Dean, Dick & Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Texas A&M University–Kingsville (TAMUK), the oldest institution of higher learning in South Texas and a proud member of the Texas A&M University System, stands as the region’s premier university. TAMUK offers the widest range of academic programs and degrees in South Texas, provides exceptional learning and residential facilities, conducts impactful research, awards substantial scholarships, and has awarded more than 80,000 degrees in the institution’s 100-year history. The university is recognized for its unwavering commitment to student success, meaningful research, and deep community engagement. With a welcoming campus culture and strong regional partnerships, TAMUK offers faculty and staff a unique opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of students and the broader South Texas region.

The University is located in historic Kingsville, a friendly, safe city of 25,000 that is the home of the legendary King Ranch. Corpus Christi and its beaches are just 40 miles to the northeast, and the border with Mexico is 120 miles to the south at Brownsville or 119 miles to the west at Laredo.

About the role

The Dean of the Dick & Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) is responsible for supervising and directing the teaching, research, and service missions of the College. The Dean makes decisions or recommendations regarding budget, curricula, degree offerings, faculty and student recruiting, faculty development/tenure and promotion, fundraising, long-range strategic planning, matters of academic quality, promotion of college interests, research planning, and student mentoring.

The Dean oversees a highly recognized research-intensive college and vibrant academic programs with close ties to the farm and ranching industry and rural South Texas communities. Learners receive invaluable skills, training, and knowledge in specialized curriculum from accomplished faculty with expertise in agricultural and animal science, agribusiness, range and wildlife sciences, and veterinary technology. The Dean oversees three academic departments and four research and outreach-centric units. Active inside and outside the classroom, accessible, caring CANR faculty members actively research, lead seminars and workshops, and engage in academic and professional activities. Program enhancements and an intense focus on experiential learning generate student immersion experiences and student professional development programs that allow graduates to gain an advantage in the workplace and ensure they have the skills needed to succeed professionally as well as academically. The college faculty and staff are dedicated to the success of our learners and remain focused on providing an overall transformational experience for them through applied, hands-on, in-the-field career training.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & College Administration
  • Ensures completion and implementation of a strategic and effective plan with established goals for the college.
  • Collaborates strategically and effectively with department chairs and unit heads to ensure unit goals complement the college mission and goals.
  • Oversees the teaching, research, and administrative functions within the college and delegates responsibility to appropriate staff members.
  • Creates and promotes a college culture of excellence through accountability, quality programming, and visionary leadership.
• Financial Management & Resource Stewardship
  • Supervises college planning, constructs college budgets, seeks requisite funds, and allocates funds among departments and research units of the college.
  • Provides effective budget leadership, utilizes physical resources effectively, and ensures control and accountability for physical property associated with assigned accounts.
• Enrollment Management & Student Success
  • Establishes and implements a recruitment and enrollment management plan through faculty and staff involvement that includes measurable annual goals for student recruitment, retention, and graduation.
  • Builds and expands partnerships with community colleges and high schools in South Texas that serve as recruitment hub opportunities for the college.
• Academic Programs, Curriculum & Accreditation
  • Provides for structured, faculty-led curriculum review and updates that reflect disciplinary standards and changes.
  • Ensures assessment plans are in place, including the production of annual reports on student learning and program outcomes.
  • Ensures ongoing program reviews and maintains specialized accreditation requirements, including accreditation for the Veterinary Technology program by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and other discipline-specific accrediting bodies.
• Faculty & Staff Leadership
  • Oversees faculty and staff recruitment and development, including collaboration with department chairs on salary administration, promotion, and tenure matters.
  • Supervises assigned staff and manages performance.
  • Cultivates a positive work environment based on respect, integrity, fairness, cooperation, and effective working relationships.
  • Coordinates searches for and recommends appointments of department chairs and research directors.
  • Promotes teaching and research excellence among faculty and submits recommendations for outstanding achievement awards when appropriate.
• External Relations, Advancement & Community Engagement
  • Builds support for the college among community leaders, alumni, business and industry representatives, government officials, and other key stakeholders.
  • Serves as an effective spokesperson and advocate for the college.
  • Identifies and develops philanthropic, public, and constituent support aligned with university priorities.
• Compliance & Institutional Accountability
  • Provides accurate and timely responses to requested information.
  • Ensures ongoing implementation of strategies that support compliance with applicable rules, regulations, policies, and accreditation requirements.
• Other Duties

  The above represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Required Education: Terminal degree in a degree offered by the College or closely related field.
• Required Experience: Academic leadership and administrative experience at the level of department head, director, associate dean, dean, or equivalent.
• Other Required Qualifications:
  • A track-record of significant accomplishments in research and teaching at a level sufficient to qualify for appointment to the rank of full professor with tenure in one of the Departments of the College.

Skills

• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and work cooperatively with others.
• Demonstrated capacity for leadership.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with various stakeholders.
• Familiarity with academic program accreditation procedures.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of higher education leadership and administration.
• Data-driven decision-making and program evaluation skills.
• Ability to foster excellence in teaching, research, extension, and student success.

Benefits

Texas A&M University-Kingsville offers a career filled with purpose and opportunity in addition to competitive wages. In addition to base pay, TAMUK provides eligible employees a comprehensive Total Rewards package designed to support employees’ well-being, professional growth, and financial security.

• Insurance
  • Medical: $0 - $30 per month for Employee Only coverage after university contribution ($920 value). Up to 83% of premium covered by the university for:
    • Employee and Spouse
    • Employee and Children
    • Employee and Family coverage
  • Dental & Vision
  • Life Insurance, Accidental D&D, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account, and Day Care Spending Account
• On-Campus Wellness Opportunities: TAMUK’s Wellness Program is designed to enrich lives through health and wellness programming that is meaningful and impactful.
• Work Life Solutions: Counseling, Work Life Assistance, Financial Resources, and Legal Resources
• Retirement
  • Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), dependent on position
  • Voluntary Tax Deferred Account/Deferred Compensation Plan
• Employee Leave
  • 8+ hours of vacation per month
  • 8 hours of sick leave per month
  • 8 hours of paid Birthday leave
  • 12-15 paid holidays per year

Texas A&M University–Kingsville offers a supportive, mission-driven culture focused on excellence in teaching, research, and service. Employees uphold the Shared Values of Care, Integrity, Pride, Innovation, and Excellence, which form the foundation of the University’s culture and guide its strategic plan. TAMUK utilizes Franklin Covey’s 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) as the framework for pursuing strategic goals by creating a culture of high performance. Additionally, TAMUK embodies the Caring Campus mindset, maintaining a collegial and caring attitude towards students and each other to foster student engagement and a positive, collaborative work environment.