The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo is seeking applications from exceptional scholars and researchers for the position of Chair of the Department.  Candidates are expected to have demonstrated ability in leadership and administration and a strong record of research, teaching and mentorship.  Candidates must be eligible for a tenured faculty position at the rank of associate or full professor. The successful candidate will work towards the academic goals defined in the department strategic plan, https://uwaterloo.ca/earth-environmental-sciences/about/StrategicPlan  be responsible for the relationship between the Department and the broader academic community, and play a leading role in the academic planning and management process within the Faculty of Science.  Candidates with a Ph.D. in all areas of earth science, environmental science and geological/environmental engineering will be considered.  The anticipated start date is July 1, 2027, or earlier. 

Currently, the Department has 23 full-time members of faculty, 25 full-time staff, 76 graduate students, 19 postdoctoral fellows and research associates and 276 Honours undergraduate students.   The Department also contributes to the delivery of the Geological Engineering program to 84 students in partnership with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.  Students in all these programs have access to the co-op stream of study, which allows them to alternate study terms with work terms, ultimately graduating with up to two years of paid work experience. Waterloo is #1 in Canada for employer-student connections and students in these programs have access to a network of over 7,100 employers.  All students have access to undergraduate laboratory and field course offerings, which provide students with hands-on skills, training and experience that sets our students apart in their experiential learning. 

The Department is research intensive with an annual research income of $7.5M and attracts outstanding Canadian and international applicants to its graduate programs.  Currently we have a CERC Laureate, 2 Canada Research Chairs and 3 University Research Chairs in the Department.   Earth and Environmental Science researchers collaborate with other units within the Faculty of Science and other faculties at the University of Waterloo, and hold memberships in several research centres and institutes, including the Water Institute, the Climate Institute, the Institute for Sustainable Energy, the Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics, and the Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research. The department is home to the world-class Environmental Isotope Laboratory https://uwaterloo.ca/environmental-isotope-laboratory offering in-house and external services generating ~$1.8M per year. 

The salary range for this position is $150,000 to $200,000.  Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

The closing date for applications is June 30, 2026.  Candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of demonstrated leadership and qualifications and an EDI statement.  The names and full contact information for at least three references should be provided.  All application material, including the names of referees, should be uploaded to https://ofas.uwaterloo.ca .  Three letters of reference will be requested for applicants invited for an interview.  

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office (https://uwaterloo.ca/indigenous).  The Faculty of Science is the first faculty at the University of Waterloo to have an embedded Indigenous Initiatives Office. Science Indigenous Initiatives serves as a central hub for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students, researchers, faculty, and staff, along with allies within the Faculty of Science. Our office works to provide the community with guidance, support, and resources to strengthen our shared vision of reconciliation. https://uwaterloo.ca/science/about/indigenous-initiatives 

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as Indigenous peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis, Inuit/Inuk), Black, racialized, people with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ. 

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Lisa Weber (lweber@uwaterloo.ca). 

If you have any questions regarding the position, the application process, assessment process, or eligibility, please contact Lisa Weber: lweber@uwaterloo.ca. 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. 

Three reasons to apply: https://uwaterloo.ca/faculty-association/why-waterloo.