Director, School of Kinesiology

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Associate or Full Professor (tenured)

Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee and Lenaape Nations, lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.

Founded in 1878, Western University is one of Canada’s leading research-intensive institutions and a proud member of the U15. Ranked among the top 1% of universities worldwide, Western is home to over 42,000 students and 1,500 full-time faculty who are united by a passion for academic excellence, innovation, and global impact. Western delivers an academic experience second to none, challenging the best and brightest to meet the highest international standards while fostering discovery that drives real-world change. The Western Experience combines rigorous scholarship with lifelong opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth, cultivating a vibrant, diverse community dedicated to improving the world through education, research, and engagement.

The School of Kinesiology, within Western’s Faculty of Health Sciences, is recognized for excellence in human performance and movement sciences, including cutting-edge work in mobility, neuromechanics, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, and the societal impact of exercise and physical activity. As one of Canada’s most comprehensive centres of excellence in human movement and health, the School integrates scientific, professional, and socio-cultural approaches through outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs, world-class research, and experiential learning. Faculty are supported by state-of-the-art facilities and deep collaborations across health, exercise, and community sectors.

Reporting to the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Director will provide strategic and academic leadership that advances the School’s research excellence, teaching innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Director will cultivate a collegial, inclusive, and high-performing culture, inspire research productivity and innovation, and strengthen partnerships with professional bodies, health organizations, and external stakeholders. A key focus will be supporting program and curriculum evolution and fostering an environment where faculty, students, and staff thrive. The Director will also steward resources effectively, guide change with clarity and integrity, and elevate the School’s contributions to Western’s broader academic mission.

The successful candidate will hold a doctoral degree in Kinesiology or a related discipline and will bring a strong record of research, teaching, and service commensurate with appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with tenure. As the ideal candidate, you are a visionary academic leader with demonstrated capacity to facilitate research excellence, support diverse and collaborative teams, and mobilize people around a shared strategic direction. You bring experience working constructively with external partners and professional bodies, and you understand the interdisciplinary breadth of Kinesiology across human performance, health, exercise, and society. Passionate about education and inquiry, you are skilled at managing change, fostering inclusive excellence, and building partnerships that extend the School’s impact across academic, health, exercise, and community landscapes.

Western, like many postsecondary institutions in Canada, is moving beyond sole reliance upon Indigenous self-identification in its hiring processes. This is to safeguard against the use of incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in circumstances in which a candidate has made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership. Candidates who are invited for an interview or who are short-listed, and who have made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership for material advantage at Western, including where required or preferred for the position, will be asked to have their declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership affirmed through a relational accountability process, led by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), that is consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Please contact the OII directly for details on the affirmation processes: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/. The policy can be viewed at: POLICY 1.58 – Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership at Western University.

If you are interested in this opportunity to shape to lead a world-class School of Kinesiology, please submit your application online at: boyden.thriveapp.ly/job/3132. For more information, please contact Kathy Rahme (krahme@boyden.com) and Mike Young (myoung@boyden.com) at Boyden Executive Search. Salary and rank (Associate or Full Professor with tenure) will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Start date of July 1, 2026, or as negotiated.

Western University is committed to employment equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace. Applications are encouraged from women, members of racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or expression.

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are selected for an interview and require accommodation, please contact Mike Young (myoung@boyden.com).

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