Senior Vice Chancellor/Senior Vice President

University of Tennessee
Senior Vice Chancellor/Senior Vice President
UT Institute of Agriculture

General Description:
The University of Tennessee seeks a Senior Vice Chancellor/Senior Vice President (SVC/SVP) of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA). The SVC/SVP is the executive leader of UTIA and reports directly to both the UTK Chancellor and to the UT System President. The Senior Vice Chancellor/Senior Vice President (SVC/SVP) oversees and provides leadership to the Herbert College of Agriculture (HCA), College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), UT Ag Research, and UT Extension, and is the university’s chief spokesperson on agriculture issues. The person in this role serves on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Cabinet and on the UT System Administrative Council. The SVC/SVP is fully responsible for the administration and management of the Institute’s units, including Extension offices in 95 counties, three regional extension offices, four 4-H Centers, and ten research stations and educational centers. This position aggressively promotes continued development of its academic and educational outreach programs, research productivity, and national reputation of excellence, built upon a commitment to access and diversity. This position is appointed in accordance with the bylaws of the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees. 

The University of Tennessee
UT is Tennessee. Woven into the fabric of life for all Tennesseans—from Memphis to Mountain City and every space in between. Led by UT President Randy Boyd, the UT System has campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis; the UT Space Institute in Tullahoma; the UT Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service. From its founding in Knoxville in 1794 to its statewide presence today, UT is Tennessee’s oldest, largest and preeminent public higher education system.

The UT System works to develop and advance the strategic vision and to support and serve the campuses and institutes through advocacy, collaboration and connectivity, efficiency and effectiveness, stewardship and oversight. Through its three-part mission to educate, discover and connect, the UT System aims to serve all Tennesseans and enable strong economic, social and environmental well-being. 

The Institute of Agriculture
The UT Institute of Agriculture provides Real. Life. Solutions. to some of society’s most pressing issues. Through its statewide presence and its international work, the UT Institute of Agriculture is creating a global impact. UTIA is home to the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT AgResearch and its ten centers across the state, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, and UT Extension, which has a presence in all ninety-five Tennessee counties. It also boasts the Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture as well as the State Botanical Garden of Tennessee. Through teaching, research, and outreach, UTIA seeks to support food, fiber, and energy systems; enrich the economy; enhance biodiversity and environmental quality; develop the workforce; and strengthen the health of humans and animals. 

Mission
As a land-grant institute, we provide Real. Life. Solutions. through teaching, discovery, and service.

Vision
Over the next decade, we will excel as an Institute by developing solutions and services that advance agriculture, education, natural resource management, human and animal health, and our communities.

To accomplish our vision, we will…

  • Connect across strengths within UTIA and with partners.
  • Focus on grand challenges and established priorities.
  • Help people and communities adapt to an ever-changing world.

For more information: www.ag.tennessee.edu

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Institute of Agriculture is headquartered on the Knoxville campus of the University and has a strong presence in all 95 Tennessee counties. The primary responsibilities of the position are to promote academic, research and outreach excellence and to provide leadership and administration to the Institute. The SVC/SVP will develop and execute plans for growing enrollments, developing curriculum that meets the needs workforce needs, elevating the national reputation of the UTIA. The SVC/SVP is responsible for planning, implementing and leading strong, progressive programs of excellence of the Institute delivered through HCA, CVM, UT Extension, and UT Ag Research.

The SVC/SVP is responsible for fundraising which includes stewarding existing gifts, developing new donors and fostering donor and alumni engagement in the Institute. Additionally, collaborating with external stakeholders within the state such as commodity groups, the Department of Agriculture and others is essential.

The SVC/SVP is expected to provide visionary leadership in strategic initiatives that enhance the reputation and impact of the Institute of Agriculture and the university, provide administrative excellence that guides fiscal management and operations of the Institute. This position is responsible for shared governance, and engagement of the University with the wider community. The SVC/SVP establishes and maintains productive relationships on behalf of the Institute with state government, agricultural industries, veterinary organizations and professionals, forest and natural resources industries and agencies, the Tennessee congressional delegation and federal agencies. The SVC/SVP champions a culture of engagement and belonging by providing leadership in an environment that actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. The SVC/SVP possesses a deep commitment to these values and demonstrates action and accountability in advancing strategies to support them at all levels of the University.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to: 

