Research Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi

Texas A&M University System • Corpus Christi, TX

51d • Onsite

About The Position

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi 10345 Hwy 44, Corpus Christi, TX 78406 ccag.tamu.edu The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi was officially opened in February 1974, and formally dedicated in May 1974. The Center is administratively responsible for the research of satellite station laboratories located at Beeville and Flour Bluff. Faculty and staff located at the Center and Satellite Stations research problems facing South Texas including agricultural economics, animal science, crop physiology, digital agriculture, entomology, family and consumer health, forage agronomy, mariculture, rangeland management, soil and crop sciences, and youth development. With a vast network of 18 county Extension offices and some 50 professional educators, spanning from Corpus Christi to Brenham, the science-based programs, tools and resources provided by AgriLife Extension are available to every resident in our district. Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Corpus Christi celebrated 50 years of dedicated service to the community last year, embodying our commitment to educating and empowering individuals on matters of agriculture and health innovation. Position Information Title: Research Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi Appointment: 12 months Reports To: Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Location: Corpus Christi Research & Extension Center, Corpus Christi, TX Texas A&M AgriLife Research seeks a full-time, dynamic individual with a proven record of research excellence to serve as Center Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi. This person will administrate and coordinate all aspects of the Center’s operations and participate in research directly and/or through building local, state and national collaborations. This appointment includes a Graduate Faculty affiliation with a department in Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences befitting the successful candidate’s background and interests. The Center Director provides visionary leadership as they recognize and respond to dynamic research and public service needs. The director catalyzes the design and implementation of innovative research projects to enhance overall faculty research productivity. The Center Director is also responsible for fostering productive partnerships and relationships with relevant organizations, recruiting and retaining highly qualified faculty and staff, promoting professional development among faculty and staff, facilitating the acquisition of external resources, and providing fair, sound, and transparent management of human, physical, and fiscal assets. Central to the success of this position is the ability to foster interdisciplinary research and collaborate on the subject matter with department heads; university administration; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; local, state, national, and international research entities; civic and business leaders; and advisory and commodity groups.

Requirements

• An earned Ph.D. in an agricultural or closely associated discipline.
• Experience in managing human and fiscal resources.
• A well-recognized leader in interdisciplinary agricultural sciences, with an excellent research background, as demonstrated by highly cited multi-authored peer reviewed publications, a strong history of grant funding, honors and awards, and academic stature appropriate for a full-time faculty appointment at the rank of Professor.
• Expertise in highly quantitative aspect of research that focuses on integration across disciplines.
• Demonstrated history of working effectively in applied, basic, and integrated sciences.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with stakeholder groups, identify critical challenges, and conduct solutions oriented research to address them.
• Demonstrated success in building, supporting, and leading interdisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrates excellent writing and speaking skills in English.
• Able to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, administration, and stakeholders.
• Able to manage interdisciplinary teams effectively.
• Able to inspire Center employees, manage teams, and invest in the individual success of staff members.
• Demonstrates a clear commitment to the mission of a land-grant university system.
• Skilled in strategic planning and development to advance the goals of the Center.
• Able to coordinate with broad-based partners and stakeholders to address current and emerging agricultural, food, and water challenges statewide, nationally, and internationally.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Nice To Haves

• At least 10 years of experience conducting competitively funded research.
• Knowledge of the land grant university system and a track record of using research and extension to solve problems and convey practical solutions to stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience navigating conflicting interests to achieve accepted practices among groups (e.g., stakeholders, trade associations, commodity groups, state and/or federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations).

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with research faculty at the Corpus Christi Center, facilitate development of a vision for the continued role of the Center and AgriLife Research in the dynamic environment of agriculture, food, and water science in the Corpus Christi area, throughout Texas, the nation, and globally.
• Foster intellectual, philosophical, and strategic leadership with Center faculty and scientists, staff, and students to enhance research, extension, and teaching missions.
• Develop strategic responses to agriculture related challenges and opportunities, particularly in meeting the needs of the region’s food, feed, fiber, and value-added processing industries.
• Facilitate the development of research teams to respond to internal and external research grant opportunities with the involvement of research faculty from AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension, as well as other research partners.
• Manage human and fiscal resources and build a strong and growing portfolio of extramural funding to enhance the Center’s research capacity and reputation.
• Represent the Center to state and federal agencies, private organizations, partners, collaborators, key industry groups such as cotton, sorghum, cattle, and aquaculture commodity groups, and international organizations.
• Provide leadership for the coordination of efforts between research, teaching, and extension faculty to create an effective and synergistic working relationship.
• Coordinate with the administration of AgriLife Research to plan initiatives, convey research and extension information, and pursue fundraising opportunities that will benefit the Center far into the future.
• Communicate effectively with AgriLife Research administration, center directors with AgriLife Research across the state, department heads in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, AgriLife Extension leadership, and other Texas A&M University System components.
• Develop collaborative and administrative leadership between Center Director and District Extension Administrator for Research and Extension programs and operations for the Center.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

What This Job Offers

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