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POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Position Title:  Department Head & Professor of Plants, Soils and Climate

 

The Department of Plants, Soils and Climate (PSC) in the College of Agriculture at Utah State University invites nominations and applications for the position of Department Head. This is a full time, tenure track position.  The PSC Department is one of the most diverse departments at Utah State University, with a broad mission of linking the flow of matter and energy through the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum and the associated impacts on agriculture and the environment.  The department currently includes 34 faculty and 24 professional and classified employees. Faculty members have assignments in teaching, research, and/or extension.

 

Undergraduate students, 158 in 2006, graduate with a BS degree in horticulture, crop science, or environmental soil/water science. A BS in horticulture can be earned through an off-campus program, available for students residing in the Salt Lake City extended metropolitan area. The department also offers a one-year certificate and an associate of applied science degree in horticulture. Graduate students, 26 in 2006, earn MS or PhD degrees in plant science, soil science, biometeorology, or ecology.

 

The department's research programs are robust expending approximately $10 million from external funding sources in 2006. The department provides Extension services for a large number of commodity groups and producers, stakeholders, and other clientele both on and off campus. Areas of emphasis in research and Extension include, but are not limited to: agronomic and horticultural crops; drought and climate; landscape horticulture; soils; and weeds. The department hosts several programs that support its missions in teaching, research and extension including the Utah Climate Center, the Utah Botanical Center, the Western Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education Center, the USU Analytical Laboratory, the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping, and the Utah Crop Improvement Association.

 

 

Responsibilities:

 

The successful applicant for this position will be responsible for balancing leadership of the department's teaching, research, and extension programs. The Department Head must have a comprehensive understanding of all facets of the Land-Grant mission and the ability to articulate and promote scholarly excellence in all three areas, both for individual faculty and for the department as a whole.   Furthermore, he or she will be responsible for facilitating communication and participatory decision-making processes within the department to enhance the strategic vision and encourage excellence in the department's programs. The head must be able to effectively work with department faculty, committees, and staff while promoting a positive collegial climate within the department.  The Department head has administrative responsibility for the department's organizational performance. The Department Head is responsible for fiscal planning and oversight of the department's budgets and resources; management of procedures relating to human resources including recruitment, career development, and performance evaluations; and retention of faculty and staff.  He or she will also be responsible for advocating for the department within and outside the University. The Department Head is expected to establish effective liaisons with other departments, college and university administration, government agencies, industry and alumni. The ultimate goals are to increase the public and professional recognition for the department, and to garner resources (competitive, non-competitive and gifted) that strengthen and broaden the department's mission. 

 

 

Minimum Qualifications:

 

  • PhD or equivalent terminal degree in an academic discipline relevant to the department
  • A strong record of professional and scholarly achievement eligible for the rank of tenured full professor in the department

 

 

Preferred Qualifications:

 

  • Capacity to provide visionary leadership to support and promote excellence in teaching, research, and extension.
  • Understanding and appreciating the interdisciplinary nature of the department.
  • Appreciation for diverse undergraduate and graduate teaching and the synergy of basic research, applied research, and extension efforts.
  • Proficiency or aptitude for program administration and evaluation, curriculum improvement, and collaboration with stakeholders.
  • Fiscal management.
  • Experience in development of support and resources (scholarships, endowments, gifts, fellowships, and endowed chairs).
  • Organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Previous administrative experience or participation in formal leadership training programs.
  • Ability to create and enhance relationships with other programs and units.
  • Ability to articulate and advocate the vision and goals of the department to a broad range of audiences.
  • Commitment to enhancing diversity and community within the department. 

 

 

To apply, click the link below and Search by Position Title: Department Head and Professor of Plants, Soils and Climate.

 

 

 

 

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