Dean, School of Engineering

Position overview



Salary range:
$450,000-550,000

Review timeline:
Open recruitment from May to July. For best consideration, apply by August 1, 2026.

Application Window

Open date: May 4, 2026

Next review date: Saturday, Aug 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Thursday, Oct 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, the Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the Samueli School of Engineering. The Dean will oversee a budget of over $150 million, 154 faculty, 142 staff, and a leadership team including six department chairs, four associate deans, and an assistant dean/chief of staff.

The Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the School, providing strategic vision, leadership, and oversight for its four departments and affiliated research centers. The Dean is responsible for advancing excellence in teaching, research, and service; supporting faculty recruitment, retention, and development; and ensuring a dynamic and inclusive learning environment for students. In collaboration with campus leadership, the Dean will foster interdisciplinary partnerships, champion inclusive excellence, and strengthen connections with industry, alumni, and philanthropic partners. The Dean also oversees budgetary and operational management, guiding the School toward sustainable growth and national leadership in discovery and innovation.

Required Qualifications

The successful candidate must have an excellent history of academic accomplishment and administrative experience. They will possess a clear vision for the future of engineering research and education, a proven record of achieving community and philanthropic support, an understanding and appreciation of shared governance, a demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence and student success, and the ability to work effectively with various industry and other external stakeholders associated with the School. While no candidate will possess all the ideal qualifications, the successful candidate will bring many of the following experiences, knowledge, and abilities important to the role:


* A PhD (or international equivalent) and hold the rank of associate or full professor, or equivalent rank in industry;


* A record of and commitment to advancing world-class research;

* A desire to support a culture of excellence and integrity;

* The ability to identify and cultivate critical relationships and external resources;

* A commitment to creating an inclusive environment for the student body, faculty, and staff;

* A proven, demonstrated commitment to shared governance, and an openness to collaborative relationships with campus units;

* Excellent financial strategy and financial management skills, and demonstrated experience working with complex budgeting models;

* An ability to think and build frameworks in an interdisciplinary way and experience facilitating collaboration across disciplines;

* The ability to communicate effectively with staff, faculty, students, and others, and to build cohesiveness and community among constituents; a commitment to transparent communication that builds trust across the school;

* Support of entrepreneurship and close relationships with industry;

* An articulate vision for the future of engineering schools;

* Demonstrated ability to understand and react to current complexities, including the political, financial, technological, and global challenges that public universities face today;

* An ability to inspire.

Compensation and Benefits

UC Irvine is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range takes into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The full annual salary range for the Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering is $450,000 to $550,000. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers will be commensurate with a final candidate's qualifications and experience.

Contact

The Isaacson, Miller search team is David Bellshaw, Rafa Escobedo, and Salem Adisu. This team is supporting the recruiting efforts of the Search Advisory Committee and the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, suggestions, and referrals can be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website:

All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

All applications must be submitted through UCI's AP Recruit Website and should include, as separate documents, a CV and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this position profile. For best consideration, apply by August 1, 2026. Electronic submission of materials is required.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

A PhD (or international equivalent) and hold the rank of associate or full professor, or equivalent rank in industry.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• Cover Letter

Reference requirements

Once campus visit finalists are selected, the search firm asks for 5 references, has phone calls with the references, and shares the reference check report with the Provost (hiring manager) after campus visits.

Apply link:

About UC Irvine

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location
Irvine, CA