Dean, Faculty of Dentistry

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We acknowledge that UBC’s two main campuses are situated within the ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people, and in the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation and their peoples.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global centre for excellence in teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 10 public universities in North America. UBC’s vision is to inspire people, ideas and actions for a better world, fostering global citizenship and advancing a sustainable and just society. Since 1915, UBC has been opening doors of opportunity for people with curiosity and drive to make a difference. UBC is home to over 70,000 students, supported by a $3.8-billion annual budget and 19,000 faculty and staff across its campuses in Vancouver and the Okanagan. For more information about UBC, visit www.ubc.ca.

As the only Faculty of Dentistry in British Columbia offering two undergraduate programs (dentistry and dental hygiene), five graduate programs, and continuing education all under one roof, the UBC Faculty of Dentistry, once again considered the leading dentistry program in Canada, holds a unique and vital role in shaping the future of oral healthcare. It is committed to advancing knowledge and practice in oral and general health through progressive clinical education, innovative research and community engagement. Students gain meaningful, hands-on clinical learning experiences while serving the community’s diverse patients at its state-of-the-art Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre. The Faculty celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024, which was marked by many milestones including its innovative researchers being profiled in Impressions magazine, and through the launch of the Student Wellness Fund, enabling meaningful initiatives that support dental students as they navigate the demands of their programs. With more than 4,000 alumni spanning the globe, the Faculty’s impact is both local and international.

It is within this context that The University of British Columbia welcomes applications and nominations for the appointment of Dean, Faculty of Dentistry, commencing July 1, 2026, or soon thereafter. Upon recommendation from the President’s Advisory Committee, chaired by the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, the Dean is appointed for a five-year renewable term in accordance with the Deans Appointment Policy (Policy AP5).

Reporting to Dr Gage Averill, Provost and Vice-President, Academic UBC Vancouver, the Dean, Faculty of Dentistry provides strategic and academic leadership across the Faculty and the University. With a focus on the Faculty’s four core areas (People, Education, Research, Engagement), the Dean will advance knowledge and practice in oral and general health through progressive education, innovative research, and service-oriented community engagement. As the Faculty’s strategic plan concludes, the incoming Dean will lead the Faculty through its next period of innovation and growth, focusing on its academic excellence, the development and application of emerging technologies, exceptional student preparedness through experiential education opportunities, a strong and vibrant UBC community through partnerships, and alumni and donor engagement. As such, the Dean must be an exceptional communicator and relationship builder who fosters and supports a collaborative environment, both within the Faculty, across campus as an integral member of the Provost’s leadership team, and externally at the local, provincial, national, and global levels. As the senior officer of the Faculty, the Dean also leads the development, allocation and oversight of the Faculty’s budget, aligning resources with its strategic priorities, ensuring that the sustainable, transparent management of its resources are supporting investments in its programs, priorities and people.

Ideal candidates hold a record of serving as a strategic academic administrator within a similarly complex research-intensive university as UBC. Candidates must hold a DDS or DMD and be eligible to be appointed as a Full Professor at UBC in the Faculty of Dentistry. Candidates must also have a successful record as an educator with a commitment to excellence in teaching and pedagogy, research activities and productivity, and a compelling vision that will unite the synergies among the various programs inside the diverse Faculty. Experience with clinical services, a track record of publications, and a PhD in a relative field, are all considered strong assets. A demonstratable understanding of, and commitment to, diversity, equity, inclusion and Indigenization is required, as is experience addressing systemic inequities in the delivery of dental care. Familiarity and experience with alumni engagement, donor relations, and with fundraising and alumni development activities are required, as is the ease and ability to act in an advocacy capacity on behalf of the Faculty and University.

To learn more about this significant academic leadership position at the University of British Columbia, please submit a comprehensive C.V. along with a cover letter in confidence to Jane Griffith (jane@griffithgroup.ca) and/or Caroline McLean (caroline@griffithgroup.ca) or visit https://griffithgroup.ca/ubc-dean-dentistry

All applicants will be asked to complete a confidential diversity survey.

Salary Range and Compensation Package: In accordance with BC’s Pay Transparency Act, the position has an expected base salary range of $290,000 – $340,000. To read about UBC’s faculty members appointments, tenure, benefits and more, please visit: https://hr.ubc.ca/working-ubc/faculty-resources

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

UBC and Griffith Group are committed to an inclusive, accessible and welcoming hiring process that provides reasonable accommodation to all applicants. Please advise Centre for Workplace Accessibility (workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca) and Jane Griffith (jane@griffithgroup.ca) should you require any accommodation to participate in the recruitment and/or assessment processes.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position.

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