Chemical Engineering Department Head – AUS Sharjah

Job Description

Chemical Engineering Department Head – American University of Sharjah (AUS), Fall 2027

Location: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates | Institution: American University of Sharjah (AUS) | College: College of Engineering (CEN) | Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE) | Post Date: December 16, 2025 | Application Deadline: October 1, 2026 | Start Date: Fall 2027

About the Chemical Engineering Department Head Role

The College of Engineering (CEN) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) invites applicants for the position of Chemical Engineering Department Head, leading the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE) starting Fall 2027. The college seeks a visionary academic leader who can ensure the department’s smooth operation and sustainable growth.

Qualifications

Candidates for the Chemical Engineering Department Head role must hold earned degrees, including a doctorate, in chemical engineering or a related field. In addition, candidates must demonstrate:

• Leadership in research, evidenced by an outstanding publication record
• Excellence in teaching
• A strong record in academic and relevant professional service

The successful candidate will also develop and articulate a vision and long-range plan for the department’s teaching and research strategy, reflecting areas vital to the department and the wider region. Consequently, the college will give special consideration to candidates whose vision aligns clearly with its strategic plans and those of the university.

Leadership Profile

The ideal Chemical Engineering Department Head brings a dynamic, collaborative, visionary, and innovative approach, backed by demonstrated leadership experience that can drive the department’s continued advancement. Because this role involves engaging a wide range of stakeholders, strong communication skills matter greatly. Furthermore, the successful candidate should lead with a positive attitude, transparency, integrity, trust, fairness, promptness, and collegiality.

Key Responsibilities

In addition to the general responsibilities of the department head position, as partially outlined in the Faculty Handbook, the Chemical Engineering Department Head will take on the following:

Strategy and Leadership

• Provide effective leadership with well-defined plans, developing short-term and long-term strategies that nurture the department and align with the college’s and university’s strategic plans
• Foster a positive culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among faculty and students
• Continuously improve teaching, research, and service through benchmarking

Teaching and Curriculum

• Ensure high-quality teaching and holistic student development, using approaches such as technology-supported delivery, problem-based learning, and other cutting-edge trends in engineering education
• Lead continuous curriculum improvement so that programs stay current and competitive

Research

• Facilitate innovative, high-impact research, and actively promote multidisciplinary collaboration
• Make optimal use of research funds and facilities to maximize impact

Faculty and Student Development

• Empower, mentor, and support faculty and staff so they can develop and sustain excellence in teaching, research, and service
• Achieve student recruitment goals by establishing and implementing recruitment plans for undergraduate and graduate students
• Enrich the student experience through enhanced services, exchange visits, invited speakers, field trips, student clubs, professional certifications, competitions, and conferences
• Secure full-time and internship positions, and provide students with meaningful undergraduate research experience

Outreach and Reputation

• Build outreach activities that maintain ties with alumni, industry, government, advisory boards, other university units, and community members, as well as local and international professional organizations
• Promote the achievements and expertise of faculty, staff, and students through web content, newsletters, and media exposure, thereby enhancing the department’s academic reputation
• Collect data systematically so the department can make informed, evidence-based decisions
• Increase diversity and equity in both faculty hiring and student recruitment

Culture and Communication

• Maintain a positive, safe, transparent, fair, open, respectful, and collegial working environment across the department, college, and university
• Communicate effectively with individual faculty, staff, students, and parents on a range of professional and personal matters
• Represent the faculty and staff, and convey their needs to the college’s and university’s administration

Operations and Administration

• Oversee day-to-day department operations, including scheduling, advising, registration, lab preparations, budget allocation, and compliance and risk management
• Review and coordinate faculty course releases, sabbaticals, and leave-without-pay requests
• Conduct fair annual evaluations for faculty and staff, and provide effective feedback
• Evaluate faculty and staff for promotion and/or rolling contract decisions
• Lead and manage accreditation visits
• Take on other duties as the Dean assigns

How to Apply

Applicants should complete an application form and upload the required documents (PDF) using the application link. Required documents include:

• A cover letter
• A detailed curriculum vitae, including a teaching statement, a research statement, vision and goals for the department, a list of courses taught or that can be taught, and names of at least three references willing to write letters of recommendation

Positions remain open until filled, and the college will contact only shortlisted candidates.

About the Department

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering serves approximately 200 undergraduate students, 15 graduate students, 12 full-time faculty, and 3 lab instructors. Students and faculty represent diverse backgrounds and nationalities, with roughly 90 nationalities present on campus. The department offers a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering, and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering.

About AUS

AUS sits in the Emirate of Sharjah, about 15 km from Dubai. As an independent, not-for-profit, coeducational university, it serves more than 5,700 students. You can find further information on the College of Engineering page.

The Commission for Academic Accreditation, under the UAE Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Affairs Division, licenses and accredits AUS’s programs. Additionally, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education has accredited AUS in the United States since June 2004. The Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET accredits the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering offered by the College of Engineering.

Job Summary

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