Dean, Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Open DateJanuary 10, 2024

Please note: this search will remain open until the position is filled.

We honour, celebrate and thank the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) and Syilx peoples on whose territories the campuses of the University of British Columbia have the privilege to be situated. The UBC Vancouver-Point Grey campus is located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) people. The UBC Okanagan campus is located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. The xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm and Syilx peoples have been stewards and caretakers of these territories since time immemorial. To acknowledge and support this important role, UBC strives toward building meaningful, reciprocal and mutually beneficial partnerships with the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm and the Syilx peoples.

The Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC is one of the world’s top-ranking Faculties in sustainable agriculture, food systems, and human health as it relates to food and food production. It ranks #25 among the world’s top agricultural sciences programs. Through its research, programs, and partnerships, the Faculty of Land and Food Systems focuses on developing workable solutions that address global issues in the areas of health, sustainable food systems and managing limited resources. The Faculty is home to a diverse set of scholars linked by a common objective - to identify the essential elements of sustainable food systems and to strive to develop, implement and validate solutions for the critical problems affecting the local and global food supply chains, and those who depend on them.

The University of British Columbia invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean, Faculty of Land and Food Systems. Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, and as a senior leader within the University, the incoming Dean will be responsible for the leadership and administration of all aspects of the Faculty’s operations, including budget and fund development. The Dean will develop and sustain collegial and productive relationships within the Faculty and the University, and continue to promote academic excellence and research productivity across its disciplines. Within this context and alongside the Faculty’s ambitious plans , this is an opportunity to lead an already outstanding Faculty to new levels of excellence.

The successful candidate must possess an earned doctorate and be qualified for appointment at the rank of full professor. A track record of outstanding senior academic and administrative leadership is critical, as is a deep commitment to, and support of, excellence in research and teaching, as well as an unwavering, action-based commitment to advancing decolonization, reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion and more just society for all. To be successful in this role, the Dean will require a proven record and vision towards leading shared initiatives and goals and forging connections outside of the institution with relevant organizations, government, industry, alumni, and donors, and will demonstrate past action and future commitment to UBC’s objectives towards building meaningful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous communities. The ideal candidate brings a highly collegial and collaborative style, superb communication skills, and the ability to inspire colleagues and partners towards shared goals, both within UBC, throughout the province, Canada, and the world.

The base salary range for this position is from $290,000 to $320,000. Consideration of candidates for this position will begin in early January 2024. Written nominations, applications or expressions of interest may be submitted in confidence to Andrea Patrick or Nick Ketley at Odgers Berndtson at [email protected] .

A global centre for teaching, learning, and research excellence, UBC is among Canada’s top five teaching and research universities, ranked 40th best university the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023). Since 1915, UBC has continued to embrace innovation and transform new ideas into impact, to shape a better world. UBC is home to over 70,000 students and more than 18,000 faculty and staff across its two main campuses: UBC Vancouver, located in Greater Vancouver, and UBC Okanagan located in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley. The University hosts over 100 research centres and institutes and offers over 250 undergraduate programs and more than 300 graduate programs within 26 faculties and schools at UBC Vancouver, and 9 faculties and schools at UBC Okanagan. UBC’s impressive cadre of scholars generate $773.7 million in research funding for 10,218 projects, collaborate with industry partners on over 1400 research projects and have over 1,350 research contracts and agreements with governments and non-profits. UBC’s commitment to excellence in pedagogy and scholarship across all disciplines is reflected in the accomplishments of its scholars, of whom 22 are 3M National Teaching Fellows, 289 are Royal Society of Canada Fellows, 194 are Canada Research Chairs, 8 are Nobel Laureates and 74 are Rhodes Scholars. UBC enjoys over 300 active institutional partnerships in more than 65 countries, and has over 375,000 alumni in 160 countries, including three Canadian Prime Ministers. For more information about UBC, visit www.ubc.ca .

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, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. All applicants will be asked to complete a confidential equity survey.

Within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). If you require accommodations to participate in the recruitment process, please inform Odgers Berndtson at [email protected] .