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The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) at the University of Connecticut in Storrs (UCONN) invites applications for the position of Department Head, and appointment as Associate Professor or Professor commensurate with the appointee’s record. We are seeking a dynamic and visionary individual to provide academic and administrative leadership for a highly ranked and productive department, with responsibilities to supervise and coordinate faculty and staff to continue building excellence in research, teaching, and extension. UCONN is in the midst of a transformational period of growth supported by the $1.7B Next Generation Connecticut and complementary investments, and guided by the Academic Plan: Path to Excellence.

The position is a 9-month appointment with a 10th month added during service in this administrative position. Applicants must meet University requirements for appointment at the rank of full Professor or Associate Professor, with tenure. Maintaining a personal portfolio of research, teaching and/or extension is expected.

About the Department

The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) is one of nine academic units within the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, offering programs leading to the B.S. and M.S. in Applied and Resource Economics, and the Ph.D. degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics. Graduate students may specialize in international development, food marketing/industrial organization, environmental and resource economics, or health economics and policy. Undergraduate programs include concentrations in Marketing and Business Management, Environmental Economics and Policy, and International Development. The department is home to the Charles J. Zwick Center for Food and Resource Policy, and many faculty hold dual appointments in Economics, the Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Connecticut Sea Grant Program, the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, and others. These resources facilitate and support disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaborations with excellent opportunities for integrated research. With a record of generous alumni giving and high success with competitive grants, our fourteen faculty (eleven tenure track faculty and three non-tenure track), comprise a collegial team devoted to excellence in research and teaching. Our outreach activities involve agriculture, aquaculture, food policy, land use, environmental management, international development, and Sea Grant, as well as the Land Grant mission. ARE is headquartered on UCONN’s main Storrs Campus, with faculty engaged on Avery Point and Hartford campuses, well placed between New York, Boston, Providence and Hartford. For further information, please visit our website (http://www.are.uconn.edu).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As the departmental administrative officer, the Head reports directly to the Dean. Duties include:

• Effective coordination and leadership of undergraduate and graduate teaching, research, and Cooperative Extension and outreach programming.
• Conduct administrative responsibilities for academic affairs, departmental personnel, budget matters, and physical facilities.
• Represent and promote the department within the college, the university, and the state, as well as at the national and international levels.
• Establish and coordinate relationships with relevant research centers, agencies, industries, NGOs, professional societies, alumni, and the citizens of Connecticut.
• Develop effective programs to recruit BS, MS, and PhD students and to attract and retain outstanding faculty, drawing from diversity nationally and internationally.
• Other responsibilities as related to the department Head administrative duties.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D., in Agricultural, Development, or Resource Economics, Economics, or a closely related discipline.
• A record of outstanding and nationally recognized scholarship and professional activities related to teaching, research, and extension or outreach that will qualify the individual to be tenured at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
• Evidence of leadership competence with emphasis on strong interpersonal and communication skills appropriate to sustaining a collegial environment, building a shared vision and mission for the growth of the department, and delivering quality academic programs within an inclusive work environment.
• Demonstrated leadership in developing departmental programs, coordinating capital improvements, stimulating external funding from both public and private sources.
• Significant record of success in obtaining extramural funding from nationally competitive research programs, foundations, private or other donors.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior administrative experience suited to lead an academic department engaged in teaching, research, and service activities at a major Land Grant University.
• Demonstrated ability to encourage consensus while coming to and executing decisions in a collegial atmosphere.
• Demonstrated success in obtaining federal, as well as state or private, research funding and maintaining a nationally recognized program of scholarship.
• Experience recruiting highly qualified graduate and undergraduate students, including those who are traditionally underrepresented in agricultural and resource economics.
• Experience with the Land Grant University system.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

Salary is competitive, commensurate with applicant’s record. The University provides an extensive benefits package, which includes retirement and health insurance coverage. An August 23, 2019 start date is anticipated.

TO APPLY

Select “Apply Now” to be redirected to Academic Jobs Online to complete your application. Provide (1) a statement of vision and leadership philosophy for the Department, (2) a curriculum vitae that includes a list of publications, grants received, and record of teaching experience, outreach and service contributions, (3) a commitment to diversity statement that addresses how the candidate has advanced diversity, equity and inclusion, including past experience, current interests/activities and future goals to promote an environment that fosters diversity and inclusion, and (4) the names and contact information of five professional references. Review of applications will begin March 4, 2019, and will continue until the position is filled.

Inquiries should be sent to the search committee chair, Dr. Stephen Swallow (Stephen.Swallow@uconn.edu) with a copy to Karen Nye (karen.nye@uconn.edu). Please include “Head Search” in the subject line of your email.

Employment of the successful candidate will be contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. (Search #2019281)

This position will be filled subject to budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics, which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

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The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. The diversity of students, faculty, and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural, and diverse community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.