Center Director - West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC)

About the Role

The Center Director is the administrative head of the West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC) located on two campuses (Milton and Jay) and provides leadership and support for the teaching, research and extension programs essential to the agricultural, horticultural, 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. WFREC programs seek to improve the viability of regional agricultural economies, protect and enhance natural resources, and encourage positive interaction at the urban-agriculture interface.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Administer and support the teaching programs of the faculty, coordinating undergraduate teaching administration with the WFREC Teaching Program Coordinator. The teaching program, established with Pensacola State College, maintains a 12:1 to 14:1 student-teacher ratio. Students pursue a B.S. degree in Plant Science or Natural Resource Conservation awarded by UF while remaining in the Milton-Pensacola area. The Center also has an active graduate student program.
• Facilitate and support the research and extension programs of WFREC faculty, who are located at both the Jay campus (640-acre Research/Extension farm) and the Milton campus (located at Pensacola State College-Milton).
• Manage WFREC's budgetary and personnel resources responsibly, and develop short- and long-term goals for programs, equipment, teaching gardens, physical plant, and personnel.
• In collaboration with stakeholders and UF/IFAS leadership, develop, implement, and continuously advance a strategic vision that enhances WFREC's impact at the local, regional, and statewide levels.
• Maintain liaison with local, state, and federal agencies and interact with UF/IFAS administration, county extension faculty, other UF faculty and staff, and agricultural and environmental leaders.
• Use appropriate communication and management skills to promote teamwork among faculty and staff, delegate responsibility, and make timely decisions.
• Evaluate WFREC faculty programs and initiate tenure and promotion actions in consultation with appropriate department chairs.
• Report administratively to the Dean for Research & Executive Director for Academic Affairs, and programmatically to the Deans for Academic Programs, Research, and Extension.
• Develop and maintain goodwill for the Center among support and clientele groups, consumers, commodity organizations, and local and statewide agriculture, natural resources, and regulatory governmental agencies. Maintain working relationships with private entities including agricultural producers, industry members, horticulture clientele groups, environmental NGOs, and consumers.
• Maintain necessary interaction with Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida to support the teaching program.
• Cooperate with UF/IFAS Department Chairs, other REC directors, Extension State Program Leaders, county extension faculty, and other UF units in program development.

Qualifications

Required: Internal search – open to current permanent UF faculty only. An earned Ph.D. (foreign equivalent acceptable) in a field related to plant sciences, including but not limited to agriculture, environmental horticulture or natural resources. Experience in conducting teaching and research programs with academic credentials equivalent to the full professor rank. Demonstrated leadership experience including responsibility for mentoring and supervising faculty, staff, and students, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing organizational environment. Strong administrative, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills; ability to manage complex programs and make effective decisions. Proven ability to coordinate and administer experiential learning initiatives for non-traditional students across curricula. Experience in obtaining extramural support from commodity and industry groups or governmental agencies such as USDA. Demonstrated ability to build and sustain productive relationships with a variety of stakeholders. Clear understanding of and commitment to the mission of the land‑grant system, including integration of research, teaching, and extension. Strong commitment to the core values of the University of Florida.

Preferred: Experience with extension activities, farm operations, and developing and/or administering a teaching program that leverages on-site facilities and learning environments.

About WFREC and UF/IFAS

The West Florida Research and Education Center is located approximately 35 miles northeast of Pensacola, FL in Santa Rosa County within 20 miles of gulf coast beaches. This traditional agronomic crop production area is increasingly influenced by the rapidly expanding urban areas of northwest Florida and an increasing interest in natural resource conservation. WFREC faculty specialize in agronomy, weed science, turfgrass management, environmental horticulture, fire ecology, forest ecology and silviculture, and wildlife ecology and conservation.

UF is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution with enrollment of more than 56,000 students, and is a member of The Association of American Universities. IFAS includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Sea Grant program, and encompasses 16 on-campus academic departments and schools, 12 Research and Educational Centers throughout the state, 6 Research sites/demonstration units, and Extension offices in all 67 counties. The School of Natural Resources and Environment is an interdisciplinary unit housed in IFAS. UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, including approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent support personnel. IFAS is administered by a Vice President and four deans. UF/IFAS also engages in cooperative work with Florida A&M University.

Application Instructions

Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date and submit:

• 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 Research and Education Center
• A current curriculum vitae which includes a biographical sketch, teaching, service, consultantships, and a complete list of publications
• Three (3) names and contact information of references who can assess the candidate's qualifications for this position (Please refer to Requisition # 540729)

Dr. Mark Kistler, Chair, Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida Indian River Research and Education Center
2199 S. Rock Road
Fort Pierce, FL 34945
Telephone: 772-577-7327
Electronic Mail: mark.kistler@ifas.ufl.edu

Interviews will be held from late August – early September. Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. Degrees earned from an institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a NACES-approved credentialing service. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Health Assessment Required: No