Center Director and Professor - North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC)

University of Florida•Gadsden, FL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is seeking a Center Director and Professor for the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC). This is a 12-month, 100% FTE administrative position responsible for providing leadership and support for research, extension, and teaching programs vital to the agricultural, natural resource conservation, environmental, and consumer interests of the eastern Florida Panhandle through the Suwanee Valley and much of NE Florida. A key aspect of this role is engaging stakeholders to unify efforts and identify needs, encouraging proactive programs that address current and future community needs. The Director will oversee effective management of NFREC resources, including budgetary and personnel matters, and develop short- and long-term goals for programs, equipment, facilities, and personnel. This role also involves actively seeking private funding and endowments, encouraging faculty to pursue extramural grants, and liaising with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as UF/IFAS administration, county extension faculty, and other UF faculty and staff. The Director is expected to foster teamwork, delegate responsibilities to associate center directors, and make timely decisions. Responsibilities include evaluating faculty programs, initiating tenure and promotion actions, and actively working to fill vacant faculty positions and establish new ones with a clear vision for future development. The Director will form stakeholder advisory committees, encourage cooperative research with national and international institutions, and report to the Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, programmatically to the Deans for Academic Programs, Research, and Extension. The Director must also cultivate goodwill with support and clientele groups, local agencies, and consumers, maintaining strong ties with commodity organizations, regulatory agencies, environmental groups, and governmental agencies. Cooperation with UF/IFAS Department Chairs, other REC directors, county extension faculty, and other UF units in program development is also expected. The NFREC is one of the largest and most diverse off-campus units of UF/IFAS, with campuses in Quincy, Marianna, and Live Oak, and faculty representing nine academic units. Research and Extension programs focus on cropping systems, biofuel and medicinal crops, beef/forage production, plant breeding, specialty crops, and natural resource management. The Director's office is in Quincy, with Marianna 40 miles west and Live Oak 100 miles east. Faculty commonly use facilities at all three campuses. The NFREC fosters transdisciplinary research and has a strong international presence.

Requirements

An earned doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in a field related to agriculture or natural resources.
Experience in conducting a major research, extension and/or teaching programs.
Academic credentials that merit appointment at the rank of a tenured Professor in the appropriate academic department within IFAS.
Demonstrated strong professional leadership, communication, interpersonal and administrative skills.
Experience in obtaining legislative and financial support from commodity and industry groups.
Strong commitment to extension, research and teaching.
Supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.
Supportive of the mission of the land-grant system.
Commitment to UF core values.

Nice To Haves

Previous administrative experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and support for research, extension, and teaching programs essential to the agricultural, natural resource conservation, environmental and consumer interests of the region.
Engage stakeholders to unify efforts toward common interests and identify stakeholder needs.
Encourage development of proactive programs addressing present and future needs of surrounding agricultural, natural resource and urban communities.
Manage NFREC resources, including budgetary and personnel management.
Develop short- and long-term goals involving programs, equipment, physical plant and personnel.
Actively seek private funding and endowments to enhance the sustainability of the NFREC.
Encourage and support faculty to seek extramural grant opportunities.
Liaise with local, state, and federal agencies and interact with UF/IFAS administration, county extension faculty, other UF faculty and staff, and agricultural and environmental leaders.
Use appropriate communication and management skills to promote teamwork among faculty and staff.
Delegate responsibilities to associate center directors at the three NFREC locations as appropriate.
Make timely decisions.
Evaluate NFREC faculty programs and initiate tenure and promotion actions in consultation with department chairs.
Actively engage in filling positions after retirement on established programs.
Work strongly towards establishing new faculty positions and programs with a clear vision for future agriculture and natural resource development goals.
Form stakeholder advisory committees to assist with program recommendations and decisions and to generate support for needed facilities and equipment.
Initiate and encourage cooperative research projects with national and international institutions.
Develop and maintain goodwill for the Center among various support and clientele groups, local agencies, and consumers.
Develop and maintain strong ties with commodity organizations, regulatory agencies, environmental groups and local and statewide governmental agencies.
Cooperate with UF/IFAS Department Chairs, other UF/IFAS Research and Education Center directors, county extension faculty and other UF units in program development.