Job Description

Primary Purpose of Position
The department chairpersons report to the deans of the designated college. The department chairpersons are responsible for the leadership and administration of the academic departments. Engaging faculty in the strategic planning process for the academic unit is an important role. Each department chairperson is responsible for budget development, management and allocation. Primary responsibilities of the department chairpersons in personnel management include recruitment and hiring; faculty assignments and workload; evaluation, reward, development and professional guidance; and participation in the reappointment, promotion and tenure and post-tenure review process. The department chairperson oversees accreditation and curricular and program development, secures external funding, and support faculty research, teaching and service. Facilities management duties include coordination and oversight of classroom and laboratory usage.
Primary Function of Organizational Unit
N.C. A&T is a public, land-grant, doctoral research institution and has been the largest historically Black university in the country for the past decade. With an enrollment of 14,311 students in Fall 2024, the university offers 59 undergraduate degree programs, 36 master’s programs, and 12 doctoral programs. It is America’s top producer of Black graduates in Engineering and Agricultural Science bachelor’s programs, as well as a top five producer in numerous additional disciplines, including Liberal Arts and Communications/Journalism. It also ranks no. 3 in master’s degrees awarded to Black graduates in Engineering Technologies and Related Fields, no. 4 in master’s degrees in Engineering, and no. 11 best business school for women in the nation.

Nationally recognized for its leadership and excellence in STEM education and research, N.C. A&T is classified as “R2-High Research Activity” in the Carnegie Classifications and is poised to achieve “R1-Very High Research Activity” status. It also holds Carnegie’s earned credential in Community Engagement and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation. With an annual economic impact of $2.4 billion, N.C. A&T plays a vital role as a higher-education economic driver in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region and across a state that is ranked No. 1 in the nation for the second straight year as “best for business” by the CNBC financial network.

The College of Engineering (COE), with approximately 2,500 students, has 5 Doctoral programs, 8 Masters of Science Degree programs, and EAC ABET accredited undergraduate programs in Architectural, Bio-, Biological, Civil, Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Industrial, and Mechanical Engineering, as well as a CAC ABET-accredited program Computer Science. The College’s focus is on cultivating leaders who excel in academics, innovation, and research; where the 5 research cluster areas of the COE are Autonomous Systems, Cybersecurity and Resilience, Energy and Sustainability, Healthcare Applications and Complex Systems and Networks. The College welcomes team members who thrive in an environment that embraces diversity and inclusion within the student body, faculty, and staff. Additional information about the College and the University can be found at www.ncat.edu/coe.

The Mechanical Engineering Department has 13 full-time faculty members and offers BS, MS and Ph.D. degrees. The department enrolls over 500 undergraduate and graduate (masters and doctoral) students. The department currently offers Bachelor of Science; Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees in Mechanical Engineering. The ME undergraduate degree program has an Aerospace Option for students who are interested in aerodynamics, aero-propulsion, avionics and aero-structures. An Honors program is available for those students with a strong academic background and research interest. Our faculty members and their graduate students perform research in such areas as materials, aerospace, structural health monitoring, thermal management, micro-mechanics and micro-fluidics, CFD, control systems, design and manufacturing.
Minimum Requirements
A doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline and an established record of teaching, research and professional accomplishment are required. The qualifications for the appointment of the rank of Full Professor is required. Proven leadership abilities, a strong record of scholarly work and extramural funding. The successful candidate will be a leader who knows how to bring teams of people together and support them in their efforts to accomplish important tasks on time and within budget.
Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education
Experience in curriculum development and successful grant management. The successful candidate will be an imaginative and inspiring person, who possesses a distinguished record of scholarly accomplishments, appreciates the integration of learning, discovery and engagement, and has significant administrative experience.

Candidates are expected to exhibit a strong commitment to an open and collegial communication and management style. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; a strong record of effective organization and administration skills with demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member. A commitment to student learning and promoting a culture that values diversity.

Professional Engineering License is desired.