Associate Director, Agricultural Experiment Station

Position Information

Position Description & Details :

The associate director is responsible for coordinating research programs for the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station (NDAES) and will help lead the ongoing development and implementation of the NDSU Agricultural Affairs strategic plan pertinent to the NDAES, further enhancing and strengthening the research mission. This 12-month, full-time administrative appointment reports to the vice president, dean and director.

Responsibilities :

Participate as an integral member of the vice president for Agricultural Affairs' administrative team

Provide leadership for research program direction and priority needs for the NDAES developed in collaboration with the vice president for Agricultural Affairs ; director of the NDAES; directors of the NDSU Research Extension Centers ; associate dean of the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources ; associate director of NDSU Extension ; director of the Northern Crops Institute ; State Board of Agricultural Research and Education (SBARE); NDSU Ag Budget office; NDSU administrators, faculty and staff; and other stakeholders

Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with other NDSU, North Dakota, national and international research communities, North Dakota commodity groups, industry and stakeholders to form relationships that strengthen the NDAES programming and mission through effective dialogue and connectivity

Coordinate and foster interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research with the seven Research Extension Centers (RECs), and the Agronomy Seed Farm to work to address the myriad challenges and opportunities related to agriculture, food production and natural resource management affecting North Dakota citizens and stakeholders

Guide extramural funding by identifying and communicating funding opportunities to faculty and ensure relevant NDAES federal, state and grant reporting is timely, accurate and in accordance with guidelines

Work with members of the Agricultural Affairs leadership team and other campus units to develop and maintain mentoring and research training programs for NDAES faculty and staff

Partner with NDSU Agriculture Communication to effectively communicate the NDAES strategies and priorities to stakeholders

In collaboration with the vice president for Agricultural Affairs, provide administrative support and guidance to the NDAES service laboratories, centers and institutes

Participate in meetings of the North Central Regional Association of State Agriculture Experiment Station Directors at the request of the NDAES director

Fulfill other duties as assigned

Advertised Salary : Commensurate with experience.

Minimum Qualifications :

• An earned doctorate in an agriculturally related field from an accredited institution
• Academic credentials to merit the rank of a tenured, full professor in one of our seven academic units ( Agribusiness and Applied Economics , Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering , Animal Sciences , Microbiological Sciences , Plant Pathology , Plant Sciences , School of Natural Resource Sciences )
• Leadership experience in administering research programs in an area related to the mission of the NDAES
• In-depth understanding and contemporary vision of the land-grant mission
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work effectively and collegially in a team setting and collaborate with others
• Demonstrated ability to form, lead and manage high-performing teams
• Demonstrated commitment to the promotion of diversity and inclusivity
• Demonstrated ability to develop, maintain and enhance positive working relationships with a wide variety of constituents and stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications :

• Administrative experience as a department head/chair, assistant dean/director, associate dean/director or other pertinent administrative experience is highly desired
• Outstanding record of professional achievement in research, including publications and grantsmanship
• Demonstrated ability to delegate authority and responsibility and maintain accountability to achieve positive results
• Demonstrated knowledge of technology and global issues related to Agricultural Experiment Station research and North Dakota agriculture
• Demonstrated leadership experience at a regional, national or international level
• Demonstrated success related to philanthropy and fundraising to support research program development
• Demonstrated understanding of, experience in and commitment to all aspects of the land-grant mission and the ability to describe and promote the value of agricultural research to members of the general public

Applicant Materials Required:

Application letter, vitae (20 page max), one page leadership statement, and list of five professional references.

Screening will begin 11/19/21

Benefits:

NDSU offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes single or family health insurance coverage with premiums paid for by the university - with an effective date for new employees the first of the month following the date of hire. Other benefits include wellness benefits, basic life insurance, retirement plan, tuition waiver, annual leave, Employee Assistance Program, sick leave and holiday pay. Optional benefits include supplemental life, dental, vision and long-term care insurance, flexible spending account and supplemental retirement plans. Information about employment benefits is available at www.ndsu.edu/hr/benefits/ .

