Department Head - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

Company: Virginia Tech
Location: Blacksburg
Posted on: February 23, 2026

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. When applying for this position, please prepare and submit: a 3-page cover letter, full CV, and contact information for at least three professional references. 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, Blacksburg , Department Head - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), Engineering , Blacksburg, Virginia