Dean, School of Physical Sciences

Position overview

Salary range : $400,000-450,000

Review timeline :

January 2026-June, 2026

Application Window

Open date : October 24, 2025

Next review date : Monday, Nov 24, 2025 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date : Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Dean of the School of Physical Sciences

The University of California, Irvine

The University of California, Irvine (UCI), among the nation's top public research universities and part of the world-renowned University of California system, seeks an inspiring, visionary, and strategic scholar-administrator to serve as Dean of the School of Physical Sciences (SPS).

UC Irvine is a proud member of the Association of American Universities (AAU)-a prestigious group of leading research institutions- and is recognized as a top-tier (R1) research university and as an Opportunity University, providing high levels of access and student success, by the Carnegie Classification system. Learn more about UC Irvine at .

The UC Irvine School of Physical Sciences, one of the campus's founding schools, is home to four distinguished departments : Chemistry, Earth System Science, Mathematics, and Physics & Astronomy, each with a strong record of impact and academic leadership.

The Dean of the School of Physical Sciences serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the School, providing strategic vision, leadership, and oversight for its four departments and affiliated research centers. The Dean is responsible for advancing excellence in teaching, research, and service; supporting faculty recruitment, retention, and development; and ensuring a dynamic and inclusive learning environment for students. In collaboration with campus leadership, the Dean will foster interdisciplinary partnerships, champion inclusive excellence, and strengthen connections with industry, alumni, and philanthropic partners. The Dean also oversees budgetary and operational management, guiding the School toward sustainable growth and national leadership in discovery and innovation.

Required Qualifications

• A PhD (or international equivalent) and a distinguished record of scholarship in the physical sciences.
• A proven record of leadership within research-intensive environments, such as serving as a department chair, program director, dean, associate dean, or comparable international role.
• Experience advancing interdisciplinary educational and research initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to secure funding and generate resources to support research and academic priorities.
• A strong commitment to inclusive excellence and to the professional development of colleagues, faculty, staff, and students.
• Experience contributing to and leading strategic planning efforts.
• Experience in managing budgets and the ability to work with school administration and the central budget office to develop and forecast future financial plans.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $400,000-450,000 with a generous benefits package. To learn more about UC Irvine's offerings, please visit our Human Resources website.

This is a full-time position that will be performed on site in Irvine, California.

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy. For more information visit our Division of Equal Opportunity and Compliance.

Contact

DSG | Storbeck has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Ruth Shoemaker Wood, PhD and Susan Kart, PhD. To express interest, please submit a CV to : . Suggestions of candidates and questions may be submitted to the search team directly at the same email.

All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

Search Team Contact Information

Ruth Shoemaker Wood, PhD, Managing Director

Susan Kart, PhD, Senior Associate

DSG | Storbeck

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

(required at time of application)

A PhD (or international equivalent) and hold the rank of an associate professor, or equivalent rank in industry.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Reference requirements

Once campus visit finalists are selected, the search firm asks for 5 references, has phone calls with the references, and shares the reference check report with the Provost (hiring manager) prior to campus visits)

Apply link : JPF09924

About UC Irvine

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

APM - 035 : Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and / or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

Irvine, CA