Associate Dean for Research and Associate Director College of Agriculture and Alabama Agricultural

Auburn University is seeking applications for the position of Associate Dean for Research in the College of Agriculture and Associate Director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES).

Responsibilities: The Associate Dean/Associate Director provides visionary leadership for the research and graduate education programs for the College and AAES. The successful candidate will foster an environment that leads to significant growth and innovation in research programs across the College and Experiment Station.  The candidate will lead strategic, proactive, and capacity-building activities for individual faculty members and multidisciplinary teams that result in sustained growth of the extramural funding portfolio.  The successful candidate will also partner with academic departments and provide creative leadership to develop new graduate programs, implement new approaches to increase graduate enrollment and promote a culture of professional development for graduate students.  In addition, the candidate will serve as an advocate for the research programs of the College/AAES with university leadership, external stakeholders, legislative groups and funding agencies.

The Associate Dean will guide the College’s extramural funding program by identifying and communicating funding opportunities to faculty, overseeing the administration of external proposal submissions, assisting with post-award management challenges such as animal and human subjects questions, and reporting on research program metrics.  The Associate Director will manage Experiment Station research activities; oversee the administration of outlying research units; and administer internal competitive grants programs.  In addition, the successful candidate will coordinate the preparation of five-year plans of work required by USDA-NIFA from Alabama's three land-grant universities and prepare annual reports of progress on these research plans. Furthermore, the successful candidate will coordinate the preparation and approval of federally-required Hatch and Multi-State Research Fund projects submitted by faculty. This position will work with other Associate Deans for Research, Department Heads/Chairs, Directors, Associate Dean for Extension, Director for Outlying Units and faculty in identifying the research needs for the College and other AAES units.

The institution:  Auburn University is one of the nation’s premier public land-grant institutions. In 2020, it was ranked 44th among public universities by U.S. News and World Report and it is categorized as a Carnegie very high research activity, or R1, university. Auburn’s 2020 enrollment of 30,737 students included 24,505 undergraduate and 6,232 graduate and professional students. Organized into twelve academic colleges and schools, Auburn’s 1,643 instructional faculty members—87% of whom are employed full-time—offer more than 200 educational programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. The University is nationally recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, its positive work environment, its student engagement, and its beautiful campus. 

Auburn’s College of Agriculture is one of the university’s earliest programs, established in 1872 under the Morrill Act. Through its long history, the college has used scientific research, teaching and outreach to advance the economies, health and wellbeing of citizens and communities throughout Alabama, surrounding regions and the world. The College of Agriculture’s research faculty hold appointments within the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES), which also includes research faculty from Auburn’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, College of Human Sciences, College of Sciences and Mathematics and College of Veterinary Medicine. The AAES operates six interdisciplinary research centers and institutes as well as 15 off-campus research units throughout Alabama. Major research focus areas include food animal systems, integrated food and human health systems, plant production and management systems, and sustainable ecosystems and renewable resource management.

 Auburn residents enjoy a thriving community, recognized as one of the “best small towns in America,” with moderate climate and easy access to major cities or to beach and mountain recreational facilities. Situated along the rapidly developing I-85 corridor between Atlanta, Georgia, and Montgomery, Alabama, the combined Auburn-Opelika-Columbus statistical area has a population of over 500,000, with excellent public-school systems and regional medical centers.

 Qualifications: Minimum qualifications include a terminal degree in Agriculture or related field, a scholastic record meriting the rank of Professor at Auburn University, strong documented evidence of experience in research project management and a strong record of obtaining extramural funding as a principal investigator. Demonstrated leadership skills, commitment to diversity, sound judgment and the ability to interpret and administer policies and procedures in a fair and equitable manner are desirable. Prior experience as a department head/chair or research center director is highly desired. Excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills are essential. The candidate selected for the position must be able to meet eligibility requirements to work in the United States at the time of appointment and continue working legally for the proposed term of employment.

Application: Applicants must apply for the position electronically through: https://www.auemployment.com/postings/23090  and submit the following: 1) cover letter addressing the candidate’s experience pertinent to the responsibilities of the position, 2) current curriculum vita, 3) copies of all graduate level academic transcripts, and 4) a brief vision statement for leading the research mission of the College and AAES. When prompted during the on-line application process, please provide names, phone numbers and email addresses of five professional references. Only complete application packages will be considered. Active review of applications will begin August 2, 2021, but the search may continue until the position is filled. Questions about the position should be directed to:

 

Dr. Steve Taylor

Search Committee Chair

Auburn University

Email: taylost@auburn.edu.

 

Auburn University is an EEO/Vet/Disability Employer