Job Details

Title: Dean, College of Natural Sciences
Position Number: 0089197
Hiring Unit: Office of the Provost, UH Manoa
Reports to: Provost, UH Manoa
Date Posted: June 20, 2025
Closing Date: Continuous recruitment. For first consideration, please submit an application by August 15, 2025 as review of applications will begin on or about August 18, 2025.
Employee Type: Executive/Managerial (EM)

INTRODUCTION

CNS has the following academic and research units: Department of Chemistry, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, Department of Mathematics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit and School of Life Sciences. The Dean serves as the top academic and administrative leader for the College and is expected to develop a strategic plan to lead the College's members to higher levels of excellence by pursuing integrated, comprehensive academic programs that balance research, scholarship, instruction, and service. The Dean should be a committed, collaborative, and engaging advocate for the College within the University, across the state, and beyond.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides leadership and guidance in all aspects of the College.

Leads the College through the pursuit of excellence in research and innovative academic programs locally, nationally, and internationally to leverage its multicultural and mid-Pacific island environment.

Provides foundational and visionary leadership to the College in all aspects of academic affairs, administration and planning, financial management, junior and senior faculty recruitment, and fundraising, while ensuring that the mission and goals of the College are aligned with those of UH Manoa and the University of Hawaii System.

Promotes the University's commitment to programs that reflect the demographics and values of Hawaii. Given the unique character and location of UH Manoa, the Dean is expected to embrace the cultures of the University's constituencies, and to become readily knowledgeable about the 'aina (lands, environment), the communities of Hawai'i including its Native Hawaiian population, and Hawaii's kuleana (responsibility) in the local, national and international arenas.

Collaborates with the College's faculty, academic leadership, and business office leadership in pursuit of developing, and implementing a strategic plan to advance teaching, expand the research enterprise, scholarly activity, service, programs, operations and to increase alumni and community engagement.

Ensures the College is strengthening its programs and reputation by leading the College in establishing strategic objectives and by developing and managing all resources essential to the achievement of those objectives.

Develops an organizational infrastructure, and promotes shared governance among faculty, administration and staff within the College to support and implement the College's vision and strategies.

Ensures a strong financial future for the College both through effective management and strengthening of existing financial resources, and by establishing and developing new financial streams.

Enhances administrative, academic, research and community relationships with internal and external stakeholders by leveraging and strengthening relationships with members of senior leadership, including staff, local and national organizations, and academic and research communities.

Advocates for adequate resources from the University to sustain the College's instructional, research, and outreach programs.

Oversees all personnel matters involving all College employees.

Promotes an environment of academic rigor that motivates students, staff, and faculty to excel by supporting the creation and dissemination of new knowledge.

Sustains an optimal learning environment in classrooms and laboratories to ensure that the College's graduates are nationally and globally competitive.

Recruits and retains the highest quality of faculty and staff; support mentoring initiatives for College employees in their teaching, research and professional development endeavors.

Ensures rigorous and equitable assessment of faculty for appointment, tenure, and promotion in alignment with institutional standards

Fosters the recruitment of top graduate students, and together with administration, develops recruitment and retention programs for undergraduates consistent with the University's mission and aspirations.

Seeks out opportunities for growth in disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, with a focus on enhancing both productivity and impact.

Embraces Hawai'i's unique cultural and ecological environment; promotes initiatives to address stewardship needs of the Islands that are responsive to community voices and develop strengths of the College in relevant fields.

Serves as the chief public spokesperson for the College within the University, and to the College's multiple external constituencies at the state, national and international levels, to further promote the College's reputation.

Serves as the College's primary advocate in interactions with officials and legislators at the city, county, state and federal levels of government.

Maintains close and effective working relations and lines of internal communication among the University, students, University executives and administrators, staff, faculty, formal and informal groups, and with the Board of Regents, as appropriate.

Nurtures relationships with past and potential donors of major gifts. Build new relationships and networking mechanisms among the College's students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends of the College.

Oversees the College's marketing and public relations efforts to increase the number of friends and alumni actively associated with the College.

Promotes and supports instructional, outreach, and community service programs that serve the community-at-large and builds stronger relationships between external constituents and the College.

Encourages and supports the development of programs focusing on strengthening ties and joint initiatives with the State's K-12 system and community organizations.

Expands support to, and establishes programs for, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) pathways in order to encourage students to pursue careers in the sciences.

Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Earned doctorate in a field represented within the College, or other STEM fields.

Attained the rank of full professor or equivalent academic standing.

Five (5) years or more of professional experience in academic leadership at the level of department chairperson or higher.

Effective communication and leadership skills, with demonstrated experience in promoting a supportive work environment for all.

A distinguished record of credentials and achievements that demonstrate teaching, scholarship, research, and publication excellence.

Evidence of obtaining extramural support.

Ability to generate philanthropic funding through successful fundraising and relationship-building with individuals, foundations, and other external partners.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with multiple constituents while fostering inclusivity and developing a workforce that reflects the community served.

Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.

Demonstrated commitment to consultative and collaborative processes within a framework of shared governance.

Demonstrated commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and academic integrity in leadership and decision-making.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Demonstrated experience creating and developing innovative programs/initiatives.

Widely recognized in the Natural Sciences community, with the ability to earn the respect of colleagues in research, university administration, federal agencies, and other extramural funding sources

Understanding and appreciation of Hawai'i's islands and Native Hawaiian culture(s).

Familiarity with a unionized environment and/or labor relations.

Experience working with elected and/or government officials from local to national levels, developing and managing budgets, and overseeing facilities and space management.

To Apply: A NEOGOV account must be established, and then candidates may attach the following to the online application: (1) A current curriculum vitae, (2) A 3 to 5 page cover letter that includes the following:How your experience and qualifications have prepared you to serve as Dean of the College of Natural Sciences;Your vision for the College, grounded in your academic philosophy;How you would support the campus strategic plan, including advancing Native Hawaiian Place of Learning (NHPoL) initiatives, and (3)Names and contact information of five (5) professional references.

Note: Original official transcripts are required at time of hire. References will not be contacted without prior notice to the candidate. A background check will be made prior to employment.

Nominations & Inquiries please contact Linda Voong, Executive Search Coordinator at...@hawaii.edu

The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit:

Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at:, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.

Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link:

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