Chair in Leader Character

The successful applicant will play an integral role in advancing research, education, and practice in leader character, virtues, purpose-driven leadership, responsible leadership, values-based leadership, stewardship, and closely related domains of leadership. In collaboration with the Institute's executive director, the Chair will strengthen and expand the Institute’s connections with leaders across the business, government, and not-for-profit sectors; apply the principles of leader character in new contexts; and foster opportunities for collaboration across Canada and around the world.

The Chair in Leader Character designation will carry an initial five-year term, with the possibility of renewal.

Academic Expectations

The successful candidate will sustain an active, internationally recognized research program in leadership and leader character and will bring leading-edge research into the classroom at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Teaching responsibilities will be in the areas of organizational behaviour and/or leadership. Beyond research and teaching, the Chair will engage industry and practitioners in leadership research; build and steward partnerships with universities, corporations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and government bodies across disciplinary, geographic, and cultural boundaries, in support of the Institute’s mission.

Qualifications or Experience Required

Research

Applicants must possess a PhD in Organizational Behaviour, I/O Psychology, or Leadership, and be an internationally recognized scholar in leader character and related fields as demonstrated by publications in quality academic journals, an active and continuing research program, external research funding such as Tri-Council grants or equivalents, scholarly awards, and invited presentations at seminars and major conferences. The successful candidate will have a track record of engaging industry and practitioners in leadership research.

Teaching

The successful applicant will have a record of teaching organizational behaviour and/or leadership, a track record of bringing leading-edge research into teaching, and evidence of strong teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels in organizational behaviour and/or leadership.

Service

The successful applicant will have a boundary-spanning mindset, with comfort operating across traditional academic silos, connecting business practice with research, bridging geographic and cultural divides, and a track record of relationship and partnership building.

Interpersonal/Communication

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, students, and administrative staff within the Ivey Business School and the broader university community. Consideration of applicants will focus on qualifications, professional experience, interpersonal skills, and the ability to contribute to teaching and leadership. The successful candidate will exhibit strong communication abilities, cultural competence, and the capacity to foster positive relationships across diverse groups.

The Ivey Business School’s mission is to develop leaders who think globally, act strategically, and address critical issues facing organizations and society, through impactful research and transformative learning experiences.

Ivey is Canada’s premier business school and is recognized globally for the quality of its research and management education. The School is internationally oriented in terms of research, curricula, faculty, and student exchanges, with campuses in London (Canada), Toronto and Hong Kong. Ivey is the world’s second largest producer of case studies.

Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership

Since the inception of the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership in September 2010, scholars have been at the center of leadership thought, inquiry, and education into what makes a better leader. Beginning with a multi-disciplinary examination of the leadership failures and successes relating to the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, the Institute has made research, teaching and outreach on leader character its distinct differentiator in the vast leadership space.

The Institute is an integral part of Ivey, and as such, is able to amplify Ivey’s mission. Through its focus on three pillars— research, teaching and outreach — the Institute contributes to the cultivation of business leaders for the 21st century through the development of leader character.

Organizational Behaviour Group Profile

The Organizational Behaviour area group comprises 13 faculty members with research strengths spanning leadership; followership; teams and team conflict; individual and group learning; candour and employee voice; judgment and decision-making; and equity, diversity and inclusion at work. Faculty draw on experiments, surveys, and qualitative methods, along with emerging methodologies such as virtual reality and agentic AI. Faculty publish in leading management, psychology, and science journals, including Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Organization Science, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Business Ethics, and Psychological Science, among others.

Western University

With annual research funding exceeding $220 million, and an international reputation for success, Western ranks as one of Canada’s top research-intensive universities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western also provides an exceptional employment experience, offering competitive salaries, a wide range of employment opportunities, and one of Canada’s most beautiful campuses.

City of London

The university campus is in London Ontario, a city with a population of approximately 400,000, located midway between Toronto and Detroit. With an extensive park system, river valleys, tree-lined streets, and bicycle paths, London is known as the “Forest City.” London has a reasonable cost-of-living and hosts an international airport, galleries, theatre, music, sporting events and excellent restaurants.

To apply

Please click here to complete the online application form.

As part of the application, candidates will be required to upload or provide:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Names and contact information of three academic referees
• Teaching dossier

Consideration of applications will begin on September 30, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

Positions are subject to budget approval. Applicants should have fluent written and oral communications skills in English. The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender 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 require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact facultypositions@ivey.ca.

Use of AI in screening:

AI is not used to screen, assess, or select applicants.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that Ivey Business School is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Attawandaron peoples, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with one Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous peoples whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors to our society.