Dean, Faculty of Law

The University of Manitoba invites nominations, applications, and expressions of interest for the position of Dean, Faculty of Law with the appointment to begin July 2021. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a law school dedicated to educating leaders who will serve the public good while focusing on the legal challenges facing society and the contemporary legal profession.

With a tradition of innovation since 1914, the Faculty of Law offers an exceptional legal education where approximately 300 students experience dynamic and innovative experiential and classroom learning and receive the highest training in critical and analytical thinking, advocacy, and legal research. The Faculty offers a Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Laws (LLM degree) and is home to Canada’s first interdisciplinary Master of Human Rights Program. With research chairs and institutes devoted to Human Rights, Private Enterprise and the Law, Legal Research, and International Business and Trade Law, the Faculty’s award-winning professors engage in research aimed at finding solutions to real problems faced by Canadians. As Manitoba’s only law school, the Faculty is integrally connected to members of the legal profession locally, provincially, nationally, and globally, offering students the opportunity to engage and contribute beyond the classroom. Additional information is available at https://law.robsonhall.com/

As Western Canada’s first university, the University of Manitoba has thrived as a place where challenges are embraced. As Manitoba’s only research-intensive, medical-doctoral university and member of the U15 Group of Research Universities, it is taking its place among Canada’s top research institutions through a commitment to transformative research and scholarship, and to innovative teaching and learning – uniquely strengthened by Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. The University of Manitoba offers more than 100 programs at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional levels and is home to world-class researchers who engage communities throughout the province and across the globe, building international partnerships that generate positive change.  The University of Manitoba has more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students, over 10,000 faculty and staff, and more than 145,000 alumni across Canada and 140 different countries. The University is located in Winnipeg, a city that offers a high quality of life with affordable housing, a long heritage of cultural activity, and numerous recreational opportunities. For more information, please visit the website at www.umanitoba.ca

Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the Dean is the Faculty of Law’s senior academic officer, providing strategic direction, academic planning leadership, and administrative oversight to achieve the highest possible standards in legal education and research. The Dean will successfully manage the financial and administrative resources of the Faculty of Law, promote and enhance its reputation and achievements both internally and externally, and ensure the success and development of faculty and staff. Working collaboratively to create, implement, and adapt ideas and strategies, the Dean will be a champion of student success who is focused on meeting their changing needs and inspiring them as future leaders. The Dean will work effectively, transparently, and collegially with academic, legal, alumni, and public sector partners to further enhance the reputation, stature, and resources of the Faculty. Meeting the ongoing challenges and issues posed by COVID-19 are likely to form part of the new Dean’s responsibilities.

With an understanding of current and future issues, trends, and forces that will impact legal education and practice, the Dean will be an innovative administrator, leader, and scholar with demonstrated leadership capabilities in a university setting. The successful candidate will possess the academic qualifications required to hold a tenured appointment in the Faculty of Law (including an advanced degree in law or a cognate discipline), and will have strong achievements in interdisciplinary legal research, teaching, and community engagement. The Dean will have a transparent and collegial style, outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, and will be a strong advocate of social justice and all aspects of equity, diversity, and inclusion. The successful candidate will be able to inspire students, faculty, and staff, build inclusive and collaborative teams, demonstrate financial acumen in managing the Faculty’s resources and academic priorities, and be highly engaged with a range of internal and external stakeholders and partners. Experience with fundraising and advancement will be an asset in this role.

The University of Manitoba is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from women, racialized persons, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

The Search Committee will begin consideration of candidates immediately and will continue until the position is successfully filled. Applications, including curriculum vitae, a letter of introduction and the names of three references (who will not be contacted without consent of the applicant) should be submitted electronically, in confidence, to the University's executive search consultants:

Laverne Smith & Associates Inc. 

ManitobaLaw@lavernesmith.com