Texas AM AgriLife Research seeks a full-time, research-active, and dynamic individual

with a proven record of research excellence to serve as Center Director at the agency’s Corpus

Christi Center. This person will administer and coordinate all aspects of the Center and

participate in active research through collaboration. This is a 12-month appointment and will be

linked as Graduate Faculty affiliation with a department in Texas AM University College of

Agriculture and Life Sciences that best fits the candidate’s background and interests.

The Center Director is expected to provide visionary leadership, recognize and respond to

dynamic research and public service needs regionally and statewide, and catalyze the design and

implementation of innovative research projects to enhance overall faculty research productivity.

The Center Director is also responsible for fostering productive partnerships and relationships

with relevant organizations, recruiting and retaining highly qualified faculty and staff, promoting

professional development among faculty and staff, facilitating the acquisition of external

resources, and providing fair, sound, and transparent management of human, physical, and fiscal

assets. Central to the success of this position is the ability to foster interdisciplinary research and

collaborate on the subject matter with department heads, university administration, Texas AM

AgriLife Extension, local/state/national/international research entities, civic and business leaders,

and advisory and commodity groups.

Responsibilities

 In collaboration with research faculty at the Corpus Christi Center, facilitate development of

a vision for the continued role of the Center and AgriLife Research in the dynamic

environment of agriculture, food, and water science in the Corpus Christi area, throughout

Texas, the nation, and globally.

 Foster intellectual, philosophical, and strategic leadership with Center faculty and scientists,

staff, and students to enhance research, extension, and teaching missions.

 Develop strategic responses to agriculture-related challenges and opportunities, particularly

in meeting the needs of the region’s food, feed, fiber, and value-added processing industries.

 Facilitate the development of research teams to respond to internal and external research

grant opportunities with the involvement of research faculty from AgriLife Research and

AgriLife Extension, as well as other research partners.

 Manage human and fiscal resources and build a strong and growing portfolio of extramural

funding to enhance the Center’s research capacity and reputation.

 Represent the Center to state and federal agencies, private organizations, partners,

collaborators, key industry groups such as cotton, sorghum, cattle, and aquaculture

commodity groups, and international organizations.

 Provide leadership for the coordination of efforts between research, teaching, and extension

faculty to create an effective and synergistic working relationship.

 Coordinate with the administration of AgriLife Research to plan initiatives, convey research

and extension information, and pursue fundraising opportunities that will benefit the Center

far into the future.

 Communicate effectively with AgriLife Research administration, center directors with

AgriLife Research across the state, department heads in the College of Agriculture and Life

Sciences, AgriLife Extension leadership, and other Texas AM University System

components.

 Develop collaborative and administrative leadership between Center Director and District

Extension Administrator for Research and Extension programs and operations for the Center.

Administrative Relationship

This position reports to the Director of Texas AM AgriLife Research.

Required Education/Experience

 An earned Ph.D. in an agricultural or closely associated discipline

 A well-recognized leader in interdisciplinary agricultural sciences, with an excellent

research background, as demonstrated by highly cited multi-authored peer reviewed

publications, a strong history of grant funding, honors and awards, and academic stature

appropriate for a full-time faculty appointment at the rank of Professor.

 Expertise in highly quantitative aspect of research that focuses on integration across

disciplines.

 Demonstrated history of working effectively in applied, basic, and integrated sciences.

 Demonstrated ability to engage with stakeholder groups, identify critical challenges, and

conduct solutions-oriented research to address them.

 Demonstrated success in building, supporting, and leading interdisciplinary teams.

 Experience in managing human and fiscal resources.



Preferred Education/Experience

 At least 10 years of experience conducting competitively funded research.

 Knowledge of the land grant university system and a track record of using research and

extension to solve problems and convey practical solutions to stakeholders.

 Demonstrated experience navigating conflicting interests to achieve accepted practices

among groups (e.g., stakeholders, trade associations, commodity groups, state and/or federal

agencies, and non-governmental organizations)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

 Demonstrates excellent writing and speaking skills in English.

 Able to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, administration, and stakeholders.

 Able to manage interdisciplinary teams effectively.

 Able to inspire Center employees, manage teams, and invest in the individual success of

staff members.

 Demonstrates a clear commitment to the mission of a land-grant university system.

 Skilled in strategic planning and development to advance the goals of the Center.

 Able to coordinate with broad-based partners and stakeholders to address current and

emerging agricultural, food, and water challenges statewide, nationally, and internationally.

Corpus Christi Research and Extension Center

The Texas AM AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi was formally

dedicated in May 1974. The Center includes satellite stations located at Beeville and Flour Bluff.

Research and Extension faculty and staff located at the Center research problems facing South

Texas including agricultural economics, animal science, crop physiology, digital agriculture,

entomology, family and consumer health, forage agronomy, aquaculture, rangeland management,

crop sciences, and youth development.

Location

Texas AM AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 10345 State Hwy. 44

Corpus Christi, TX 78406.

Texas AM AgriLife

Texas AM AgriLife, a member of the Texas AM University System, is administered by

the Vice Chancellor and Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences and includes Texas AM

AgriLife Extension Service, Texas AM AgriLife Research, the College of Agriculture Life

Sciences at Texas AM University, Texas AM Forest Service, and Texas AM Veterinary

Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

Texas AM 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 centers throughout the state, AgriLife Research is dedicated to

research that improves the Texas economy and lives of local and statewide stakeholders through

research across the whole agricultural value chain. Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service

provides programs, tools, and educational resources to improve agriculture and food and fiber

production, advance human health, protect the environment and natural resources, enhance

profitability, and enrich youth development.