Center Director – Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Permanent
- Full-time
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.