Chair of Mechanical EngineeringProfessor
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Job Location:
Lawrence, KS - USA
Monthly Salary:
Not Disclosed
Posted on:
24-10-2025
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Chairperson Responsibilities (60% Administrative Appointment)
The Chairperson serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the Mechanical Engineering
Department reporting directly to the Dean of Engineering. This leadership role encompasses strategic planning
academic oversight and operational management. The Chair is expected to foster excellence in teaching
research and service while advocating for faculty staff and students. The Chair promotes a collaborative and
inclusive departmental culture supports high-impact research and ensures effective communication among all
stakeholders.
Key responsibilities include overseeing academic programs managing departmental resources and facilities and
guiding faculty development and evaluation. The Chair will be responsible for ensuring that financial resources are
used efficiently to advance departmental priorities and will have a key role in securing additional resources
through philanthropy and strategic partnerships. The Chair represents the department at various institutional and
external levels coordinates accreditation and assessment efforts and cultivates relationships with alumni
industry and donors. A strong emphasis is placed on student access and success continuous improvement and
external engagement.
Tenured Faculty Responsibilities (40%)
In addition to administrative duties the Chairperson maintains an active research program and teaches
undergraduate and graduate courses within the department. This dual role ensures continued engagement with
the academic mission and contributes to the departments scholarly output and instructional excellence. Theprecise distribution of effort is negotiable with a typical assignment of 15% teaching and 25% research.
Disclaimer
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color ethnicity religion sex national origin age ancestry disability status as a veteran sexual orientation marital status parental status gender identity gender expression and genetic information in the universitys programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Room 1082 Dole Human Development Center 1000 Sunnyside Avenue Lawrence KSTTY.
Contact Information to Applicants
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Jessica Herrington Lucy Leske and Corin Edwards at
Required Qualifications
The University of Kansas School of Engineering seeks a Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering
who has the leadership and managerial capacity to develop and implement a strategic vision for the department
that fosters innovation and growth in both research and education. The successful candidate will bring the
following background skills and qualities.
Position Overview
The University of Kansas (KU) School of Engineering is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as Chairperson
and Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) with an anticipated start date of August 18
2026. This is a unique opportunity to guide a dynamic and expanding department that is housed in newly
renovated state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.
The University of Kansas School of Engineering was founded in 1891 and is the oldest engineering school in the
state. An ABET-accredited public engineering school KU Engineering is located on the beautiful and historic Mt.
Oread-Lawrence campus of the University of Kansas -1 institution and a
member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). The KU School of Engineering has long emphasized
interdisciplinary research. Engineers and computer scientists from different disciplines work together to provide
innovative solutions to global challenges. Numerous departments and programs are ranked among the best in the
world.
The ME Department currently comprises 17 tenured/tenure-track faculty and four teaching professors serving
approximately 550 undergraduate and 50 graduate students. The department offers bachelors masters and
doctoral degrees and has a strong tradition of impactful research and student success. Located near the Kansas
City metropolitan area home to the fourth largest concentration of architectural engineering and construction
firms in the country the department enjoys rich opportunities for corporate engagement and partnerships.
Research strengths within the department include biomedical engineering energy storage and transitions and
Sciences and contribute to an active innovation ecosystem in biomedical- and climate-tech supporting spin-offs
and startups.
As the chief academic and administrative officer of the department the Chairperson will report to the Dean of
Engineering and provide strategic leadership in teaching research and service. Responsibilities include
advocating for faculty staff and students; overseeing academic programs and curriculum development;
supporting high-impact research; mentoring faculty; managing budgets and resources; planning facilities and
space; engaging with alumni industry and donors; and coordinating accreditation and continuous improvement
efforts.
The appointment is for a five-year term and is renewable upon review. Compensation includes a base salary an
administrative supplement and a partial summer salary.
Please see the Additional Candidate Instructions section at the end of this announcement to apply submit a nomination or express personal interest in this position.
Additional Candidate Instruction
All applications nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include as separate documents a CV
or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile.
WittKieffer is assisting the University of Kansas in this search. For fullest consideration candidate materials
should be received by November 3 2025.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Jessica Herrington Lucy Leske and Corin Edwards at
The Chairperson serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the Mechanical Engineering
Department reporting directly to the Dean of Engineering. This leadership role encompasses strategic planning
academic oversight and operational management. The Chair is expected to foster excellence in teaching
research and service while advocating for faculty staff and students. The Chair promotes a collaborative and
inclusive departmental culture supports high-impact research and ensures effective communication among all
stakeholders.
