Center Director and Professor - Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC)

Job no: 540255 | Tenure-Track Faculty | Collier, FL

About the Role

The Center Director serves as the administrative head of the University of Florida/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) located in Immokalee, FL. The Director provides strategic leadership and support for integrated teaching, research, and Extension programs developed by faculty that address essential needs of stakeholders, including agricultural, natural resource conservation, and environmental priorities.

SWFREC faculty-led programs focus on critical regional issues such as pest and disease protection, production of fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops, water resource management, and the urban-agriculture interface. The Center advances sustainability and competitiveness of agricultural systems, supports natural resource conservation, and enhances quality of life in southwest Florida.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic vision and leadership to advance interdisciplinary, high-impact programs conducted by SWFREC faculty, staff, and students.
• Support and strengthen teaching, research, and Extension programs, addressing clientele needs through proactive Extension programming and scientifically recognized research.
• Manage SWFREC's financial, personnel, and physical resources, including laboratories, field research infrastructure, and facilities.
• Establish priorities and implement short- and long-term goals for programs, personnel, and capital investments.
• Develop, maintain, and strengthen strategic partnerships with UF/IFAS administration, county Extension faculty, local/state/federal agencies, and agricultural, environmental, and industry stakeholders.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performing environment for faculty, staff, and students, including mentoring, performance evaluation, and oversight of programmatic activities.
• Coordinate promotion and tenure processes in consultation with academic department chairs.
• Co-supervise State Specialized Agents (SSA) and Regional Specialized Agents (RSA) in collaboration with the District Extension Director.
• Serve as a key representative of UF/IFAS, building and sustaining productive relationships with stakeholders, including commodity organizations, regulatory agencies, agricultural/natural resource associations, and private-sector partners.
• Initiate and advance collaborative efforts with UF/IFAS Department Chairs, Research and Education Center directors, District Extension Directors, and other UF units to integrate programs across research, teaching, and Extension.

Requirements

• Earned Ph.D. (foreign equivalent acceptable) in a discipline relevant to agriculture, environmental horticulture, natural resources, or a closely related field.
• Record of scholarship and academic achievement consistent with appointment at the rank of Professor within UF/IFAS.
• Proven record of excellence in research and teaching, with experience in Extension or stakeholder-engaged programming translating scientific knowledge into practical applications.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including mentoring and supervising faculty, staff, and students, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing organizational environment.
• Strong administrative, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage complex programs and make effective decisions.
• History of securing extramural funding from competitive sources, including commodity/industry groups and governmental agencies (e.g., USDA).
• Ability to build and sustain productive relationships with diverse stakeholders and commitment to the land-grant system’s mission of integrating research, teaching, and Extension.
• Strong commitment to the core values of the University of Florida.

About the Location

The Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) is situated on 320 acres in Immokalee, FL, approximately 35 miles southeast of Fort Myers and 40 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The Center’s faculty represents diverse academic disciplines supporting research and Extension programs in precision agriculture, citrus and vegetable horticulture, irrigation, soil science, pest management, natural resource economics, and water quantity/quality.

The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution with enrollment exceeding 56,000 students. UF/IFAS encompasses 16 academic departments, 12 Research and Educational Centers (RECs), 6 research sites, and Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties.