Dean, College of Biological Sciences

University of California, Davis
Dean, College of Biological Sciences

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) seeks a dynamic, effective, and forward-thinking leader to serve as its next Dean of the College of Biological Sciences. The Dean must be prepared to lead the College through a time of transition in higher education and opportunity for innovation and creativity.

Established in 1908 as a university farm, UC Davis has continually branched out, challenged the way things are done, and gained recognition for solving complex problems related to health, environment, culture and society. UC Davis is among the most comprehensive campuses in the University of California system, with four colleges and six professional schools that offer over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 100 graduate and professional degrees. UC Davis enrolls about 40,000 annually, including international students from more than 110 countries. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the University exceeded $1 billion in research funding for the third consecutive year, cementing its reputation as a tier one research university. The university also contributes over $13.2 billion to the California economy each year.

In addition to the main campus in Davis, CA, the University has research centers including the Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Bodega Marine Laboratory, and MBA programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. The UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento is a multispecialty academic medical center and serves over 33 counties from California to Oregon and Nevada. In addition to a top cancer center, a pediatric trauma center, and the MIND Institute, UC Davis Health also includes the School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and the Medical Group.

About the College of Biological Sciences

The UC Davis College of Biological Sciences (CBS) is a national leader in foundational and applied life sciences research, education, and workforce preparation. Spanning five departments, three research centers, and eight interdisciplinary graduate groups, the college advances discovery from molecules to ecosystems and translates basic science into innovations that strengthen health, agriculture, and environmental resilience. The College's operating budget is approximately $85 million and current annual research expenditures exceed $150 million.

Home to 125 active faculty, 175+ career staff, 6,700 undergraduates, and 475 graduate students, the College fosters a collaborative academic community grounded in immersive experiential learning and success of students and trainees. Supported by seven research core facilities, comprehensive advising, strong research funding, and growing philanthropic investment, the College is consistently ranked among the top programs in the nation and world. These strengths—together with a global alumni network of more than 48,000—position the College of Biological Sciences as a cornerstone of UC Davis's mission and a catalyst for life-changing scientific breakthroughs. For more information about the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences, please visit .

Role of the Dean of the College of Biological Sciences

The College of Biological Sciences is dedicated to offering innovative undergraduate and graduate programs, cultivating future leaders through excellent graduate and postdoctoral training, and fostering an expansive research environment that advances discovery and expands the frontiers of knowledge in nearly all sectors of the biological sciences. To advance this mission, the Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the College, with responsibility for the academic leadership and the supervision of its resources, including faculty and staff, physical facilities, and budget.

In leading the College, the Dean will provide leadership through the department chairs, faculty, staff and college committees to develop and improve the high-quality programs of instruction, research, and public service. To this end, the Dean must also be prepared to partner with and garner support from faculty members to be successful in the shared governance model that exists at UC Davis. The Dean will be responsible for making academic personnel decisions delegated to the College including hiring faculty, and making recommendations on actions under the authority of the Provost or Chancellor.

The Dean participates in campuswide policy development through membership on the Council of Deans, the Provost's Leadership Council, and on other campus committees, work groups, and task forces. The Dean oversees all operations including student recruitment student services, the operation of the College's central administrative and technology functions, and external relations. The Dean also oversees cutting-edge research and educational programs that address scientific challenges in California, the nation, and the world.

The Dean is charged with overseeing the development and implementation of innovative programs and strategies to enhance student success and improve learning outcomes in collaboration with the faculty and campus partners. The Dean will play a key role in representing the College to the campus and university administration, as well as external stakeholders including alumni, media, constituent groups, and the public. Moreover, the Dean must be prepared to serve at the forefront of the College's efforts to sustain and seek additional resources from revenue-generating programs and fundraising. This includes coordination with the college development staff on fund-raising and development activities.
The College supports 11 undergraduate majors and eight graduate programs with enrollment of more than 400 graduate students.

For a full position profile including a list of qualifications and personal qualities and characteristics sought in the next Dean, please visit .

Compensation Range

The University of California, Davis is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The Dean of the College of Biological Sciences at UC Davis lies within UC Dean's Salary Band 2, for which the annual salary range is $239,600 to $611,100. The budgeted annual salary that UC Davis reasonably expects to pay for this position is $400,000 to $450,000.

Applications, Inquiries, and Nominations

The Recruitment Advisory Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Applicants must submit a current resume and/or curriculum vitae and a letter of interest. Submission of materials via e-mail is strongly encouraged. Nomination letters should include the name and contact information of the nominee. All nominations and applications will be handled in confidence. Applications and letters of nomination should be submitted by email to:

Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner
Sal Venegas Jr., Partner
Email: [email protected]
Refer to code "UCD-DeanCBS" in the subject line

SP&A Executive Search
6512 Painter Avenue
Whittier, CA 90601

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

To apply, visit:

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