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on the consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, wewill ensure that persons withdisabilitiesare provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please [e-mail] or 617-287-5150.

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

The University of Massachusetts Boston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, genetic information, pregnancy or a pregnancy-related condition, or membership in any other legally protected class. The University of Massachusetts Boston complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the university operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

UMass Boston does not provide visa sponsorships for non-academic positions.

The University of Massachusetts Boston is committed to providing a safe and secure environment that is supported by qualified employees for all of its students, faculty and staff to carry out the University's teaching, research and public service missions. As a condition of employment, the University will conduct appropriate background check reviews. For more information, please see the University of Massachusetts Boston campus policy and procedures for employee background reviews.