Center Director - Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension : Job Details

Job Title

Center Director - Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Research Director Management

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Corpus Christi, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

Position Announcement

Center Director - Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi

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 Corpus Christi Center. This person will administer and coordinate all aspects of the Center and participate in active research through collaboration. This is a 12-month appointment and will be linked as Graduate Faculty affiliation with a department in Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences that best fits the candidate's background and interests.

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 to enhance overall faculty research productivity. 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/international research entities, civic and business leaders, and advisory and commodity groups.

Responsibilities

* In collaboration with research faculty at the Corpus Christi Center, facilitate development of a vision for the continued role of the Center and AgriLife Research in the dynamic environment of agriculture, food, and water science in the Corpus Christi area, throughout Texas, the nation, and globally.

* Foster intellectual, philosophical, and strategic leadership with 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, feed, fiber, and value-added processing industries.

* Facilitate the development of 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 and fiscal resources and build a strong and growing portfolio of extramural funding to enhance the Center's research capacity and reputation.

* Represent the Center to state and federal agencies, private organizations, partners, collaborators, key industry groups such as cotton, sorghum, cattle, and aquaculture commodity 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, center directors with AgriLife Research across the state, 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 interdisciplinary agricultural sciences, with an excellent research background, as demonstrated by highly cited multi-authored peer reviewed publications, a strong history of grant funding, honors and awards, and academic stature appropriate for a full-time faculty appointment at the rank of Professor.

* Expertise in highly quantitative aspect of research that focuses on integration across disciplines.

* Demonstrated history of working effectively in applied, basic, and integrated sciences.

* 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.

Corpus Christi Research and Extension Center

The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi was formally dedicated in May 1974. The Center includes satellite stations located at Beeville and Flour Bluff. Research and Extension faculty and staff located at the Center research problems facing South Texas including agricultural economics, animal science, crop physiology, digital agriculture, entomology, family and consumer health, forage agronomy, aquaculture, rangeland management, crop sciences, and youth development.

Location

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 10345 State Hwy. 44, Corpus Christi, TX 78406.

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: and for the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi:

Closing Date for Applications

Review of applications will begin on or about April 1, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. Date position is available: June 30, 2024.

Application Instructions

An application should contain:

* A cover letter;

* A statement of research for the position (2-page limit);

* A statement of extension for the position (2-page limit);

* A statement of administrative vision for the position (2-page limit);

* A current resume or curriculum vitae; and

* Contact information for three references.

Questions

Address inquiries to Search Advisory Committee Chair:

Lloyd T. (Ted) Wilson, Ph.D.

Professor & Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research - Beaumont

Email: [email protected]

Work: 409-###-####

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.