Professor and Chair - Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (WEC)

About the role

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions.

Responsibilities

• Provides vision, support and coordination in planning, developing, and implementing departmental programs in teaching, research, and extension in accord with the Land-Grant Mission.
• Leads in recruiting and fostering academic growth and professional development of faculty, staff, and students.
• Administers the department’s human and financial resources.
• Promotes external funding opportunities.
• Represents departmental and faculty interests with administrators, other departments, and units, and outside agencies, individuals and groups in natural resources, industry, and communities.
• Collaborates with the IFAS Senior Vice President, Deans, Associate and Assistant Deans, other IFAS Chairs and Research and Education Center Directors, and other administrators in providing leadership for delivering integrated programs to meet the needs of students, Florida agriculture, citizens of the state of Florida, Extension clientele, research sponsors, and other stakeholders.

Requirements

The successful applicant will be expected to:

• Direct a multidisciplinary academic department engaged in teaching, research, and extension activities at a major Land-Grant university with faculty, staff, students, and resources located throughout the state, including on main campus and at IFAS Research and Education Centers.
• Show strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate student well-being, recruitment, and retention for all academic programs in WEC.
• Foster a culture among faculty of effective teaching and mentoring.
• Show strong commitment to faculty and staff development, recruitment, and retention.
• Maintain and strengthen collaborations and partnerships, particularly with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the USGS Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, as well as with agencies, NGOs, industry, and community interest groups.
• Serve as a bridge between university, faculty, and staff to ensure compliance and effective operations, including continued professional development for self and employees.
• Show commitment to international programs.

Qualifications

• An earned doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in ecological science, wildlife, or related natural resources discipline.
• A record of outstanding scholarly achievement and professional activities related to teaching, research, extension, and/or industry that will qualify the individual to be a tenured full professor in the WEC Department.
• A record of effectively mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
• Demonstrated ability to direct interdisciplinary, grant-funded fundamental science and applied research.
• Demonstrated leadership in outreach to and engagement with varied interest groups including industry, agencies, NGOs, community, and others.
• Demonstrated commitment to pursuing and managing entrepreneurial opportunities, private fundraising, grants, and other external funds in support of teaching, research, and extension.
• Demonstrated ability to interact well with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and external interest groups at the local, state, federal, and international levels.
• Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.
• Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values.