  • Articulate and execute a strategic vision and long-term goals for the Institute.
  • Assume fiscal authority/leadership for the Institute.
  • Promote a culture that is welcoming to all by leading the Institute’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
  • Expand the academic reach of the institute and develop an innovative academic program portfolio that effective meets the current and future needs of the state.
  • Provide direction and incentives for research, creative achievement and service.
  • Foster interdisciplinary approaches to undergraduate and graduate education.
  • Create innovative and effective programs across the Institute.
  • Support UT Extension in providing research and evidence-based knowledge about agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development and community economic development to meet the needs of Tennesseans.
  • Ensure the veterinary clinical and diagnostic services meet the needs of the state; position the College of Veterinary Medicine as a leader among its peers.
  • Nurture relationships with other University programs and with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
  • Maintain a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with other UT campuses in the implementation of agricultural and natural resource-related curricula and programs.
  • Direct the recruitment, development and retention of high-performing faculty, department heads, deans and staff.
  • Lead the Institute’s advancement activities.
  • Fosters development of international programs and initiatives with faculty and students within the Institute; establish the Institution as a leader among peers in international programs.
  • Chairs the UT Commission on Agriculture

Required Qualifications:

Education:
Prefers an earned terminal degree and evidence of scholarly, professional, or creative achievement sufficient to qualify for tenure as a full professor in one of the units at the institute; demonstrated administrative leadership in higher education or comparable leadership experience. Candidates outside higher education with deep industry experience are also considered.

Experience:
Requires an understanding of the University’s mission as a public, research, land grant university; demonstrated knowledge of and a history of commitment to affirmative action, equal employment opportunity and diversity, and intercultural education; ability to represent the University to external audiences, including government, industry, and alumni groups; exceptional communication and development skills and the ability to work collegially with a wide variety of constituencies. Requires demonstrated deep and contemporary experience leading a complex and comprehensive organization; a personal history of teaching and research commensurate with faculty status at a major research university. Requires a broad knowledge of agriculture, natural resources, veterinary medicine and outreach activities. Requires excellent oral, written and other communications skills; computer literacy; ability to multi-task and the ability to travel frequently, sometimes out-of-state.

Skills:
The SVC/SVP will have significant knowledge and understanding of higher education. Specific skills include:

  • commitment to quality and integrity.
  • innovative and forward-thinking.
  • demonstrated leadership skills and abilities.
  • proven ability to work across complex organizations and lead diverse teams.
  • demonstrated success in decision-making and leading change.
  • exceptional listening skills.
  • a broad knowledge of agriculture, natural resources, veterinary medicine and outreach activities.
  • demonstrated leadership and abilities in the administration of higher education agricultural, natural resources, and/or veterinary medicine programs, with substantive experience, preferably in a large public and/or land grant institution within a multi-campus environment.
  • ability to mobilize volunteers and stakeholders for the enhancement of the university.
  • demonstrated ability and skills in securing extramural funding.
  • exceptional skills in communications and interpersonal relations.
  • demonstrated ability to forge successful relationships and partnerships.
  • knowledge of and commitment to affirmative action and equal employment opportunity.
  • ability to establish high expectations, willingness to delegate effectively, and ability to hold direct reports accountable.
  • skilled decision-maker, with transparency in decision-making and management.
  • excellent oral, written and presentation skills; exceptional listening skills.
  • ability to multi-task.
  • ability to travel frequently.

Behaviors:

The SVC/SVP will exhibit qualities of emotional maturity, humility, collegiality, genuineness, self-confidence, common sense, judgment, fairness, creativity, discretion, decisiveness, political acumen, diplomacy, tact, resiliency, adaptability, courage of convictions and tolerance for ambiguity. Demonstrated behavioral expectations include:

  • unquestioned integrity and trustworthiness.
  • strong commitment to excellence, integrity, and transparency.
  • commitment to the University’s mission and strategic vision, as well as missions and strategic plans for each campus/institute.
  • ability to make sound, consistent and fair evidence-informed decisions.
  • ability to lead and work with cross-functional teams and to foster teamwork.

Please forward a CV or resume, letter of interest, or nominations of appropriate candidates to our attention at your earliest convenience. The position will remain open until filled.

Paul H.L. Chou & Rosa Morris
Global Education Practice Korn Ferry
utia-vcag@kornferry.com

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status.