POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT # 0001-3776

Title: CENTER DIRECTOR AND PROFESSOR

Location:  NORTH FLORIDA RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER

                   INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (IFAS)

                   UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

                                    With Centers at QUINCY, MARIANNA, and SUWANNEE VALLEY at LIVE OAK, FLORIDA

Salary:                         COMMENSURATE WITH QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Review of application materials will begin on or before March 15, 2008 and continue until the position is filled.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Center Director is the administrative head of the North-Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) and provides leadership and support for the research, teaching and extension programs essential to the agricultural, natural resource conservation, environmental and consumer interests of the area.  The Director is responsible for encouraging the development of proactive programs addressing the present and future needs of the surrounding agricultural, natural resource and urban communities. The primary responsibility will be administrative but there may be opportunities for research, teaching, or extension.    NFREC programs seek to improve the viability of regional agricultural economics, protect and enhance natural resources, support sound urban landscape practices and encourage positive interests at the urban-agricultural interface.

The Center Director is responsible for sound management of resources of the NFREC, including budgetary and personnel management, and for development of short- and long-term goals involving programs, equipment, physical plant and personnel.  The Director is responsible for obtaining financial support for research, teaching and extension activities at the NFREC, as well as encouraging faculty to develop Centers of Excellence. He/She is to actively seek private funding and endowments and is responsible for encouraging and supporting faculty to seek grant opportunities. The Center Director will maintain liaison with local, state, and federal agencies and will interact with UF/IFAS administration, county extension faculty, other UF faculty and staff, and agricultural and environmental leaders in accordance with the Center’s mission and goals.    The Center Director is expected to use appropriate communication and management skills to promote teamwork among faculty and staff and be able to delegate responsibility and make timely decisions.  The Director is responsible for evaluation of NFREC faculty programs and initiation of tenure and promotion actions in consultation with appropriate department chairs. The Center Director will form Advisory Committees, composed of clientele, to assist with program related recommendations and decisions and to generate support for needed facilities and equipment. Additionally, the Center Director should initiate and encourage cooperative research projects with national and international like institutions. This should include cooperative ventures with nearby Florida A & M University. The Center Director reports administratively to the Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and is responsible programmatically to the Deans for Academic Programs, Research and Extension.

The Center Director must take an active role to develop and maintain goodwill for the Center among various support and clientele groups, local agencies, and consumers.  Strong ties must be developed and maintained with commodity organizations, regulatory agencies, environmental groups and local and statewide governmental agencies. The Director will cooperate with UF/IFAS Department Chairs, other UF/IFAS Research and Education Center directors, district extension directors, county extension faculty and other UF units in program development. 

Qualifications: 

An earned doctorate in a field related to agriculture or natural resources with experience in conducting a major research, extension and/or teaching program with academic credentials equivalent to the full professor rank are required.  The candidate should have demonstrated strong professional leadership, communication, interpersonal and administrative skills.  Candidates should also have experience in obtaining legislative, financial, and political support from commodity and industry groups and must show strong commitment to extension, research and teaching. 

Other Information: 

The North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) is a large and diverse unit of UF/IFAS, consisting of the combined units at Marianna, Quincy, and Suwannee Valley.  The NFREC has twenty-four faculty members from ten academic departments and the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, plus two multi-county extension faculty members. The diversity in faculty and programs provides a unique setting for interdisciplinary work among the faculty of the NFREC and with colleagues at other Centers around the state and on campus.  The NFREC-Marianna, a 1400 acre facility, was originally one of the Mobile Units established in 1941 and made its permanent home in Jackson County in 1948.  The NFREC-Quincy was established in 1921 and is located in Gadsden County on 1100 acres.  The NFREC-Suwannee Valley is located near Live Oak in Suwannee County. It was established in 1950 and encompasses 320 acres. You may go to the North Florida Research and Education Center website to learn more about the center: http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/

Application Procedures:

Individuals wishing to apply should submit the following materials: (1) A formal letter of application which includes a brief statement of the applicant’s administrative philosophy and ideas on the role of an off-campus UF/IFAS Research and Education Center, as well as his/her philosophy and style of management. Applicants should list their experience related to all aspects of their academic performance. This should include programmatic emphasis, professional accomplishments, grants, awards, teaching experience, extension responsibilities and programs, (2) Current curriculum vitae which includes a biographical sketch, service, consultantships, and a complete list of publications, and (3) Applicants should provide a minimum of five references, complete with contact information which should include addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.  Review of application materials will begin on or before March 15, 2008, and will continue until a suitable applicant is identified. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. 

Application Materials Should Be Sent To: 

Center Director for North Florida Research and Education Center Search

Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

IFAS Office of Human Resources

University of Florida

P.O. Box 110281

2038 McCarty Hall

Gainesville, FL 32611-0130

Email: ewallace@ufl.edu

Nomination Procedures:

Individuals wishing to nominate candidates should do so by contacting the Search Committee Chair by facsimile, email, or telephone no later than February 28, 2008.  Please send nominations and inquiries about position to:

Dr. Geoff Dahl

Search Committee Chair

Department of Animal Sciences

Bldg. 499, 1812 Shealy Drive

Gainesville, FL  32611-0910

PH: 352-392-1981

FX: 352-392-5595

Email (Preferred): gdahl@ufl.edu

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity, equal access, affirmative action employer. The "government in the sunshine" laws of Florida require that all documents relating to the search process, including letters of application/nomination and reference, be available for public inspection. Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.

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