Land Acknowledgement

We collectively acknowledge that we gather at NDSU, a land grant institution, on the traditional lands of the Oceti Sakowin (Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda) and Anishinaabe Peoples in addition to many diverse Indigenous Peoples still connected to these lands. We honor with gratitude Mother Earth and the Indigenous Peoples who have walked with her throughout generations. We will continue to learn how to live in unity with Mother Earth and build strong, mutually beneficial, trusting relationships with Indigenous Peoples of our region.

About Us

North Dakota State University is distinctive as a student focused, land-grant, research university. Our main campus is located in Fargo, ND with Extension Service and Research Experiment Station locations across the entire state. NDSU has been listed in the Top 100 public research universities in the United States for research and development in agricultural sciences, psychology and social sciences, based on reported research expenditures.

NDSU is an exciting place to work offering a stimulating and diverse environment richly populated with people pursuing life-long learning and personal growth. Employees often attend on-campus cultural events, lectures, athletic events and enjoy walks through our beautiful campus.

NDSU employs over 6000 full-time and part-time employees across the state, making it the second largest employer in the community. NDSU is the best college in ND, according to Money Magazine (September 2018). NDSU was named a 2019 Best Value College by Forbes. Fargo made Livability.com's top 10 list of cities to find a job and ranked at #11 for best places to live overall.

NDSU offers a wide array of professional opportunities including faculty, executive, managerial, professional, technical, paraprofessional, office support, servers and crafts/trades. Like a small city, NDSU operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Full time employees are offered a superb benefit package to include 100% company paid health insurance premiums and tuition assistance for employees and immediate family members. All of us at NDSU play an important role in serving our students and public constituencies. We encourage motivated and talented team members that thrive in a higher-ed environment to join our university!

Land Acknowledgment

We collectively acknowledge that we gather at NDSU, a land-grant institution, on the traditional lands of the Oceti Sakowin (Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda) and Anishinaabe Peoples in addition to many diverse Indigenous Peoples still connected to these lands. We honor with gratitude Mother Earth and the Indigenous Peoples who have walked with her throughout generations. We will continue to learn how to live in unity with Mother Earth and build strong, mutually beneficial, trusting relationships with Indigenous Peoples of our region.

The Community

The home of NDSU, Fargo is a bustling metropolitan area that often is listed as one of the best places to live in the country. Fargo-Moorhead is the largest community between Minneapolis and Seattle. Nearly 250,000 people make their home in Cass and Clay counties, which are in the rich farmlands of the Red River Valley. Often cited as a leader in economic development and job creation, the area is noted for its entertainment options, wealth of activities, excellent schools and parks, and outstanding shopping. Safe and clean, the community is receiving national acclaim. In a ranked listing for Businessweek.com, Bloomberg Rankings said Cass County is the “best affordable” place in the country. To learn more about the Fargo-Moorhead area, visit www.fmwfchamber.com/.

The State

North Dakota enjoys one of the best economies in the nation. That economy is built on historically strong and increasing agricultural productivity that leads the nation in 12 commodities. That economy is bolstered by an energy industry that recently has become the third most productive in the nation and made North Dakota the second largest oil-producing state. The viability of this industry is anticipated to extend several decades into the future. North Dakota's economic strength is providing a springboard for steadily increasing opportunities to apply the university's research and discoveries. As a result, North Dakota is experiencing unprecedented economic diversification. To learn more, visit https://commerce.nd.gov/ .

Mission

We provide transformational education, create knowledge through innovative research, and share knowledge through community engagement that meets the needs of North Dakota and the world.

Additional Information

No Smoking Notice:

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.

EO/AA Statement:

North Dakota State University is an Equal Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable.

Veteran's Preference Notice:

This position is subject to North Dakota Veteran's Preference requirements.