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

Job Title

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

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Research Director Management

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Weslaco, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

About the Organization

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco

2415 E. Business 83, Weslaco, Texas 78596
weslaco.tamu.edu

The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco houses agriculture, life sciences and natural resources research, technology development and extension expertise to benefit South Texas food and commodity crop systems, with impacts across the state, the U.S. and the world.

The center at Weslaco is one of 13 Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension centers across the state. Each regional center addresses agriculture, life sciences and natural resources issues that are relevant to the food and commodities thriving where we operate. The centers also collaborate statewide on a range of teaching, research and extension initiatives. Each of the regional centers is administrated by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and houses faculty and staff from a range of organizations within The Texas A&M University System.

About Texas A&M AgriLife

With oversight by the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Texas A&M AgriLife, a member of the Texas A&M University System, includes: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. Texas A&M AgriLife Research is the leading research and technology development agency in Texas for agriculture, natural resources, and the life sciences. Our discoveries yield economic, environmental, and health benefits that are key to our state’s success and vital to the lives of its citizens. With 13 Research and Extension Centers throughout the state, AgriLife Research is dedicated to research that improves the Texas economy and lives of local and state-wide stakeholders through research encompassing the Agriculture and Food Value Chain.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides programs, tools and resources on a local and statewide level that teach people improved agriculture and food production, advanced health practices, environmental protection, economic and youth programs. Health and wellness programs focus on diabetes education, nutrition, exercise, food safety, child safety and injury prevention, and early cancer detection.

Position Information

Title: Research Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco
Appointment: 12 months
Reports To: Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Location: Weslaco Research & Extension Center, Weslaco, TX

Texas A&M AgriLife Research seeks a full-time, research-active and dynamic faculty member to serve as Center Director. This person will be responsible for administering and coordinating all aspects of the center as well as leading a robust, nationally recognized research program in agricultural sciences and food systems. This is a 12-month appointment and will be linked with a departmental affiliation within Texas A&M University that best fits the candidate’s background and interest.

This position is expected to provide visionary leadership for the center, recognizing and responding to dynamic research and public service needs regionally and statewide, and to serve as a catalyst for the design and implementation of innovative research projects. Additionally, the Center Director is 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 funding; and providing sound management of human, physical, and fiscal resources. Central to the success of this position is the ability to foster interdisciplinary research and collaborate on the subject matter with Department Heads, University central administration, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, local/state/national government entities, civic and business leaders and advisory and commodity groups.

Responsibilities:

• Develop a vision for the continued role of the Center and AgriLife Research in the dynamic environment of agriculture, food and water science in Texas and elsewhere.

• Provide intellectual, philosophical and strategic leadership to Center faculty and scientists, staff and students to enhance research, extension and teaching missions.

• Develop strategic responses to food and agriculture-related issues and opportunities, particularly in meeting the needs of the local food and agricultural industry.

• Develop and/or lead 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 institutions.

• Manage human and fiscal resources, including team building and leading a contract and grants program that elevates the Center’s efforts throughout AgriLife.

• Represent the Center to state and federal agencies, private organizations, partners, collaborators, key industry 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.

• Liaison 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.

• Maintain communication with AgriLife Program Administration, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department Heads, AgriLife Extension leadership and other Texas A&M University System components regarding issues affecting Texas A&M AgriLife or other system components.

• Develop collaborative administrative leadership approach between Center Director and District Extension Administrator for Research and Extension programs and operations for the Center.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in one or more related fields such as horticulture, agronomy, plant physiology, breeding, water sciences and/or environmental sustainability.

• Experience in managing human and fiscal resources.

• Be a well-recognized leader in agricultural sciences, with an excellent research background in a relevant field, as demonstrated by publications in peer reviewed journals, grant funding and stature appropriate for a full-time faculty appointment at the professor level.

• Demonstrated ability to engage with stakeholder groups, identify critical issues and act on those needs through research activities that bring resolution to problems.

• Demonstrated success in building, supporting and leading interdisciplinary programs and teams.

• Excellent English verbal, written, and electronic communication skills.

• Strong writing, public speaking, and presentation skills.

• Ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, administration, and stakeholders.

• Ability to manage multi- and interdisciplinary teams.

• Ability to utilize leadership skills to inspire Center employees, manage teams, and invest in the individual success of staff members.

• Knowledge of a commitment to the mission of a Land Grant University is essential.

• Knowledge of fundraising, where development ideas advance the goals of the Center.

• Ability 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 10 years conducting competitively funded research

• Knowledge of the Land Grant 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, nongovernmental organizations, etc.)

Application Requirements

An application should contain:

• A cover letter

• A statement of research for the position (2-page limit)

• A statement of administrative vision for the position (2-page limit)

• A current resume or curriculum vitae

• Contact information for three references

Failure to provide all job application documents listed above could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application.

What You Need to Know

Salary: A competitive salary will be offered to an individual with the skills and experiences noted above.

Benefits: Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:

• 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

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.