Director and Professor, School of Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences

The State University Agricultural Center and College of Agriculture invite applications for Director of the School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences. The nationally and internationally recognized School seeks a dynamic leader with a clear vision for the future and a gift for innovation. The School Director will lead a diverse group of talented, multidisciplinary faculty and staff in fulfilling the research, teaching, and extension missions of a Research I, land-grant university. The School Director has a 12- month appointment with joint responsibilities with the Agricultural Center and the College of Agriculture.

The Directors primary duty is to provide leadership for developing excellence in research, extension, and teaching in the School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences. The School Director also provides leadership in: (1) developing short- and long-term goals and strategic plans for the School; (2) recruiting and facilitating the professional development of faculty, staff, and students; (3) developing courses and curricula; (4) managing the Schools human, physical, and financial resources; (5) encouraging faculty to seek extramural funding; (6) administering state, regional, national, and international programs of the School; (7) establishing working relationships with unit heads at regional research and extension centers and other academic units to support research, extension, and teaching programs; (8) evaluating the performance of the faculty and staff; and (9) promoting individual and unit excellence. The Director represents the Schools interests to the research, extension, and teaching administrators of Agricultural Center and State University and College, governmental agencies, commodity groups, state, national and international groups involved in plant, environmental, and soil sciences, the rural and urban communities, and the public.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

The successful candidate must have a doctoral degree in agronomy, horticulture, or other closely related fields of crop science. A record of scholarly achievement in research, teaching, or extension is required. Excellence in verbal and written communication; demonstrated ability to communicate with scientific colleagues, clientele, and the public is needed. Applicants must qualify for the rank of full professor with tenure in the School and possess a demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity. Land-grant university experience is preferred. The candidate should have demonstrated knowledge of national, state, and commodity board funding environments. The person must be skilled in managing diverse faculty, working with branch research stations, and communicating with stakeholders, alumni, and students. Preferred qualifications include experience in leading research or extension teams and expertise in working collaboratively with stakeholders.