Associate Professor/Professor & Director

MSU Jobs•Starkville, MS

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Mississippi State University is seeking a 12-month, tenured faculty appointment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with split responsibilities in research (50%), and extension (50%). The faculty member in this position serves as Director of the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC). The Center Director is responsible for carrying out policies and procedures established by the SRDC Board of Directors; managing the Center's budget, activities and programs; generating and directing innovative multistate research and extension programs; promoting the Center's mission, capabilities and program with primary funding organizations, potential financial supporters and clientele; providing synergistic leadership to public and private rural development activities in the South; seeking funding and other resources to support state and multistate development activities of the participating states and institutions; and fostering more effective and better funded partnerships among the region's 1862, 1890, and 1994 land-grant institutions. The Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs) are a national network of four centers that work in partnership with the land-grant university system and the Cooperative Extension Service to strengthen economic opportunity and quality of life in rural communities across the U.S. The centers serve as hubs that connect researchers, Extension professionals, policymakers, and community leaders to translate research into practical solutions for rural challenges. The Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC), located at Mississippi State University, leads these efforts across the 13 Southern states as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Through research, data analysis, and collaborative outreach, the SRDC helps communities address a broad range of issues common to rural development. By convening partners across universities, government agencies, and local organizations, the SRDC serves a critical role in ensuring that evidence-based strategies reach the communities that need them most, making it a central catalyst for innovation and prosperity in the rural South.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, Regional Economics, Economics, Community Development, Rural Sociology, or a closely related area
Must qualify for rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure within an appropriate academic unit (i.e., Agricultural Economics, Human Sciences, etc…) of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Nice To Haves

Established record in grant writing
Knowledge of the USDA/land-grant system
Administrative experience
Established record in rural/regional development research or Extension activities
Strong interpersonal skills
Strong skills in effective oral and written communications

Responsibilities

Carrying out policies and procedures established by the SRDC Board of Directors
Managing the Center's budget, activities and programs
Generating and directing innovative multistate research and extension programs
Promoting the Center's mission, capabilities and program with primary funding organizations, potential financial supporters and clientele
Providing synergistic leadership to public and private rural development activities in the South
Seeking funding and other resources to support state and multistate development activities of the participating states and institutions
Fostering more effective and better funded partnerships among the region's 1862, 1890, and 1994 land-grant institutions
Successfully seek and acquire external funding to support the development and delivery of SRDC research and Extension programs
Supervise the Center’s staff to oversee progress on projects, support professional development, and evaluate performance
Develop Regional Programs that incorporate innovative teaching tools and decision support resources to better equip decision makers
Utilize workshops and county/state/regional presentations as well as coordinate with Extension communication specialists in the distribution of content for mass media programs where applicable
Generate significant scholarly output including articles in peer-reviewed journals, Extension and Experiment Station publications, departmental papers and popular press articles
Foster multi-state collaboration and linkages on high impact rural development issues or concerns