Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world and top 20 public universities. The University opened its Okanagan campus in 2005 as a bold new UBC presence in the interior of British Columbia, designed to deliver on the promise of a research-intensive institution purpose-built for the 21st century. UBC’s Okanagan campus is situated on the territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation.

UBC’s Okanagan campus is home to over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 630 faculty members and nine Faculties and Schools. UBC Okanagan students receive outstanding education in a stimulating student-centric learning environment. The campus is rapidly emerging as a research powerhouse and over the last five years campus research income has more than doubled.  Success rates at the Canadian tri-councils (SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR) have consistently exceeded national averages.  In 2019, UBC Okanagan  published Outlook 2040, a visioning exercise which positions the campus as one of the fastest growing post-secondary institutions in Canada. 

Following a recent organizational re-design, a new Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has been established at UBC Okanagan. The Faculty will consist of the Departments of Community, Culture and Global Studies; Economics, Philosophy and Political Science; History and Sociology; and Psychology.

The Faculty will offer an array of graduate and undergraduate programs, with research strengths in many areas of social sciences and the arts. Interdisciplinarity is a key area of importance at UBC Okanagan as demonstrated by the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (IGS) program which allows masters and doctoral students to work with faculty across a diverse set of departments and disciplines. IGS is currently structured around the following themes: Community Engagement, Social Change and Equity; Digital Arts and Humanities; Global Studies; Power, Conflict and Ideas; Sustainability; and Urban, Rural and Regional Dynamics. 

UBC Okanagan is now seeking the inaugural Dean of its newind Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Reporting to the Provost, the Dean will serve as a key member of the leadership team and will have overall responsibility for academic leadership and administration in the new Faculty. The ideal candidate will be a visionary and collaborative leader who excels at building relationships and has a commitment to transparency and accountability. They will have a strong track record of scholarly eminence, history of global engagement and a demonstrable commitment to research and teaching excellence. They will have experience leading and managing change in a university, in recruiting and mentoring excellent faculty, and a commitment to collegiality and to equity, diversity and inclusion. Experience in engaging stakeholders inside and beyond academia, as well as fund-raising, will be a definite asset. The ideal candidate will also have a strong commitment to Indigenous engagement. As part of the University’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, UBC Okanagan has committed to supporting and implementing five key commitments, which can be found at https://ok.ubc.ca/about/indigenous-engagement/. The candidate must be appointable at Full Professor rank in one of the Faculty’s departments.  

This position represents an outstanding opportunity to take on a leadership role at one of the world’s top universities and at a campus that is smaller, nimble and has excellent engagement with the community and wider region. Big thinking and bold ambitions are required to further support the Okanagan campus toward even greater impact and service to the people and communities of British Columbia and beyond.

UBC Okanagan is partnering with the executive search firm Perrett Laver on this search. Applications should consist of a full CV detailing academic and professional qualifications and relevant achievements and should be accompanied by a cover letter describing how candidates meet the selection criteria, why the appointment is of interest, and what they believe they can bring to the role. The closing date for applications is 12 noon (Pacific Time) on Friday, May 8th, 2020. Further information, including details of how to apply, can be downloaded at perrettlaver.com/candidates quoting reference 4512. 

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
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