Department Head - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Company: Virginia Tech
Location: Blacksburg
Posted on: January 3, 2026
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Job Description:
The Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering (CEE) at Virginia Tech invites applications for the
position of Department Head. The Department seeks a visionary
leader who can advance its reputation as an international leader in
research, scholarship, and education. The Department Head will
serve as an integral member of the College of Engineering
leadership team, advocating for the department to university
administration and external stakeholders, while providing
substantive oversight in leading and executing the department’s
mission. The successful candidate will be expected to foster
excellence in research, education, mentoring, and service;
strengthen internal and external partnerships; support innovation
and industry connections across all program areas; catalyze growth
of our undergraduate and graduate programs; and cultivate the
department’s collaborative and supportive culture. The department
is consistently ranked among the top ten CEE programs nationwide
and is home to 62 full-time faculty members, with an enrollment of
approximately 673 undergraduates, 155 M.S., and 115 Ph.D. students.
The CEE faculty and students perform cutting-edge research across
the full spectrum of CEE disciplines, with a strong culture of
interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation; the annual research
expenditures exceed $15M. The department’s program areas include
Construction Engineering and Management, Environmental Engineering
and Water Resources, Geotechnical Engineering, Land Development
Design, Structural Engineering and Materials, and Transportation
Infrastructure and Systems Engineering. Major research facilities
include the Kelso Baker Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory, the
Thomas M. Murray Structures and Materials Laboratory, and the W.C.
English Geotechnical Laboratory on the Blacksburg campus. CEE also
has the Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory located in the
Washington D.C. metropolitan area, with five full-time faculty,
five postdoctoral researchers, fifteen graduate students and a
large research staff focused on urban watershed management and
indirect potable water reuse. Together, these programs and
facilities provide students and faculty opportunities to address
the most pressing challenges in infrastructure, environment, and
society. Virginia Tech’s main campus is in Blacksburg, VA. The CEE
main office is located in Patton Hall, with faculty offices and
research labs primarily housed in Patton Hall, Norris Hall, Durham
Hall, Hancock Hall, Kelly Hall, ICTAS II, and the Virginia Tech
Transportation Institute (VTTI). The New River Valley, wherein
Blacksburg is located, consistently ranks among the best places to
live in the United States and offers an exceptional environment for
both professional and personal life. Required Qualifications Ph.D.
degree, with at least one degree in Civil or Environmental
Engineering or a closely related field. Professional qualifications
and experience should be consistent with the requirements for
appointment at the rank of Full Professor with tenure. Preferred
Qualifications · Demonstrated intellectual leadership and
administrative skills in an academic/university environment or
equivalent, such as leadership in professional organizations or
activities · Demonstrated commitment to all three aspects of our
land-grant mission of education, research, and service/outreach ·
Experience growing undergraduate and/or graduate programs · Strong
interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively,
concisely, and clearly at all levels · Experience in inspiring,
mentoring, and fostering the success of faculty, staff, and
students · Demonstrated ability for transparent decision-making and
bringing people together to collaborate on and execute a shared
strategic vision · Experience with financial management and
fund-raising in an academic setting · Demonstrated ability to
strengthen and grow internal and external partnerships · National
or international recognition for scholarly, professional, or
leadership contributions in CEE or a closely related field · A
professional engineering (P.E.) registration and/or similar
certification in a specialty-engineering field Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime Appointment Type Regular Salary
Information Commensurate with experience Hours per week 40 plus
Additional Information The successful candidate will be required to
have a criminal conviction check. About Virginia Tech Dedicated to
its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the
boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary
approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A
comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of
life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an
inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and
creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse
enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and
professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of
medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and
Honors College. The university has a significant presence across
Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area,
the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in
Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and
research institutes. A leading global research institution,
Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional
development opportunities and university shared governance. These
valuable contributions to university shared governance provide
important representation and perspective, along with opportunities
for unique and impactful professional development. Virginia Tech
does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on
the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy),
gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information,
ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race,
religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise
discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about,
discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of
other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by
law.
Keywords: Virginia Tech, Greensboro , Department Head - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), Engineering , Blacksburg, North Carolina
