Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences

West Texas A&M University, a member of The Texas A&M University System, invites applications for the twelve-month, tenured position of Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences, reporting to the Dean of the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.

About the role

WTAMU is a four-year academic institution of 9,000 students serving the Panhandle of Texas and portions of four adjacent states. The Department of Agricultural Sciences offers baccalaureate degrees in Agribusiness; Agricultural Business and Economics; Agriculture; Agriculture Education; Agricultural Communication; Animal Science; Equine Industry and Business; and Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science. Master of Science (M.S.) degrees are offered in Animal Science; Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science; and Agriculture with emphases in Agriculture Education, Agricultural Media and Communication, and Agricultural Business and Economics, as well as an online Masters of Agriculture (M.Ag.). Additionally, a Ph.D. program is offered in Systems Agriculture.

The Department has 1,200 students enrolled, including 100 graduate students, and a dynamic team of 30 full-time tenure-track faculty, four full-time clinical faculty, six full-time instructors, research specialists, and facility managers. The Department encompasses facilities supporting the academic and research mission, including animal units, laboratories, greenhouses, farms, and a new state-of-the-art beef cattle feedlot under construction with a planned capacity of approximately 4,400 head.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic leadership to faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Agricultural Sciences.
• Lead efforts to recruit, mentor, and evaluate faculty and staff while promoting their professional growth to sustain excellence in teaching, research, and service.
• Provide fiscal and operational oversight of all research and educational programs within the Department.
• Lead the development and implementation of academic programs that recruit, support, and graduate undergraduate and graduate students prepared to contribute meaningfully to the agricultural industry at the regional and broader levels.
• Collaborate with agricultural industry leaders to assess and address regional needs in teaching, research, and service.
• Coordinate with executive leadership to ensure the availability of resources required for successful program execution.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in an agricultural discipline or closely related field offered by a University.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service.
• Commitment to an interdisciplinary team approach to research, education, and service.
• Interpersonal skills, vision, and desire to establish working relationships both internally and outside of the University.
• Experience with managing federal, state, local, and grant accounting codes and funding structures.
• Proven ability to ensure efficient allocation of resources and adherence to fiscal guidelines.
• Evidence of administrative experience desired.
• Excellent computer, written, and oral communication skills.

Benefits

The A&M System strives to maintain a competitive, high-quality benefit package to support the health and wellness needs of our workforce. This includes comprehensive health and welfare insurance plans, additional health and lifestyle programs, and optional retirement savings opportunities. Eligible employees will have access to paid leave programs in addition to 13-15 paid holidays each year.

For more information regarding the benefit package, visit West Texas A&M University: Human Resources Benefits.