Department Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering

University of Maryland-Baltimore County•Baltimore, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) invites applications and nominations for a collaborative and visionary Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT). The Chair serves as the department’s chief academic and administrative officer, reports directly to the Dean of COEIT, and joins the College’s leadership team. The role leads the department’s educational, research, and outreach missions during a period of strategic planning and growth, working with faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry partners, and university leadership to shape engineering education, research, innovation, and public impact. The department has an ABET-accredited undergraduate program that combines hands-on experiences and design with theoretical, experimental, and numerical analyses, as well as M.S. and Ph.D. programs. It has three teaching faculty and 19 tenured and tenure-track faculty conducting externally funded research in biomechanical engineering; dynamic systems and design, including control, robotics, and autonomous systems; solid mechanics and materials science; and thermal and fluid sciences. The incoming Chair will maintain a strong academic program, expand hands-on learning opportunities, support faculty development, and grow the department’s research profile and funding. UMBC is a minority-serving, Carnegie R1 public research university with approximately 14,000 students. COEIT includes about 170 tenure-track and teaching faculty, 70 academic staff, and more than 6,200 students. Its strategic vision emphasizes Convergence Research, Inclusive Excellence, and Partnerships for Public Impact.

Requirements

Earned doctorate in an appropriate discipline.
Qualifications for appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor at UMBC.
Record of excellence in research, teaching, and service.
Demonstrated leadership experience in academic, research, administrative, professional, or other organizational settings.
Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting faculty development and student success.
Experience with strategic planning, budgeting, accreditation, or program assessment.
Experience leading research initiatives or interdisciplinary collaborations.
Experience building partnerships with industry, government, alumni, or community organizations.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and long-range planning for the department.
Support faculty recruitment, retention, development, and success.
Strengthen undergraduate and graduate education.
Ensure continual accreditation of the offered programs.
Foster research growth, scholarly excellence, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Advance student success, belonging, and professional preparation.
Manage departmental resources, facilities, personnel, and operations.
Develop relationships with alumni, industry, government, and community partners.
Contribute actively to college-wide strategy and leadership initiatives.
Maintain a strong academic program and expand opportunities for hands-on learning.
Prepare undergraduate students for professional practice or graduate study.
Expand the department’s research profile and funding.