Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Engineering Technology, Trades & Transportation (ASENT3)

Centennial College, in partnership with Phelps, is seeking a visionary and transformational leader to serve as the inaugural Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Engineering Technology, Trades & Transportation (ASENT3). This is a pivotal opportunity to lead a newly integrated faculty at a time of institutional innovation and renewal.

As Ontario’s first public college, Centennial is known for its commitment to access, applied learning, and community responsiveness. The Faculty of ASENT3 will build on this legacy by advancing technical excellence, sustainable innovation, and workforce alignment in some of the country’s most critical and evolving sectors.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Vice President, Academic & Student Affairs, the Dean will lead the strategic integration of the School of Transportation and the School of Applied Sciences & Engineering Technology. The mandate is to establish a national Centre of Excellence in Transportation and Engineering, whereby activities at the cutting edge of global trends strengthens experiential learning and applied research capacity – enabling Centennial to be a reciprocal partner of choice for both graduates and disciplinary advancement. Consonant with Centennial’s justice-oriented history, this Centre of Excellence will prioritize zero-emissions transportation, renewable energy, and Industry 4.0-aligned programming, helping address climate imperatives and skills gaps across Ontario and beyond.

This is a high-impact role for a forward-thinking academic executive who thrives in complex environments, inspires high-performing teams, and leads with emotional intelligence, operational acumen, and an unwavering commitment to student and community success.

In service of the College’s Strategic Plan 2030, the incumbent contributes to Centennial’s strategic intention to strengthen, evolve, and thrive; to shape the future of resilient, digitally integrated, and clean industrial systems by embedding sustainability, automation, quantum computing, and human-AI collaboration into Canada’s mobility and infrastructure sectors:

Strengthen: New revenue generation through diversification of modalities, delivery models, credentials; AI-driven applied R&D; and skilled trades training.
Evolve: Innovation in sustainable mobility, cybersecurity, automation, and AI to adapt to changing technological landscapes.
Thrive: Graduate future-ready students who contribute meaningfully to national and global infrastructure solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Provide academic leadership across all schools within the Faculty, ensuring excellence in teaching, applied research, and community engagement.
Champion academic innovation and program development that reflects labour market trends, emerging technologies, and Centennial’s commitments to equity, Indigenization, and global citizenship.
Lead curriculum renewal efforts to ensure responsiveness to industry needs in engineering technology, transportation, trades, and applied sciences, with particular emphasis on clean energy, sustainability, and ethical innovation.
Advance applied research initiatives and position the Faculty as a hub for innovation, thought leadership, and knowledge mobilization, including expanded efforts in climate solutions and SDG-aligned research.
Build strong partnerships with industry, all levels of government, and post-secondary institutions to enhance experiential learning, program relevance, public policy, and funding opportunities.
Oversee faculty hiring, development, and performance planning, while managing complex budgets and workload distribution.
Lead strategic enrolment management efforts to improve student recruitment, retention, and graduate outcomes—particularly in STEM and skilled trades programs, with a focus on equity of opportunities and outcomes for underrepresented populations such as women, students with disabilities, Black and queer students, and newcomers to Canada.
Ensure governance, policy compliance, and alignment with provincial and national accreditation, regulatory, and quality assurance frameworks.
Model human and relational change leadership to support the successful integration of schools and inspire a culture of collegial excellence, building a future-ready and values-driven academic community.

Candidate Profile

You are an innovative and values-driven leader with a demonstrated ability to lead academic transformation in large, complex environments. You bring both academic credibility and industry insight, with a passion for applied learning, inclusive leadership, and sector-responsive programming.

Ideally, you have direct experience or a strong understanding of the transportation, engineering, and skilled trades sectors—enabling you to provide informed leadership and advocate for programs that align with evolving technologies, industry standards, and workforce needs.

A skilled relationship-builder, you inspire trust across diverse stakeholder groups, including faculty, students, industry and government partners, donors, and Indigenous and equity-deserving communities. You are motivated by a deep commitment to sustainability, climate action, equity, and education as a tool for building a more just and resilient society.

Qualifications

A Master’s degree in a discipline relevant to Applied Sciences, Engineering Technology, Transportation, Skilled Trades, or Post-Secondary Education (a PhD is preferred).
Minimum of 13 years of progressive experience in post-secondary education and/or industry, including senior academic administrative leadership roles.
Proven success in strategic planning, academic operations, and program development in a technical or applied field.
Experience leading curriculum design and renewal aligned to industry needs and regulatory standards.
Demonstrated expertise in applied research, innovation, and building Centres of Excellence.
Track record of building strategic partnerships with industry and government to expand program and research impact, including infrastructure and capital investment initiatives in emerging technology and clean energy.
Strong financial acumen and experience managing complex budgets, staffing, and resource planning.
Proven experience in supporting student success through retention and engagement strategies, particularly in STEM and trades education.
Commitment to and demonstrated success in advancing Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility.
Familiarity with provincial and national accreditation bodies, regulatory frameworks, and post-secondary quality assurance processes relevant to Ontario and Canadian post-secondary systems.
Experience using data and analytics to guide decision-making and evaluate performance.
Demonstrated leadership in sustainability, SDG implementation, and equity-focused innovation in collegiate technical education.

Preferred:

Doctorate in a related discipline.
Experience leading through institutional transformation or academic restructuring.
Knowledge of Strategic Enrolment Management principles and experience achieving student success, retention and satisfaction metrics.

How to Apply

To explore this opportunity in confidence, please apply with your cover letter and resume via: https://rb.gy/sd4y6e

Centennial College is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and encourages applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds, including women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

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