Center Director - West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC)

University of Florida•Santa Rosa, FL

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is seeking a Center Director for the West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC). This role is open to current permanent UF faculty only. The Center Director will provide leadership and support for teaching, research, and extension programs vital to the agricultural, horticultural, natural resource conservation, environmental, and consumer interests of the region. The position involves encouraging the development of proactive programs addressing current and future needs of agricultural, natural resource, and urban communities, aiming to improve regional agricultural economies, protect natural resources, and foster positive urban-agriculture interaction. The Director will administer and support teaching programs, including a unique undergraduate program in cooperation with Pensacola State College, and an active graduate student program. The role also involves facilitating and supporting research and extension programs across two campuses (Milton and Jay). The Center Director is responsible for sound management of WFREC's budgetary and personnel resources, developing short- and long-term goals, and advancing a strategic vision in collaboration with stakeholders and UF/IFAS leadership. This includes maintaining liaison with various agencies, interacting with UF/IFAS administration and faculty, and promoting teamwork through effective communication and management skills. The Director will evaluate faculty programs, initiate tenure and promotion actions, and report administratively to the Dean for Research & Executive Director for Academic Affairs, and programmatically to the Deans for Academic Programs, Research, and Extension. A key aspect of the role is developing and maintaining goodwill with support groups, clientele, public agencies, private entities, and educational institutions like Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida. The WFREC is located near Pensacola, FL, and its faculty specialize in agronomy, weed science, turfgrass management, environmental horticulture, fire ecology, forest ecology and silviculture, and wildlife ecology and conservation.

Requirements

Internal search – open to current permanent UF faculty only
An earned Ph.D. (foreign equivalent acceptable) in a field related to plant sciences, including but not limited to agriculture, environmental horticulture or natural resources.
Experience in conducting teaching and research programs with academic credentials equivalent to the full professor required.
Demonstrated leadership experience, including responsibility for mentoring and supervising faculty, staff, and students, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing organizational environment.
Strong administrative, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage complex programs and make effective decisions.
Proven ability to coordinate and administer experiential learning initiatives for non-traditional students across curricula.
Experience in obtaining extramural support from commodity and industry groups or governmental agencies such as USDA.
Ability to build and sustain productive relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
Clear understanding of and commitment to the mission of the land-grant system, including the integration of research, teaching, and extension.
Strong commitment to the core values of the University of Florida.

Nice To Haves

Experience with extension activities.
Experience with farm operations.
Experience developing and/or administering a teaching program that leverages on-site facilities and learning environments.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and support for teaching, research, and extension programs at the West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC).
Encourage the development of proactive programs addressing present and future needs of agricultural, natural resource, and urban communities.
Administer and support the teaching programs, coordinating undergraduate programs with the WFREC Teaching Program Coordinator and overseeing the graduate student program.
Facilitate and support the research and extension programs of the faculty.
Manage WFREC's budgetary and personnel resources.
Develop short- and long-term goals for programs, equipment, teaching gardens, physical plant, and personnel.
Develop, implement, and advance a strategic vision to enhance WFREC’s impact.
Maintain liaison with local, state, and federal agencies.
Interact with UF/IFAS administration, county extension faculty, other UF faculty and staff, and agricultural and environmental leaders.
Promote teamwork among faculty and staff using appropriate communication and management skills.
Delegate responsibility and make timely decisions.
Evaluate WFREC faculty programs and initiate tenure and promotion actions.
Develop and maintain goodwill for the Center among various support and clientele groups and consumers.
Develop and maintain strong ties with organizations and public agencies, including commodity organizations and local and statewide agriculture, natural resources, and regulatory governmental agencies.
Maintain a good working relationship with private entities, including agricultural producers, members of agricultural industries, various agriculture and horticulture clientele groups, environmental NGOs, and consumers.
Cooperate with UF/IFAS Department Chairs, other UF/IFAS Research and Education Center directors, Extension State Program Leaders, county extension faculty, and other UF units in program development.
Cooperate with Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida to maintain a strong teaching program.