Careers
Chairperson, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
Description of Duties
The Chairperson provides facilitative leadership of the Department in teaching, research, extension, and outreach programs and is expected to maintain and enhance a creative and productive environment for faculty, staff, and students. The Chairperson serves as the principal representative of the Department with authority and responsibility for administrative decisions. The Chairperson reports directly to the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and interacts with senior leadership of the College, MSU Extension, and MSU AgBioResearch on a regular basis.
This is an administrative leadership position. Key responsibilities of the Chairperson include:
● Provide visionary leadership for creating, advancing, and articulating the mission of the Department and the land-grant mission, promoting national and international prominence.
● Encourage balanced and integrated teaching, research, extension, and outreach programs that impact Michigan, the U.S. and international constituents.
● Work with ~70 faculty members to identify existing and emerging opportunities and develop strategic short- and long-range plans for departmental enhancement.
● Recruit outstanding faculty and staff, assign responsibilities, evaluate performance, and promote faculty, student, and staff development.
● Support faculty and student achievement; foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, creativity and mentorship; and create a departmental community wherein diverse faculty, staff, and students thrive.
● Serve as a member of the Institute of Agricultural Technology Directorate.
● Manage and administer Department budgets and provide oversight in the procurement of financial and other resources; assure fiscally responsible implementation.
● Adhere to all MSU policies in research, education, extension, outreach, financial, and personnel administration.
● Work cooperatively within the Departmental governance structure, including Associate Chairs, a Department Teaching Coordinator, Graduate Programs Directors for Crop and Soil Sciences and Plant Pathology, an Extension Project Leader, and an elected Department Advisory Committee.
● Serve as liaison and advocate for the Department within the larger governance structure of the College and University.
● Communicate and foster relationships with clientele, including Departmental alumni, governmental leaders, MSU administrators, other campus units, private sector stakeholders, and professional and disciplinary groups.
● Represent the Department to state and federal agencies, private organizations, partners and collaborators, and key industry groups.
● Advance funds development at the Department, College, and University levels.
The Department is seeking an individual with an outstanding record of achievement including leadership, team building, distinguished scholarship, and dedication to the land grant mission. The applicant should have an appreciation for the range of disciplines related to plant, soil, and microbial sciences and the diverse functions of teaching, research, extension, and outreach, and must exhibit preparedness for administration of a large, diverse department. The successful candidate must possess outstanding leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, along with the ability to promote the Department and increase its national and international prominence. Qualified candidates must have a doctorate in a related discipline and meet the requirements for tenure at the rank of full Professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.
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