Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Chair

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Job Category:

Faculty

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Professor

Job Summary:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) in the College of Engineering (COE). The department is a vibrant and growing unit, currently enrolling 640 undergraduates across three degree programs in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Geological Engineering and an additional 170 undergraduates in an Architecture Certificate. The graduate program includes 130 students across master’s and doctoral programs in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry and Technology, and Geological Engineering. CEE is home to 30 core faculty members plus administrative, instructional, and research staff, a vibrant Professors of Practice group, and affiliated faculty from different colleges and schools on campus. CEE at UW-Madison is recognized for world-class, collaborative research that produces safe, sustainable, and impactful solutions to our built and natural environments, including construction engineering materials & management, environmental engineering & science, environmental chemistry & technology, geological engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and water resources engineering & science. These efforts are driven by our vision to lead and inspire positive change for public and environmental good through world-class transformative research, innovative teaching, and the development of engineering leaders. The department operates with an annual budget of $6 million and supports over $18 million in research expenditures.

The Chair will enter the COE at a transformative period of major investments including the Phillip A. Levy Engineering Center, a $420 million investment in state-of-the-art facilities for learning and discovery. This 395,000-square-foot facility will be the centerpiece of our engineering campus and will feature shared laboratories that unite faculty, staff and students from all engineering disciplines around common challenges.

The successful candidate will be a visionary leader who is deeply committed to UW–Madison’s public mission, able to lead effectively in an environment of shared governance and dedicated to fostering student engagement and success. They will be an accomplished scholar whose own record of research excellence enables them to inspire and mentor faculty, support innovation, and elevate the department’s research profile. They will be eager to listen and collaborate with a broad community of stakeholders, cultivate an inclusive and supportive departmental culture that strengthens community both within and beyond the university, and advance cross-disciplinary partnerships that bring together diverse perspectives. The Chair will also be committed to fundraising and to building strong connections with alumni, industry, and other academic partners. The initial term of appointment is five years, subject to annual review, and is eligible for reappointment.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Department Leadership: Shape and promote a vision, mission, and strategic plan for the department; promote and support high-impact research initiatives; support and enhance the educational mission of the department, college, and university; manage the administrative, financial, and space components of the department; grow development by engaging alumni and external partners; enhance the national and international recognition and reputation of the department.

Faculty and Staff Oversight, Recruitment and Development: Support and promote the teaching, research, and service activities of the department's faculty and staff members; identify areas of current and future faculty needs for the department's research and teaching mission; lead recruitment efforts in conjunction with departmental faculty; mentor and support junior and senior faculty and staff in their professional growth.

Instruction and Research: Teaching and developing undergraduate and graduate courses for civil and environmental engineering degree programs, mentoring graduate students and supervising their research; developing and directing a successful, extramurally funded research program; participating in departmental and university faculty governance; and contributing to professional and public service.

College Leadership: Serve on the Dean's Leadership Council with other department Chairs and Associate Deans.

Department:

• College of Engineering, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Compensation:

• Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing / renewable

Required Qualifications:

• Expresses a clear vision for the future for the department
• Established record of professional activities and leadership in professional organizations
• Demonstrated accomplishments in research and teaching appropriate for a tenured faculty appointment at UW-Madison.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred qualifications include demonstrated intellectual leadership and administrative skills in an academic/university environment or equivalent, active engagement with the student body and broader campus community; deep understanding of shared governance and university culture, knowledge of the current landscape and emerging trends in civil engineering, environmental engineering, and geological engineering.

Education:

• PhD in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering or Geological Engineering - or a closely related field

How to Apply:

Please upload a SINGLE PDF with the following materials:

• A cover letter outlining the vision for the department and relevant leadership experience
• A curriculum vitae highlighting research accomplishments (including complete list of publications), teaching, mentoring experience and administrative roles
• A statement of leadership philosophy
• A statement of research and teaching
• Names and contact information for three references.

The deadline for assuring full consideration is December 11, 2026.  However, the position will remain open, and applications may be considered, until this position is filled.

Contact Information:

Professor Brian Pfleger

Search Committee Chair

[email protected]

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. 
 
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). 
 
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