Director for the School of Human Environmental Sciences

University of Arkansas • Fayetteville, AR

1d

About The Position

The Director of the School of Human Environmental Sciences provides strong, multidisciplinary leadership across research, teaching, and outreach programs that advance the School’s academic, research, and community impact. The School Director promotes a culture of collegiality, professionalism, collaboration, and innovation; communicates effectively with internal and external stakeholders; and integrates research, teaching, and outreach (including Extension collaborations) to serve the College and University. The Director advances the School in alignment with the University’s 150 Forward Strategic Plan—Student Success, Research Excellence, and Employer of Choice—and contributes to campus “Reaching Higher” priorities. The Director strengthens the School’s profile locally, across Arkansas, and beyond by cultivating strategic relationships across campus and with state and federal agencies, community partners, and industry. The Director grows a high-impact research enterprise that develops and transfers credible, timely, objective knowledge to address stakeholder, workforce, and community needs. The Director stewards resources, supports faculty and staff development, and secures funding to sustain excellence. The Director partners with the Bumpers College leadership and staff to engage alumni and supporters; cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts; and expand resources for scholarships, faculty and staff excellence, research, facilities, and programs. Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Requirements

• Earned Ph.D. (or equivalent) in a discipline represented within the School or a closely related field
• Qualify for appointment as Professor with tenure at time of hire
• Demonstrated leadership skills in academic administration, including personnel management, budgeting, and strategic planning
• Evidence of success in research, teaching, and/or engagement that supports faculty and student excellence
• Demonstrated strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and collaboration skills
• Knowledge of academic program development (undergraduate and graduate), including assessment and accreditation, and the ability to grow curricula and expand delivery (in-person, online, and hybrid)
• Leadership skills necessary to administer a program spanning resident instruction, research, outreach, and engagement, and the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and stakeholders
• Knowledge of trends and funding opportunities in fields represented by the School related to research and academic programs, with the ability to attract extramural funding
• Knowledge of organizational structure, budgeting procedures, personnel management, and administrative policies
• Ability to speak and write clearly and to communicate ideas effectively
• Ability and interest in providing multidisciplinary leadership and coordination of broad research interests
• Ability to recruit undergraduate and graduate students, and a commitment to fostering research and academic excellence
• Skill in data-informed decision-making, strategic planning, and continuous improvement
• Ability to build partnerships with external organizations and to engage alumni and supporters in advancing the School’s mission

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading a multidisciplinary unit or team
• Experience with the land-grant mission
• Experience with donor engagement and fundraising
• Evidence of securing and managing competitive extramural funding
• Experience with in-person, online, hybrid program development and delivery
• Experience with accreditation processes in disciplines relevant to the School
• Experience in outreach, Extension, or community partnership
• Experience aligning curricula and student experiences with workforce needs and pathways to graduate/professional education

Responsibilities

• Provides strong, multidisciplinary leadership across research, teaching, and outreach programs
• Promotes a culture of collegiality, professionalism, collaboration, and innovation
• Communicates effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Integrates research, teaching, and outreach to serve the College and University
• Advances the School in alignment with the University’s 150 Forward Strategic Plan
• Strengthens the School’s profile locally, across Arkansas, and beyond
• Grows a high-impact research enterprise
• Stewards resources, supports faculty and staff development, and secures funding
• Partners with the Bumpers College leadership and staff to engage alumni and supporters

Benefits

• university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance
• tuition waivers for employees and their families
• 12 official holidays
• immediate leave accrual
• choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree