Professor & Chair - College of Engineering - Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Northeastern University
About the Opportunity
The College of Engineering at Northeastern University invites applications and nominations for the position of Professor and Chair of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department. The Chair will provide vision to direct the hiring of faculty, the nurturing of research foci, and the development of educational curricula.
Responsibilities
The department head is expected to work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment both within the department and college, and across the broader campus to:
- Provide leadership to enhance the mission and activities of the Department by fostering a vision and strategy to strengthen its teaching and research, and to enhance collaboration with other programs across the network;
- Promote and support continued professional growth of faculty and staff, particularly in the areas of educational innovation and research program development;
- Facilitate a world-class environment for research in the Department with active collaborations with academia, industry, and government agencies;
- Advance efforts supporting diversity, inclusion, and access;
- Represent the Department to the university administration, other university units, industry, and to public and private agencies at the local, regional, national, and international levels;
- Oversee recruitment of world-class faculty, facilitate professional development, and retention of faculty, staff, and students;
- Work closely with associated inter- and multi-disciplinary programs within the Department to ensure seamless curriculum management and recruitment of students and faculty;
- Lead fund-raising for Departmental activities, budget preparation, and management; and
- Maintain a leading international research program.
About the department
The Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department (https://mie.northeastern.edu/ ) at Northeastern University is committed to nurturing our students for professional and technical excellence, advancing the frontiers of engineering through groundbreaking research, engaging in service activities that benefit our department, university, and the profession, and instilling in ourselves and our students the values of ethical behavior, professional responsibility, and careers that contribute to the betterment of society. Our department boasts 65 tenured/tenure-track faculty, among whom a remarkable 44% have received prestigious Young Faculty Awards, and an impressive 30% have been honored with CAREER awards from the National Science Foundation. In addition, we are proud to have 16 dedicated and equally accomplished teaching faculty in MIE who contribute significantly to our educational excellence and mission. In line with our commitment to cutting-edge research, we have established 12 dynamic research themes as a means of facilitating collaborative discussions to drive innovation and shape our future research. Our distinguished faculty members are at the heart of these endeavors, engaging in broad, trans- and inter-disciplinary work.
Our department has grown to accommodate an impressive student body of 3,633 individuals, making us the largest disciplinary academic department in the College of Engineering at Northeastern. To cater to our students’ diverse career aspirations, our offerings include 24 graduate MS, PhD, and certificate programs, as well as undergraduate majors in mechanical engineering (ME) and industrial engineering (IE). Additionally, we offer combined majors such as ME and physics, IE and business, ME and design, and ME and history. Furthermore, we have expanded our reach across Northeastern’s global university network, now offering programs in both Seattle and Vancouver. Our department thrives with a vibrant community of student groups, including AerospaceNU, BajaSAE, Electric Racing at NU, INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences), IISE (Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, NU Student Chapter), ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers, NU Student Chapter), NUToys, the ESS (Energy Systems Society), and DAESO (Data Analytics Engineering Student Organization) among others.
Requirements
We are seeking candidates at the rank of Full Professor with demonstrated record of outstanding leadership, management, and mentorship, with a clear vision for the future of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. The new chair will be expected to build upon the department’s recognized strengths, recruit outstanding faculty, promote scholarly initiatives, facilitate internal and external research collaborations, maintain and further develop already strong relationships with industry, and oversee curriculum changes. Furthermore, they should be able to foster corporate and alumni relations, promote new funding opportunities through research and advancement, steer the department through an exciting period of growth and change in the field, and lead the department to the next level of excellence and visibility.
Candidates are expected to have demonstrated strategic vision through leadership of a well-established, nationally and internationally recognized research program, with a strong record of externally-funded research.
Candidates will have demonstrated excellence and significant experience in teaching, with a commitment to high-quality teaching in their respective field, and interest in advancing education programs in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering with a balance between undergraduate and graduate levels.
Candidates should have demonstrated leadership and administrative experience and a distinguished record of service.
A doctorate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or closely related field of science and engineering is required by the appointment start date.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
About the College of Engineering
The College of Engineering at Northeastern University is a leader in experiential education and interdisciplinary research with a focus on innovating for global impact. Our distinctive model of experiential learning, including Northeastern’s signature cooperative education program, contributes significantly to our strengths in rich experiential learning, industry collaborations, and use-inspired research. Our vibrant academic and research enterprise is growing in both size and stature. The college has 3,655 undergraduate and 6,826 graduate students, and over 235 tenured/tenure-track faculty. Engineering programs span Northeastern’s global university system of campuses in the U.S. and in multiple countries. Additionally, the college receives more than $115 million in external research awards annually and has 18 multidisciplinary research centers and institutes with funding by eight federal agencies.
How to apply
Applicants should submit:
- a cover letter that includes the following: a strategic vision statement for where they believe Mechanical and Industrial Engineering is headed and a statement of leadership philosophies
- a detailed curriculum vitae, highlighting positions of leadership in particular
- Statement of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging;
- Statement of your own research interests, objectives and vision;
- Statement of teaching interests and philosophy.
Please limit the combined statements to four pages.
* DEIJB Statement instructions: Please provide a statement of your commitment and contribution(s) to diversity efforts that describes your past experience, activities, and future plans to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and belonging in your teaching, research, and service. Your statement should demonstrate an understanding of the barriers facing marginalized communities in your field and be in alignment with Northeastern’s mission and BEYOND 2025: The Academic Plan Paragraph 4.1 A Magnet for Diversity, and a place for belonging, which can be found here:
https://provost.northeastern.edu/app/uploads/Academic_Plan_extended-version.pdf. As noted, your statement should reflect the diversity of the societies in which Northeastern maintains campuses and meet the educational needs and interests of its diverse population. Some chair candidates, in their opinion, may not have substantial past activities or lived-experiences which reflect areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and belonging. If that is the case, we recommend focusing on future plans in your statement.
Position Type
AcademicAdditional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.