Director, School of the Environment | Washington State University (Pullman, WA)

Washington State University•Pullman, WA

10d•$135,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

Washington State University seeks a visionary Director of the School of the Environment (SOE), jointly housed in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. Based on the Pullman campus, the Director provides academic and administrative leadership for a multi-college, multi-campus enterprise. The role is a four-year renewable, 12-month academic-term administrative appointment beginning August 1, 2027, alongside either a permanent full-time, 9-month tenure-eligible faculty appointment at Professor rank or a continuous full-time, 9-month Career-Track appointment at Professor rank. A successful tenure-track Professor candidate will receive an expedited tenure review upon accepting the position. The Director will advance the School’s teaching, research, Extension, and student support; foster access and opportunity in alignment with WSU’s land-grant mission; build a collaborative culture; oversee academic programs and curricular development; represent the School to university and external stakeholders; support recruitment, retention, and professional growth; and manage the unit’s budget, strategic planning, academic growth, and daily operations. The Director will also participate in broader academic leadership across the two colleges and collaborate to align the School with college and university priorities. The Director appointment salary range is $135,000 to $200,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience. If the faculty member returns to a faculty appointment, the stated 9-month salary ranges are $100,000 to $150,000 for tenure-track and $85,000 to $110,000 for Career-Track. WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

Earned terminal degree in a discipline represented within or closely aligned with the School of the Environment.
Demonstrated academic leadership experience, such as serving as a chair, director, program leader, associate director, unit-level administrator, or in another significant academic leadership role.
Demonstrated administrative experience involving academic programs, budgets, and/or operations.
Demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, Extension, and/or service appropriate to the candidate’s discipline and rank.
Evidence of successful program development and implementation.
Demonstrated experience effectively supervising, managing, or leading faculty, staff, and/or academic employees.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines and organizational structures and with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and other stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and in teams to advance complex initiatives while managing competing priorities and stakeholder interests.
Demonstrated strong communication and problem-solving skills.
Currently serving at Professor rank or equivalent in a tenure-track or Career-Track appointment, or having a record of accomplishments commensurate with college standards for that track and rank.

Nice To Haves

Three or more years of higher education administrative experience.
Demonstrated experience developing or implementing strategies that support student recruitment, enrollment, retention, and success.
Experience leading strategic planning or organizational change in an academic environment.
Demonstrated experience supporting and advancing faculty research, scholarship, Extension, and/or externally funded work.
Demonstrated experience with curriculum development, program assessment, accreditation, or academic program review.
Demonstrated success building collaborative relationships with external organizations.
Experience leading or working within an interdisciplinary academic unit or team.
Administrative experience working within shared governance structures and in policy development.
Demonstrated success supporting faculty and staff recruitment, retention, professional development, and recognition.
Experience engaging alumni, external partners, donors, agencies, communities, or other stakeholders in support of academic priorities.

Responsibilities

Collaboratively develop and implement strategies that strengthen the School of the Environment’s teaching, research, Extension, and student support.
Provide access and opportunity in alignment with WSU’s land-grant mission across classrooms, collaborations, and academic work.
Build a collaborative and cooperative culture and environment in the School of the Environment.
Administer and oversee delivery of academic programs and regularly update curricula, delivery methods, and teaching activities.
Champion the School to university administration, other university units, and external stakeholders.
Oversee recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students, and support their continued professional growth and development.
Oversee department management, including budget, strategic planning, academic growth, and daily operations.
Serve on the broader academic leadership teams in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, collaborating to align the School with college and university priorities.