Center Director – Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Stephenville

Job Description

Position Announcement

Center Director – Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Stephenville

Position Description

Texas A&M AgriLife Research seeks a full-time, research-active, and dynamic individual with a proven record of research excellence to serve as Center Director at the agency’s Stephenville Center. This person will be responsible for administering and coordinating all aspects of the Center as well as participating in active research through collaboration, where appropriate, to enhance overall faculty research productivity at the Center. This is a 12-month appointment and will be linked with a departmental affiliation within Texas A&M University that best fits the candidate’s background and interest.

The Center Director is expected to provide visionary leadership, recognize and respond to dynamic research and public service needs regionally and statewide, and catalyze the design and implementation of innovative research projects. The Center Director is also responsible for fostering productive partnerships and relationships with relevant organizations; recruiting and retaining highly qualified faculty and staff; promoting professional development among faculty and staff; facilitating the acquisition of external resources; and providing fair, sound, and transparent management of human, physical, and fiscal assets. Central to the success of this position is the ability to foster interdisciplinary research and collaborate on the subject matter with department heads, university administration, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, local/state/national government entities, civic and business leaders, and advisory and commodity groups.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with research faculty at the Stephenville Center, develop a vision for the continued role of the Center and AgriLife Research in the dynamic environment of agriculture, food, and water science in the north-central region of Texas, throughout Texas, and across the nation.

Provide intellectual, philosophical, and strategic leadership to Center faculty and scientists, staff, and students to enhance research, extension, and teaching missions.

Develop strategic responses to agriculture-related challenges and opportunities, particularly in meeting the needs of the region’s food, fiber, and value-added processing industries.

Develop and/or lead research teams to respond to internal and external research grant opportunities with the involvement of research faculty from AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension, as well as other research partners.

Manage human, physical and fiscal resources, and build a strong and growing portfolio of extramural funding to enhance the Center’s research capacity and reputation.

Support ongoing collaborative research and foster synergistic new initiatives between Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Texas A&M University System regional universities such as Tarleton, TAMU-Kingsville, and TAMU San Antonio.

Represent the Center to state and federal agencies, private organizations, partners, collaborators, key industry groups, and international organizations.

Provide leadership for the coordination of efforts between research, teaching, and extension faculty to create an effective and synergistic working relationship.

Coordinate with the administration of AgriLife Research to plan initiatives, convey research and extension information, and pursue fundraising opportunities that will benefit the Center far into the future.

Communicate effectively with AgriLife Research administration, department heads in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, AgriLife Extension leadership, and other Texas A&M University System components.

Develop collaborative and administrative leadership between Center Director and District Extension Administrator for Research and Extension programs and operations for the Center.

Administrative Relationship

This position reports to the Director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

Required Education/Experience

An earned Ph.D. in an agricultural or closely associated discipline

A well-recognized leader in agricultural sciences, with an excellent research background in a relevant field, as demonstrated by publications in refereed journals, grant funding, honors and awards, and academic stature appropriate for a full-time faculty appointment at the rank of Professor

Demonstrated ability to engage with stakeholder groups, identify critical challenges, and conduct solutions-oriented research to address them

Demonstrated success in building, supporting, and leading interdisciplinary teams

Experience in managing human and fiscal resources

Preferred Education/Experience

At least 10 years of experience conducting competitively funded research

Knowledge of the land grant university system and a track record of using research and extension to solve problems and convey practical solutions to stakeholders

Demonstrated experience navigating conflicting interests to achieve accepted practices among groups (e. g., stakeholders, trade associations, commodity groups, state and/or federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Demonstrates excellent writing and speaking skills in English

Able to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, administration, and stakeholders

Able to manage interdisciplinary teams effectively

Able to inspire Center employees, manage teams, and invest in the individual success of staff members

Demonstrates a clear commitment to the mission of a land-grant university system

Skilled in strategic planning and development to advance the goals of the Center

Able to coordinate with broad-based partners and stakeholders to address current and emerging agricultural, food, and water challenges statewide, nationally, and internationally

Location

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Stephenville, N. US Hwy , Stephenville, TX

Stephenville Research and Extension Center

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Stephenville: The Stephenville Center is located in north-central Texas. The primary agricultural and natural resource industries in this area are dairy, cattle, hay, peanut, pecan, viticulture, biofuel, and equine. The Stephenville Center houses 5 Research and 6 Extension faculty. Facilities include greenhouses, laboratory and office space, classroom, and conference rooms. The Center has approximately acres of irrigated cropland with several irrigation systems including 2 center pivots, 5 irrigation wells and an additional acres capable of accommodating rain fed crops, animal and range and pasture research. The Stephenville Center recently began operation and management of the Slaughter-Harris Ranch a ac property with 3 domestic wells for livestock production research and Brazos River water rights available for irrigation; plans are to utilize this facility for carbon and greenhouse gas mitigation initiatives. Stephenville, Texas is home to Tarleton State University, which is a member of the Texas A&M University System and will provide unique opportunities for cooperative research and access to students. Tarleton and The Stephenville Center operate the Southwest Regional Dairy Center. The SWRDC houses - lactating dairy cows in free-stall barns and cows are owned by a private producer. For more information regarding the current research activities at the Stephenville Center, please visit the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Stephenville website.

Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife, a member of the Texas A&M University System, is administered by the Vice Chancellor and Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences and includes Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Forest Service, and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

Texas A&M AgriLife Research is the leading research and technology-development agency in Texas for agriculture, natural resources, and the life sciences. Our discoveries yield economic, environmental, and health benefits that are key to our state’s success and vital to the lives of its citizens. With 13 research centers throughout the state, AgriLife Research is dedicated to research that improves the Texas economy and lives of local and statewide stakeholders through research across the whole agricultural value chain. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides programs, tools, and educational resources to improve agriculture and food and fiber production, advance human health, protect the environment and natural resources, enhance profitability, and enrich youth development.

Additional information about Texas A&M AgriLife Research is available at:

Texas A&M AgriLife Research: Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Stephenville: Date for Applications

Review of applications will begin on or about 01 April and will continue until the position is filled. Date position is available: 01 June .

Application Instructions

An application must contain:

1) A cover letter including the applicant’s vision for research, and extension, and administrative philosophy for the Center; (max 5 pages)

2) A current resume or curriculum vitae; and

3) Contact information for three references.

Failure to provide all job application information could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application.

Questions

Address inquiries to Search Advisory Committee Chair:

Beth Racine, Ph.D., RD

Professor & Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research –El Paso

Email:

Work Phone: --