Department Head Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

Job Description

The Charles E. Via Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Virginia Tech invites applications for the position of Department Head.

The Department seeks a visionary leader who can advance its reputation as an international leader in research scholarship and education. The Department Head will serve as an integral member of the College of Engineering leadership team advocating for the department to university administration and external stakeholders while providing substantive oversight in leading and executing the departments mission. The successful candidate will be expected to foster excellence in research education mentoring and service; strengthen internal and external partnerships; support innovation and industry connections across all program areas; catalyze growth of our undergraduate and graduate programs; and cultivate the departments collaborative and supportive culture.

The department is consistently ranked among the top ten CEE programs nationwide and is home to 62 full-time faculty members with an enrollment of approximately 673 undergraduates 155 M.S. and 115 Ph.D. students. The CEE faculty and students perform cutting-edge research across the full spectrum of CEE disciplines with a strong culture of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation; the annual research expenditures exceed $15M. The departments program areas include Construction Engineering and Management Environmental Engineering and Water Resources Geotechnical Engineering Land Development Design Structural Engineering and Materials and Transportation Infrastructure and Systems Engineering. Major research facilities include the Kelso Baker Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory the Thomas M. Murray Structures and Materials Laboratory and the W.C. English Geotechnical Laboratory on the Blacksburg campus. CEE also has the Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory located in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area with five full-time faculty five postdoctoral researchers fifteen graduate students and a large research staff focused on urban watershed management and indirect potable water reuse. Together these programs and facilities provide students and faculty opportunities to address the most pressing challenges in infrastructure environment and society.

Virginia Techs main campus is in Blacksburg VA. The CEE main office is located in Patton Hall with faculty offices and research labs primarily housed in Patton Hall Norris Hall Durham Hall Hancock Hall Kelly Hall ICTAS II and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI). The New River Valley wherein Blacksburg is located consistently ranks among the best places to live in the United States and offers an exceptional environment for both professional and personal life.

Required Qualifications

Ph.D. degree with at least one degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering or a closely related field.

Professional qualifications and experience should be consistent with the requirements for appointment at the rank of Full Professor with tenure.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated intellectual leadership and administrative skills in an academic / university environment or equivalent such as leadership in professional organizations or activities

Demonstrated commitment to all three aspects of our land-grant mission of education research and service / outreach

Experience growing undergraduate and / or graduate programs

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively concisely and clearly at all levels

Experience in inspiring mentoring and fostering the success of faculty staff and students

Demonstrated ability for transparent decision-making and bringing people together to collaborate on and execute a shared strategic vision

Experience with financial management and fund-raising in an academic setting

Demonstrated ability to strengthen and grow internal and external partnerships

National or international recognition for scholarly professional or leadership contributions in CEE or a closely related field

A professional engineering (P.E.) registration and / or similar certification in a specialty-engineering field

Overtime Status

Exempt : Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with experience

Hours per week

40 plus

Review Date

December 8 2025 continue until filled

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

When applying for this position please prepare and submit : a 3-page cover letter full CV and contact information for at least three professional references.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world Virginia Tech is an inclusive communitydedicated to knowledge discovery and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36000 undergraduate graduate and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges a school of medicine a veterinary medicinecollege Graduate School and Honors university has a significant presence across Virginia including Blacksburg the greater Washington D.C. area the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke sites in Newport News and Richmond and numerous Extension officesand research institutes.A leading global research institution Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees students or applicants on the basis of age color disability sex (including pregnancy) gender gender identity gender expression genetic information ethnicity or national origin political affiliation race religion sexual orientation or military status or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about discuss or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation please contact Cheri Warren at during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Key Skills

Succession Planning,Customer Service,GM Vehicles,Management Experience,Retail Sales,Performance Management,Teaching,Administrative Experience,Budgeting,Leadership Experience,negotiation,Research Laboratory Experience

Employment Type : Full Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1