Title: Professor and Chair

Location: Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department, Institute of Food and 
Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

Deadline: For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit additional 
materials by 14 March, 2025at 
https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/534505/professor-and-chair-soil-water-and-ecosystem-sciences-department-swesd.
 The position will open until a viable applicant pool is determined.


 Duties and Responsibilities: The chair of the department provides: (1) vision, 
support and coordination in planning, developing and implementing departmental 
programs in teaching, research, and extension in accord with the Land Grant 
Mission; (2) leadership in recruiting and fostering academic growth and 
professional development of faculty, staff, and students; (3) administration of 
the department’s human and financial resources; and (4) facilitation of 
external funding opportunities. The chair administers state, national, and 
international programs of the department. The chair fosters shared governance, 
as outlined in the department by laws, evaluates faculty and staff performance, 
and encourages the proactive development of strategic programs. The chair 
represents departmental and faculty interests with administrators, other 
departments, and units, and outside agencies, individuals and groups in natural 
resources, industry, and communities. The chair collaborates with the 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 worldwide.

Qualifications:

• The Chair must have an earned Doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in 
Soil and Water Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources, or a 
related 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 Department

• Evidence of ability to direct an academic department engaged in teaching, 
research, and extension activities at a major Land-grant university with 
faculty located throughout the state

• Demonstrated ability to direct interdisciplinary, grant funded fundamental 
science and applied research

• Ability to lead and manage multidisciplinary programs

• Effective administrative leadership and managerial skills in: defining 
organizational objectives; developing strategic approaches to planning; 
managing human, fiscal, and physical resources; motivating people and 
developing effective teams; pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities; generating 
and managing grant funds in support of teaching, research, and extension; 
facilitating mentoring and retention of new faculty; securing private funds; 
and attending to details.

• Strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate student recruitment and 
retention for all academic programs in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences.

• Demonstrated ability to interact well with students, faculty, staff, 
administrators within the university, and external stakeholders at the state, 
federal, and international levels

• Effective leadership in outreach to industry and engagement with diverse 
clientele groups

• Commitment to shared governance and fostering strong collaborations among 
state faculty located on the main campus and at the IFAS Research and Education 
Centers

• Commitment to continued professional development for self, and faculty and 
staff

• Commitment to international programs

• Strong support and understanding of the mission of a Land Grant university

Background Information: The mission of the Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences 
Department is to provide scientific leadership in research, graduate and 
undergraduate education, and extension/outreach for soil, water, and 
environmental sciences. By discovering new scientific knowledge and imparting 
that knowledge to fellow scientists, students, and citizens, the Department 
shall assist in the resolution of land and water resource issues related to 
agriculture and natural resources and environment in Florida, the nation, and 
the world. The SWESD has established itself as a leader in teaching, research, 
and extension/outreach programs in management and restoration of these 
resources. The SWESD faculty are located both in Gainesville and at 10 IFAS 
Research and Education Centers (REC) located throughout Florida. Currently, the 
SWESD has 40 tenured/tenure-track faculty positions (19 at RECs and 21 in 
Gainesville) and 9 non-tenure track faculty in Gainesville. Details about the 
SWESD teaching, research, and extension programs can be found at: 
http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu<http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/>.

Employment Conditions: This position is available Spring 2025 and will be 
filled as soon thereafter as an acceptable applicant is available.

Applications: Individuals wishing to apply must go online to 
https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/534505/professor-and-chair-soil-water-and-ecosystem-sciences-department-swesd
 and submit:

a.        Application

b.        Cover letter stating applicant’s interest in the position, 
qualifications relative to the credentials listed above, previous professional 
responsibilities and achievements, administrative and management philosophy, 
and how these relate to the chairs’ position. The letter should include the 
applicant’s general strategy for leadership, vision and growth strategy for the 
department’s research, teaching, and extension mission.

c.        Complete vita (which includes statement of current position and 
responsibilities)

d.        Names and contact information of three individuals who are 
knowledgeable about the applicant’s qualifications for this position

Contact Information and Nomination Submission
Please refer to Position 00041889 and forward all nominations to:
Dr. John Arthington
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
Department of Animal Sciences
P.O. Box 110910
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611
Phone: (941) 661-8034
Email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
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