Head of the Architectural Engineering Department
The Architectural Engineering Department in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is seeking applications for a full-time Department Head at the rank of Associate or Full Professor to begin September 1, 2025. The position is tenure track with the possibility for tenure to be granted at the time of the appointment.
The ideal candidate will be an inspiring leader who engages the department’s stakeholders in developing and achieving its vision, mission and goals while championing inclusive excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship, research, professional engagement, and service. The Head works closely with faculty and staff to sustain the quality of academic programs and manage the department’s fiscal, human and physical resources, including the recruitment and retention of students, and partnering with the college’s development officer on fundraising. The successful candidate will be a passionate advocate for Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing tradition, and a collegial collaborator who contributes to the college’s administrative team and builds partnerships with alumni, industry, and communities.
The position reports to the Dean of the college and carries both administrative and academic duties. The Department Head teaches courses (1/4 time) that may range from first year undergraduate to master’s level and engages in scholarly activities appropriate to tenure status and rank. Civil or structural engineering expertise is required. The administrative assignment is for an initial period of three years, renewable at the Dean’s discretion. Academic rank and salary will be commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.
Required Qualifications
Required qualifications for the position are demonstrated experience in effective administrative and strategic leadership, a distinguished record of accomplishments commensurate with the rank of an Associate or Full Professor and either:
--a doctorate in structural engineering or a closely related field, along with evidence of scholarship related to building structures;
--or a master’s degree in structural engineering, a structural engineering license or the equivalent, and significant professional engineering practice experience.
Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language; demonstrated commitment to student-centered learning and teaching; the ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary settings; and evidence of supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion are also required.
Preferred Qualifications
Special consideration will be given to candidates with experience in both the academic environment and structural engineering practice; experience with fundraising, budget planning, and personnel management; experience with recruitment and retention of engineering students; experience with the ABET accreditation process; and successful collaborations with stakeholders outside the university including industry partners and alumni.
Special Conditions
The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.
Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.
For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.
In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. At Cal Poly, tenure-line faculty are expected to establish an on-campus presence.
About the Department
The Architectural Engineering Department enjoys a longstanding national reputation for excellence, rigor, and innovation in offering a comprehensive undergraduate education in structural engineering. Interdisciplinary learning takes place in courses shared by architecture, construction management, and engineering students and provides understanding of the entire design-construction process. As one of five departments in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design it offers an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science major, a minor, and a Master of Science in Architectural Engineering. The department currently has approximately 9 full-time faculty, 12 part-time faculty, 300 undergraduate majors, and 15 master’s students. The department maintains close ties with industry through an active advisory council, engagement with professional associations and an extensive network of successful alumni. Admission is selective, students have their choice of internships, and graduates are in high demand.
About the University
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), one of 23 universities in the California State University (CSU) System, is a distinguished public undergraduate and master’s level institution located in San Luis Obispo, California with approximately 22,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the best public master’s university in the West for the 30th consecutive year, Cal Poly takes pride in its student centered Learn by Doing approach to higher education. Cal Poly aspires to be the nation’s premier comprehensive polytechnic university, developing and inspiring innovative whole system thinkers to serve California and the world at large.
At Cal Poly, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees, and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility. Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. Cal Poly is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
How to Apply
Please be prepared to provide:
- A letter of intent addressing how your experiences match the position requirements;
- A curriculum vitae or detailed resume;
- A statement of teaching philosophy;
- A statement of research and scholarly interests;
- A statement of diversity and inclusion describing experience and contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and a description of how you will demonstrate a commitment in these areas regarding teaching, research, and/or service at Cal Poly.
- Unofficial transcripts from institutions at which an earned doctorate or an engineering master’s degree was awarded. Official transcripts will be required prior to initial appointment; and
- Contact information for at least three professional references, including names and email addresses. (References will not be contacted without the prior knowledge and approval of the candidate and at a later stage in the search.)
Review of applications will begin December 9, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.
Salary and Benefits
Salary is commensurate with the qualifications of the individual selected. The anticipated annual salary is $145,000-$180,000 reflects the total salary for department head responsibilities. Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees.