Texas A&M AgriLife
With oversight by the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Texas A&M AgriLife, a member of the Texas A&M University System, includes: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Forest Service, and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.
Texas A&M AgriLife Research is the leading research and technology development agency in Texas for agriculture, natural resources, and the life sciences. Our discoveries yield economic, environmental, and health benefits that are key to our state’s success and vital to the lives of its citizens. With 13 Research and Extension Centers throughout the state, AgriLife Research is dedicated to research that improves the Texas economy and lives of local and state-wide stakeholders through research encompassing the Agriculture and Food Value Chain.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides programs, tools and resources on a local and statewide level that teach people improved agriculture and food production, advanced health practices, environmental protection, economic and youth programs. Health and wellness programs focus on diabetes education, nutrition, exercise, food safety, child safety and injury prevention, and early cancer detection.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at El Paso was established in 1942 and expanded in 1976. Research offices and laboratories are at two locations, in El Paso at I-10 and Loop 375 on a 44-acre site and in Socorro on a 190-acre site. Facilities include 11 buildings with 65,000 square feet of space including laboratories with extensive analytic equipment, 200-seat auditorium, classroom, offices, video conference room and five greenhouses. The center serves the local community through scientific research, public outreach, and education programs, and collaborates with other AgriLife Research and Extension Centers throughout the state. The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at El Paso has two primary foci: human nutrition and public health, which aims to advance the science and practice of community-based health promotion and disease prevention, and water resource management, which is focused on supporting irrigated agricultural production, transboundary water governance, and urban water security in arid environments. Relevant programmatic and research activities are enhanced through joint faculty appointments with the University of Texas at El Paso.
Position Description
The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at El Paso seeks a full-time research-active faculty member to serve as Director, responsible for administering and coordinating all aspects of the center as well as leading a robust, nationally recognized research program in human nutrition and public health.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
- Serve as Administrative Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at El Paso, supervising and coordinating all aspects of the operation of the center and its associated research properties.
- Serve as Associate Department Head for Extension in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Nutrition.
- Supervise extension nutrition specialists and contribute to the development of an overall vision and direction for the AgriLife Extension nutrition statewide program.
- Develop and administer a robust, nationally recognized research program that also addresses regional needs and priorities.
- Develop and/or lead research teams to respond to internal and external research grant opportunities with involvement of research faculty from AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension, as well as other research institutions.
- Determine and understand the type of programmatic approaches needed to meet the variable educational capabilities of different audiences for effective extension nutrition program planning and execution.
- Provide subject matter support and resources to AgriLife Extension personnel to effectively plan and implement quality educational programs to meet the informational expectations of clientele.
- Assist in coordinating efforts of teaching, research, and extension faculty to create an effective and synergistic working relationship.
- Maintain communication with AgriLife Program Administration, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department Heads, AgriLife Extension leadership, and other Texas A&M University System components regarding issues affecting Texas A&M AgriLife or other system components.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge/Abilities/Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to lead, as well as to function as a strong collaborator on a multidisciplinary team
- Highly organized
- Ability to effectively communicate with AgriLife Program Administration, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department Heads, and AgriLife Extension leadership
- Ability to work cooperatively with others
- Strong writing, public speaking, and presentation skills
- Professional demeanor
- Knowledge and understanding of the mission and role of the Land Grant University System and Extension system
Required Education/Experience
- PhD in related field
- Excellent research background in a relevant field, as demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals, grant funding, and stature appropriate for a full-time faculty appointment
Preferred Education/Experience
- At least 5 years conducting competitively funded research
- At least 5 years developing and designing community intervention and/or dissemination research in nutrition
- Experience working with extension, community partners, and/or public health affiliated agencies
About El Paso, Texas
El Paso is a livable, bicultural community of almost 700,000 people that offers affordable homes and attractive neighborhoods. It has been named among the safest large U.S. cities. El Paso experiences more than 300 days of sunshine annually, and residents enjoy outdoor activities year-round. El Paso offers an ideal venue for academic programs and research studies on topics of national interest such as bilingual education/language acquisition, border environment and immigration, environmental sustainability and infrastructure, health disparities, and international trade and commerce. El Paso’s arts and culture community features the state’s longest running symphony orchestra, a nationally recognized chamber music festival, art galleries, museums, and a full schedule of seasonal events and festivals.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer committed to diversity.
