Notice of Vacancy Director of the Center for Environmental Research, Education and Outreach Washington State University
Search # 115116 OVERVIEW Washington State University (WSU) seeks a Director for the Center for Environmental Research, Education and Outreach (CEREO). The Director is a tenured, full-time position in a relevant academic unit. The start date will be negotiated with the successful candidate. The CEREO position is part of WSU's priority to build a diverse faculty and, as such, female and minority candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. CEREO is a faculty-led initiative featuring 200+ affiliated faculty. The Center was approved by the WSU Faculty Senate in 2006 to promote system-wide (multi-campus) interdisciplinary environmental activities integrated across research, education and outreach efforts that are regional, national, and global in scope. CEREO has become a premier center of research, teaching and service activity, and brought together faculty from all corners of the university - both accomplished senior and early career faculty interested in collaboration on major institutional initiatives. CEREO advances three principal goals in pursuing its innovative and ambitious agenda: * promotion of broad, multi-investigator interdisciplinary research programs for ground-breaking environmental research and graduate training, raising CEREO to the highest status in the University; * facilitation of high quality environmental research, undergraduate teaching, and effective institutional outreach that supports and leverages WSU's Land Grant mandate via active collaboration across WSU's four campuses and numerous Extension centers; * stimulation of productive relationships and coordination of research with diverse stakeholders to share expertise and information, provide service, and promote public/private collaboration to benefit communities at the local and global levels. Through these goals, CEREO has successfully facilitated a number of major (multi-year, large-budget) multidisciplinary grant proposals involving faculty from the biological, physical and social sciences, education, engineering, and agriculture in high-profile cross-campus collaborations. Building on these successes, and the emergence of Earth system environmental health as one of the grand challenges of the 21st century, CEREO has launched a new system-wide initiative known as Earth, Ecosystems, and Society (EES). The purpose of EES is to coordinate and cultivate studies of natural and managed ecosystems, ecosystem services, and the societal and human dimensions of environmental change in an Earth systems context. A particular focus in this regard is the provision of support to teams of faculty early in their careers to develop ambitious proposals for extramural funding featuring cross-disciplinary work. CEREO's Director and Executive Committee will play a key role in the development and operation of EES as it grows in importance at the University. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Director shall be a demonstrated leader and an effective communicator of stature who works with an actively engaged Executive Committee and Center membership to achieve CEREO's broadly shared vision. The Director will facilitate the continued ascendance of CEREO's national and international reputation. In addition, the Director must be proficient in developing, overseeing, and managing budgets and resources efficiently, and instrumental in building and strengthening relationships with professional associations, industry, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders. Additionally, it is expected that the successful applicant will: * Provide transparent leadership in a collaborative setting and work effectively with the University Provost, the Vice President for Research, Deans of the Colleges, the Director of WSU Extension, the CEREO Executive Committee, and the CEREO External Advisory Board. * Stimulate the development of collaborative relationships among colleges and departments. * Manage the operations and strategic development of CEREO through active, ongoing engagement of the CEREO Executive Committee and CEREO affiliated faculty across all campuses. * Promote and coordinate the development of broad interdisciplinary grant proposals. * Represent, support and integrate the education, research and extension programs encompassed by the disciplines present at a Land Grant university. * Foster active collaboration with relevant outside agencies and organizations using the outreach infrastructure of the university spanning local, regional, national and global networks. * Advance the university's commitment to diversity and multiculturalism among faculty, staff, students, research, teaching and community outreach, with relevant programs, goals and activities. * Work with university administration, faculty, and external stakeholders to implement the enhancement of EES, specifically its faculty fellowship, magnet-facility, and environmental education program elements. SALARY AND COMPENSATION Salary and compensation are commensurate with candidate qualifications and experience and competitive with similar positions nationally. QUALIFICATIONS Required Qualifications * Earned Ph.D. or equivalent degree in any environmentally-related research discipline and a strong scholarly record of research and/or policy experience on environmental topics suitable for tenure at the associate or full professor level within a relevant academic unit at Washington State University. * A record of accomplishment leading to national and international recognition for excellence in scholarship related to the environment. * Experience in obtaining and managing large multi-disciplinary extramural grants over the past 60 months. * Substantial familiarity with a wide array of governmental and foundation-based funding. Demonstrated: * Ability to work with faculty from a variety of disciplines. * Ability to work collegially and collaboratively with diverse internal and external constituencies. * Knowledge and ability to work effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies in a global environment. * Skills as a highly effective communicator with both professional and public audiences. * Appreciation for, and understanding of, the mission of a Land Grant institution. * Abilities in consensus building, strategic planning and implementation. * Appreciation for, and understanding of, the importance of working in a multi-campus university system. UNIVERSITY Washington State University (www.wsu.edu<http://www.wsu.edu>) is a Land Grant research institution with an enrollment of approximately 27,300 students distributed across four campuses located in Pullman, Spokane, Vancouver, and the Tri-Cities (Richland, Pasco and Kennewick). The WSU multi-campus system was developed in the mid-1980s under the guiding principle of "one University geographically dispersed." In addition to the four campuses, there are Extension offices in every county of the state, eight agricultural research centers, and online degree programs accessible worldwide. In each of these locations, there are active environmental programs conducting research, teaching or outreach which will allow tremendous opportunities for CEREO to grow and have a large impact across the state and region. WSU has excellent faculty-friendly policies, including a partner accommodation program, and is the recipient of a 2008 National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation award to increase the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women faculty in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines (see www.ADVANCE.wsu.edu<http://www.ADVANCE.wsu.edu>). The Carnegie Foundation classifies WSU as one of 96 U.S. public and private universities with very high research activity. There are seven colleges offering doctoral degrees in 44 disciplines; Master's and bachelor's degrees are offered in 55 areas of study. WSU is one of the largest residential universities in the West. Close collaborations also exist with the University of Idaho, in Moscow, ID, which is also a Land Grant research institution of 12,500 students located just eight miles to the east. The close proximity facilitates collaboration of research, teaching and extension activities. For additional information on the Washington State University campuses and the surrounding communities, please see http://provost.wsu.edu/prospective-faculty.html. Formal screening of applications will begin November 26, 2012 and continue until the position is filled. Both nominations and applications are welcome. All nominations should be sent to Ana Blaisdell ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>). All applications must be submitted to http://www.wsujobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=57572. An application should include: 1) a cover letter, not to exceed three single-spaced pages, addressing how the applicant's credentials and experience meet the needs, responsibilities and qualifications described above; 2) a current curriculum vitae; and 3) the names, mailing addresses, e-mail addresses and phone numbers of at least four professional references who are able to speak to the applicant's professional and administrative abilities. Strict confidentiality will be maintained for all applicants, and none of the references listed will be contacted without the prior consent of applicants. For additional information contact Kristen Johnson, Search Committee Chair ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) or any member of the CEREO Director Search Committee. Contact information for committee members is found at www.CEREO.wsu.edu. WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply. WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Washington State University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521(v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509.-335-1259(f), or [email protected].
