Department Head, Clinical Sciences

Colorado State University•Fort Collins, CO

8d•$250,000 - $300,000•Onsite

About The Position

Colorado State University (CSU) is Colorado’s land-grant university and a Carnegie R1 research institution. CSU advances teaching, research, engagement, and service for the benefit of Colorado, the nation, and the world. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, CSU offers a highly collaborative environment for interdisciplinary scholarship and education, with broad strengths in the life sciences, veterinary medicine, public health, agriculture, engineering, data science, and environmental sustainability. The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) has a land grant mission dedicated to education, research, service, and outreach, with a vision to advance the well-being of animals, people, and the planet. CVMBS offers undergraduate, professional, and graduate courses of study and is comprised of four departments: Biomedical Sciences; Clinical Sciences; Environmental Health and Radiological Sciences; and Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology. CVMBS is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and has been highly ranked in national surveys. CVMBS faculty explore pivotal issues in human and animal health via world-renowned research programs, with annual extramural funding in the range of $60-100M. CVMBS has created the Veterinary Health System (VHS) to oversee management and operations of four clinical units and the state diagnostic laboratory. The Department of Clinical Sciences has 115 tenure track and non-tenure track faculty who focus on teaching, research, and service. Approximately 75% of faculty provide clinical services, while 25% focus primarily on research, education, or outreach. The department has 100 staff employees, 150 student or non-student hourly employees, and 100 house officers and graduate students. Clinical Sciences is one of CSU’s largest academic departments, supporting a complex portfolio with approximately $164M in annual activity. The department plays a significant role in advancing the university’s academic, research, and clinical missions. The Department of Clinical Sciences faculty and staff are dedicated to advanced medicine, excellent teaching, compassionate care, and discoveries benefiting the health of animals and people. It offers high-quality education programs through the Small Animal Specialty Hospital, Johnson Family Equine Hospital, and Equine Reproductive Center. A new Livestock Hospital and Primary Care Clinic opened in 2026 as part of the Veterinary Hospital and Education Center (VHEC), a LEED and WELL Building certified facility. VHEC opened for all students in Fall, 2026, and the new Ascend veterinary curriculum is being delivered to the incoming DVM class of 2030. CVMBS invites applications and nominations for the position of Department Head for Clinical Sciences. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual to provide strategic, visionary leadership in one of the Nation's leading colleges of veterinary medicine. This is a 12-month leadership position with an expectation for a tenured full professor appointment in the Department of Clinical Sciences. The position is targeted to start spring or summer of 2027. The Department Head reports to the Dean of CVMBS and serves as a member of the College’s senior leadership team. The Department Head of Clinical Sciences will provide leadership and oversight for over 400 faculty, residents, interns, and staff, and will be responsible for creating a focus and vision for the Department that meets current societal challenges and needs. The department is administratively organized into sections that affiliate scholarly and clinical service efforts in various disciplines. The department head works closely with the VHS as a bridge for faculty with clinical duties. Research programs in the Department of Clinical Sciences utilize state-of-the-art techniques to explore disease pathogenesis and develop new approaches for prevention and treatment. Major research interests include comparative oncology, orthopedics, cardiology, surgery, infectious disease, epidemiology, and neurology, extending into human medical applications and discipline-based educational research. A full range of state-of-the-art imaging modalities are available within VHS. Faculty members are committed to teaching undergraduate, graduate, and professional veterinary medical students and have a strong reputation for innovation in instructional technology.

Requirements

Advanced degree (e.g, DVM, BVSc, MVSc, MD, PhD, or equivalent).
Demonstrated leadership experience in an academic, research, clinical, diagnostic, governmental, or similarly complex organization.
Commitment to, or potential for, enhancing veterinary medical education, graduate education, clinical service, and research.
Academic or professional record qualified for appointment as a tenured full professor within the Department of Clinical Sciences.
Evidence of successfully leading a large, diverse team.
Outstanding communication skills.
Commitment to, or potential for, enhancing community and belonging among all members of the department.

Nice To Haves

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, board certification with veterinary specialty college, or equivalent.
Demonstrated clinical veterinary experience.
Experience in biomedical, translational, or clinical research.
Significant experience running an externally funded research program.
Proven leadership ability and integrity, including developing a vision for the Department.
Strong desire and proven track record to establish collaborative relationships within the College, University and with the private and public sectors.
The ability to work productively and collegially with a large and diverse team.
Commitment to CVMBS values of Community, Integrity, Collaboration, and Innovation.
Commitment to, or potential for, maintaining CSU's leadership in animal welfare and ethics.
Effective planning and implementation of strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities

Provide academic and scientific leadership in defining and attaining goals of the Department.
Advance excellence and innovation in professional, graduate, and other educational programs.
Promote excellence in all departmental endeavors, and develop a culture of belonging for all in the Department.
Develop a departmental leadership structure that addresses departmental needs in a comprehensive and inclusive way.
Play a significant role in recruiting, hiring, and retaining faculty, and encourage mentorship for professional development and collegial interactions.
Manage growth and development of the departmental missions in research, education, and service, including by leading departmental strategic planning to prioritize investment of time and resources.
Partner closely with leaders of the VHS and professional veterinary medical education programs to streamline and clarify faculty and staff appointments and budget.
Develop innovative approaches for resourcing departmental operations and strategic plans.
Serve as the primary departmental advocate in enhancing the visibility and prestige of the departmental sections and disciplines, at the Department, College, and University level.
Represent the Department to external entities (professional and corporate organizations, alumni, etc.) and during fund-raising activities.
Manage fiscal planning and administration, direct and evaluate faculty and administrative staff, and facilitate relationships with industry and governmental entities that interact with the Department.
Represent the department at the College Executive Committee.
May have the opportunity, with the agreement of the Dean, to be involved in additional teaching, clinical, and research activities, commensurate with the applicant’s professional and academic interests.
Perform Department Head responsibilities as outlined in the CSU Academic Faculty and Administrative Professional Manual.