JOB TITLEDean of the Business School
LOCATIONWorcester
DEPARTMENT NAMEProvost Office
DIVISION NAMEWorcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI
JOB DESCRIPTIONThe Dean of the Business School provides visionary, strategic, and operational leadership to advance the school's distinctive role.
Academic Leadership- Continue the growth trajectory of enrollment.
- Oversee curriculum development, academic program review, and the accreditation process.
- Recruit, evaluate, and support faculty in teaching, research, outreach, and professional development.
- Promote scholarly excellence by leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration within and beyond WPI.
- Foster a culture of student professionalism, innovation, and success.
- Provide leadership and oversight for faculty development, resource allocation, and program quality.
- Champion recruitment, retention, advancement, and well-being to foster a strong, inclusive academic community.
- Strengthen and expand the school's research enterprise.
Administrative Management- Provide strategic and operational oversight of the school, including substantial budgetary responsibility, resource planning, and external representation.
- Develop and manage the budget, resources, and staffing for the Business School. The Dean will manage a budget of over $7M and provide leadership for the Dean's Office, comprising four direct reports:
- Department Head
- Assistant Dean, Business Programs
- Assistant to the Dean
- Operations Manager
- Lead strategic planning initiatives aligned with institutional goals.
- Ensure compliance with university policies and relevant external regulations.
- Ensure decision-making processes reflect fairness, transparency, and ethical stewardship of resources.
Student Success & Engagement- Support student recruitment, retention, advising, and graduation initiatives.
- Foster supportive learning environments and co-curricular programming.
- Address student concerns and uphold academic integrity standards while modeling the professionalism expected of a polytechnic business school.
- Advance interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship that prepares graduates to address complex global challenges, particularly at the intersection of business, technology, analytics, and societal impact.
- Champion academic program innovation by working collaboratively with faculty to develop new and responsive programs.
- Advance the school's role in WPI's distinctive project-based learning model.
External Relations & Advancement- Build and sustain strategic partnerships with industry leaders, international institutions, alumni, and community organizations to enhance research opportunities, enrich student experiences, and elevate the school's national and global profile.
- Lead fundraising efforts and secure external grants and sponsorships.
- Represent the school in university-wide committees and public forums.
University-Wide Leadership- Serve as an engaged member of the Provost's Council and the President's leadership team, contributing to university-wide initiatives while advocating for the school's mission and strategic priorities.
Minimum Qualifications- A doctoral degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field, with a record of scholarship and academic leadership appropriate for appointment as a tenured professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
- A minimum of five years of leadership and administrative experience, including experience in higher education.
- Proven experience in strategic planning, change management, team building, and budget management, including oversight of complex financial and human resources.
- Effective leadership and team building across various constituent groups, with the ability to inspire and motivate faculty, staff, and students toward shared goals.
- Demonstrated success in teaching, research, and service, or equivalent experience in a complex organization.
- An understanding of and commitment to the evolving nature of a new R1 university.
- A track record of successful donor stewardship and fundraising.
- The ability to attract and retain talented faculty, staff, students, donors, and partners.
- Demonstrated financial acumen and experience managing large budgets and resource allocation.
- Demonstrated commitment to the highest standards of integrity, ethical conduct, and professional responsibility in all leadership, academic, and administrative activities.
- Strategic thinking and long-term planning capabilities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse internal and external communities, and a professional presence appropriate for senior institutional leadership.
- A willingness to engage with all members of the WPI community, including maintaining a strong presence on campus for school and university-wide programs and events.
- An innovation-oriented mindset, with the ability to take thoughtful, calculated risks, coupled with an unwavering commitment to the highest standards of personal and professional integrity.
- Data-informed decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated engagement with the business community, providing practical insight into contemporary market dynamics, organizational challenges, and workforce needs.
- Ability to navigate complex organizational structures and drive institutional change.
- Ability to build partnerships across academic, industry, and community sectors.
- A record of promoting ethical decision-making and professional conduct within complex academic or organizational environments.
For full application instructions and to view the executive search profile, please click here.
Compensation: $275,000- $350,000 per year
Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.
Compensation at WPI
FLSA STATUSUnited States of America (Exempt)