Key responsibilities include overseeing academic programs managing departmental resources and facilities and
guiding faculty development and evaluation. The Chair will be responsible for ensuring that financial resources are
used efficiently to advance departmental priorities and will have a key role in securing additional resources
through philanthropy and strategic partnerships. The Chair represents the department at various institutional and
external levels coordinates accreditation and assessment efforts and cultivates relationships with alumni
industry and donors. A strong emphasis is placed on student access and success continuous improvement and
external engagement.
Tenured Faculty Responsibilities (40%)
In addition to administrative duties the Chairperson maintains an active research program and teaches
undergraduate and graduate courses within the department. This dual role ensures continued engagement with
the academic mission and contributes to the departments scholarly output and instructional excellence. Theprecise distribution of effort is negotiable with a typical assignment of 15% teaching and 25% research.
Disclaimer
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color ethnicity religion sex national origin age ancestry disability status as a veteran sexual orientation marital status parental status gender identity gender expression and genetic information in the universitys programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Room 1082 Dole Human Development Center 1000 Sunnyside Avenue Lawrence KSTTY.
Contact Information to Applicants
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Jessica Herrington Lucy Leske and Corin Edwards at
Required Qualifications
The University of Kansas School of Engineering seeks a Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering
who has the leadership and managerial capacity to develop and implement a strategic vision for the department
that fosters innovation and growth in both research and education. The successful candidate will bring the
following background skills and qualities.
- A doctorate in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline and a distinguished record of research teaching and service that merits appointment at the tenured professor level;
- Proven leadership and management skills; strong interpersonal and communication abilities; excellent verbal written and interpersonal skills.
- A commitment to innovation entrepreneurship and student success and a dedication to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment;
- Ability to serve as an academic leader and team builder fostering research and educational collaborations among faculty alumni and affiliated units;
- Ability to create communicate and implement in collaboration with department faculty a vision for the departments future; the ability to inspire key constituencies in support of the departments priorities;
- Enthusiasm for forging new opportunities for industry partnerships sponsored research and alumni engagement and philanthropic support;
- A desire to engage and mentor faculty staff and students; and to work effectively across the school campus and with external groups; and
- Capacity to lead diverse teams and manage complex projects.
Position Overview
The University of Kansas (KU) School of Engineering is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as Chairperson
and Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) with an anticipated start date of August 18
2026. This is a unique opportunity to guide a dynamic and expanding department that is housed in newly
renovated state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.
The University of Kansas School of Engineering was founded in 1891 and is the oldest engineering school in the
state. An ABET-accredited public engineering school KU Engineering is located on the beautiful and historic Mt.
Oread-Lawrence campus of the University of Kansas -1 institution and a
member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). The KU School of Engineering has long emphasized
interdisciplinary research. Engineers and computer scientists from different disciplines work together to provide
innovative solutions to global challenges. Numerous departments and programs are ranked among the best in the
world.
The ME Department currently comprises 17 tenured/tenure-track faculty and four teaching professors serving
approximately 550 undergraduate and 50 graduate students. The department offers bachelors masters and
doctoral degrees and has a strong tradition of impactful research and student success. Located near the Kansas
City metropolitan area home to the fourth largest concentration of architectural engineering and construction
firms in the country the department enjoys rich opportunities for corporate engagement and partnerships.
Research strengths within the department include biomedical engineering energy storage and transitions and
Sciences and contribute to an active innovation ecosystem in biomedical- and climate-tech supporting spin-offs
and startups.
As the chief academic and administrative officer of the department the Chairperson will report to the Dean of
Engineering and provide strategic leadership in teaching research and service. Responsibilities include
advocating for faculty staff and students; overseeing academic programs and curriculum development;
supporting high-impact research; mentoring faculty; managing budgets and resources; planning facilities and
space; engaging with alumni industry and donors; and coordinating accreditation and continuous improvement
efforts.
The appointment is for a five-year term and is renewable upon review. Compensation includes a base salary an
administrative supplement and a partial summer salary.
Please see the Additional Candidate Instructions section at the end of this announcement to apply submit a nomination or express personal interest in this position.
Additional Candidate Instruction
All applications nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include as separate documents a CV
or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile.
WittKieffer is assisting the University of Kansas in this search. For fullest consideration candidate materials
should be received by November 3 2025.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Jessica Herrington Lucy Leske and Corin Edwards at
Key Skills
- ABAP
- Home Care
- Horticulture
- Clinical
- Arbitration Law
- Archicad
About Company
Thank you for your interest in employment with the University of Kansas. If you need assistance with the application process please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or 785-864-4946.
