Dean for the School of Chemical Engineering Aalto University

The School of Chemical Engineering is a hub of excellence renowned for its impactful research and innovative education in sustainable technology. With state-of-the-art facilities and strong industry partnerships, we are committed to addressing global challenges and inspiring future leaders. The research at our school is focused on areas such as functional materials, metallurgical processes, biomass refining, industrial biotechnology, and advanced bio-based materials. We have approximately 1800 students in total, and grant around 190 master’s and 35 doctoral degrees annually. Our personnel consist of 540 people with 44 professors. We operate and develop several high-level facilities supporting our experimental research.

Join us as our Dean for the School Chemical Engineering to drive excellence at Aalto University for academic and societal impact.

As our Dean, you will help shape the school’s future by leading its academic and operational development with care and purpose. Your leadership will foster international recognition, broaden our impact, and empower our community to pursue its ambitions and deepen our impact through international collaboration and excellence.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide people-oriented leadership to our faculty, experts and school service staff, fostering excellence in research and education.

• Co-develop and implement a strategic vision together with school staff, ensuring well-articulated goals and fostering a culture of collaboration.

• Drive fundraising initiatives and build strategic relationships with key stakeholders nationally and globally.

• Oversee strategic and operational planning, including budget management.

• Champion student-centric approaches to enhance engagement, academic success, and well-being for students and faculty.

• Undertake responsibilities as assigned by the Aalto University Board and President, adhering to the school’s bylaws.

• Collaborate with university leaders to drive Aalto University's academic objectives.

Qualifications and Expertise Required:

• Doctoral degree with an academic track record in a relevant field.

• Extensive leadership experience in academia and/or research institution/organization, ideally as a dean or in a comparable position in executive level.

• A commitment to advancing Aalto's unique interdisciplinary profile in technology, art, design, and business together with the school staff.

• Demonstrated ability to nurture national and international networks and strengthen stakeholder collaboration to boost school’s profile and visibility · Proficiency in English, commitment to learn the basic communication in Finnish and/or Swedish is expected.

Approach and Expected Commitment to School Values:

• Ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion, and fostering an empowering academic environment for all.

• Leading the co-development of strategic vision and aligning the community around shared goals.

• Actively cultivating and nurturing an environment that encourages collaboration across disciplines.

This role is a fixed-term appointment for 5 years, with the possibility of renewing for a second term. You will report to the provost, leading the school toward achieving a prestigious academic standing in its fields.

Want to join us in shaping a sustainable future?

Please send your CV (max. 3 pages) and a motivation letter (max. 2 pages) as separate attachments (pdf-format), in English. In your motivation letter, please include a) what motivates you to excel in this position, b) your vision for the School of Chemical Engineering, and c) brief reflection on how you aim to address the “Approach and Expectations” described in the above job description.

Applications are to be submitted through the link "Apply now!" no later than February 16th, 2026.

Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions). If you are a student or visitor at Aalto University, please apply with your personal email address (not aalto.fi) via Aalto University open positions

We work in a hybrid model, with the primary workplace located at the Otaniemi Campus in Espoo, Finland. Life on the revitalized campus is vibrant, featuring stunning architecture, tranquil nature, and a variety of cafes, restaurants, and services, all complemented by excellent public transportation connections. Finland is a great and safe environment, offering many excellent state-subsidized services, including affordable daycare and free primary and secondary education, which are consistently ranked among the best in the world. For more information about living in Finland: Why Finland? | Aalto University

Recruitment committee Chair, Professor Jouni Paltakari (jouni.paltakari@aalto.fi) and Committee Secretary Anu Suomäki (anu.suomaki@aalto.fi) are happy to answer any questions you might have. We aim to have a transparent and equal recruitment process, so feel free to ask us for feedback.

Want to know more about us and your future colleagues? You can watch these videos:

This is Aalto University!

Aaltonian stories:

Living and working in Finland:

Tamara Galkina – School of Business

Adam Tickle – Communications Services

Designing in Finland:

Tomek Rygalik – School of Arts

Raising a family in Finland:

Yu Xiao – School of Electrical Engineering

Read more about working at Aalto: Careers at Aalto | Aalto University

Check out our new virtual campus experience: Aalto University – virtual campus tour

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About Aalto University

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 120 nationalities, 15 000 students, 500 professors and 5000 faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

At Aalto, high-quality research, art, education and entrepreneurship are promoted hand in hand. Disciplinary excellence is combined with multidisciplinary activities, engaging both students and the local innovation ecosystem. Our campus is quickly transforming into an open collaboration hub that encourages encounters between students, researchers, industry, startups and other partners. Aalto University was founded in 2010 as three leading Finnish universities, Helsinki University of Technology, the Helsinki School of Economics and the University of Art and Design Helsinki, were merged to strengthen Finland’s innovative capability.

More about Aalto University:

Aalto.fi
youtube.com/user/aaltouniversity
linkedin.com/school/aalto-university/
www.facebook.com/aaltouniversity
instagram.com/aaltouniversity

To view information about Workday Accessibility, please click here.

Please see more of our Open Positions here.