Director, School of Design (Associate or Full Professor)

The Faculty of Environmental Design of the Université de Montréal, founded in 1968, is home to three schools: the School of Architecture, the School of Design, and the School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture. Its mission is to advance knowledge and train high-calibre talent capable of transforming environmental design practices through research and innovation. The Faculty comprises some 20 research units and 23 educational programs, all dedicated to the study of human-environment interactions and the designing of built and natural spaces.

The School of Design at the Université de Montréal is a vibrant environment for creation, research, and experimentation, bringing together industrial design, interior design, game design, and design research. As part of the Faculty of Environmental Design, it benefits from a unique interdisciplinary environment in dialogue with architecture, urban planning, and landscape architecture.

Its community of 16 professors, more than 60 lecturers, and approximately 450 students contributes to an innovative, collaborative, and deeply human-centred design culture. Faculty members also supervise graduate research at the master’s and doctoral levels. The School trains designers capable of imagining responsible, creative, and meaningful objects, spaces, and experiences for society.

Day-to-day responsibilities
As Director, you will provide leadership in defining the School’s priorities and projects. You will play a central role in its overall management and development, ensuring that decisions align with the University’s strategic vision, policies, regulations, and collective agreements. In this role, you will:

• Provide inspiring and inclusive leadership in the transformation and development of the School;
• Establish the School’s vision, priorities, and directions for teaching, research, and knowledge mobilization, in alignment with the Faculty’s strategic plan;
• Oversee the School’s governance, including chairing departmental assembly meetings and coordinating activities with the Faculty’s other schools;
• Foster a harmonious workplace and a stimulating teaching and research environment for faculty, staff, and students;
• Develop national and international collaborations, as well as relationships with alumni, partners, donors, and student representatives;
• Oversee the development, quality, and evolution of academic programs, including pedagogical innovation and continuous improvement;
• Oversee the recruitment of teaching staff, the assignment of professorial duties, and support for professors’ career development;
• Develop and implement the School’s development plans and manage its budget;
• Manage and develop the School’s philanthropic fund, ensuring its long-term sustainability while supporting research and the next generation of scholars and designers.

The initial term as Director is four years, with the possibility of renewal.

As a professor, you will contribute to the Faculty’s pursuit of excellence through undergraduate and graduate teaching and research. You will also enhance the visibility of your discipline and actively participate in the life of a renowned institution. In this role, you will:

• Teach at all three levels (bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral) and supervise graduate students, contributing to their academic and research training;
• Pursue innovative and competitive research, publish in international journals, and secure funding from major research funding agencies;
• Advance the visibility and impact of the discipline through conferences, scholarly publications, and the organization of major academic events;
• Contribute actively to the School’s operations through participation in committees and working groups, thereby strengthening institutional life.

Qualifications

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in industrial design, interior design, or a related design discipline;
• Hold a doctoral degree in a field considered relevant to the design disciplines;
• Have demonstrated university-level research and teaching experience in a design discipline;
• Possess high-level expertise in industrial design or interior design, excellent knowledge of professional practice, and leadership, communication, and management skills;
• Demonstrate a collegial approach, an ability to build consensus and bring people together around shared projects, and the ability to work collaboratively and in teams with all members of the university community in an interdisciplinary context;
• Have substantial research experience, demonstrated through scholarly articles, presentations, creative or professional achievements, and other contributions;
• Demonstrate the ability to provide high-quality university teaching and student supervision;
• Have adequate proficiency in French.

Additional information about the position

• Competitive salary and a comprehensive range of benefits;
• Expected start date: June 1^st, 2027;
• Located at the Montréal Campus

Link to submit your application: https://www.umontreal.ca/public/www/documents/offres_emploi_profs/AME_10-26_03_AME_Dir_prof_ENG.pdf 

https://www.umontreal.ca/carrieres/professeurs/

How to submit your application
Applications must be submitted by the posting deadline of December 30, 2026, and include the following documents:

• A cover letter;
• A curriculum vitae;
• Copies of, or links to, three recent publications or research papers;
• A statement outlining your teaching and mentoring experience and approach (maximum one page);
• A research program statement (maximum two pages);
• A statement (maximum 800 words) setting out your vision for the development of the School and the role you intend to play;
• Contact details for three referees who will be approached for letters of recommendation;
• The complete application must be combined into a single PDF document.

Contact information

Imen Ben Youssef, Director of the School of Design
Faculty of Environmental Design
[email protected]

We encourage you to complete the self-identification questionnaire. More information is available in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion section at the end of this document.

As per UdeM’s appointment procedures, members of the Assembly of Professors may consult all submitted application files. If you wish your application to remain confidential until the shortlist is established, please mention it in your application.

HEALTH AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS

• Medical, paramedical, dental and travel insurance
• Employee and Family Assistance Program along with an Institutional Health and Wellness Program
• Defined benefit pension plan with indexed pension payments upon retirement (rrum.umontreal.ca)
• Life insurance and disability income insurance

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

• Up to two years of parental leave
• Reduced workload upon return from parental leave, until the child turns two
• Two on-campus childcare centres
• Summer camps and spring break camps at UdeM’s Sports and Fitness Centre
• Compassionate leave

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Research and study leave
• Research start-up funding
• French language training program
• University-level teaching skills development activities
• Professional development and sabbatical leave allowance program
• Tuition waiver program for you, your spouse, and dependent children

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Université de Montréal places the values of diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of all its missions. Through its Equal Access to Employment Program, Université de Montréal invites women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities to self-identify and apply. During the recruitment process, our selection tools will – confidentially - be adapted to meet the needs of individuals with limitations who request accommodation.

UdeM embraces a broad and inclusive definition of diversity that goes beyond applicable laws and encourages all qualified individuals to apply, regardless of their characteristics. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Completing the self-identification questionnaire is a voluntary process aimed at supporting a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment.

The personal information you provide through the questionnaire is valuable - it helps us improve our practices and comply with applicable legislation.

All personal information is confidential. You can rest assured that it will be collected and used in accordance with federal and provincial laws, will never be disclosed without your consent, and will not affect your hiring or career progression at Université de Montréal.