Director of the Center for Agriculture Food the Environment and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Agricultural Research Engagement

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst the Commonwealths flagship campus is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1450acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College Hampshire College Mount Holyoke College and Smith College) which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Located in the historic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and established in 1863 under the Morrill Land Grant Act the University of Massachusetts Amherst is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R1: DoctoralUniversities Very highresearch institution and one with an exemplary commitment to Community Engagement. Offering a full range of undergraduate and graduate degrees the 1200acre campus serves over 24000 undergraduate students and 7800 graduate students in a rich cultural environment. The University of Massachusetts Amherst and CAFE also manages a number of farms forests and extension and research facilities in the Pioneer Valley and across Massachusetts.

About the Center for Agriculture Food and the Environment (CAFE)

The UMass Amherst Center for Agriculture Food and the Environment (CAFE) plays a critical role in establishing the longterm value of the modern landgrant research university. CAFE advances academic research and practical solutions to issues and problems that impact the wellbeing of people communities farms businesses and natural systems within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Building on a tradition of leadership and support for Massachusetts agriculture the CAFEs flexible portfolio of projects programs and initiatives seeks to promote academic scholarship and its application and dissemination for broad public benefit in the areas of agriculture food and the environment.

Job Description

The University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applications for the Director of the Center for Agriculture Food and the Environment (CAFE) and the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Agricultural Research and Engagement. The successful candidate will also serve as Director for both UMass Extension and the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station. The position reports to the Dean College of Natural Sciences and to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement. The position will include an underlying academic appointment as either a tenure system faculty member or Extension faculty. The academic area of the appointment will be in an area jointly with the CAFE.

CAFE is comprised of UMass Extension the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station the UMass Cranberry Station and the Massachusetts Water Resources Research Center. CAFE has made a strategic commitment to a multidisciplinary approach in which academic research and the resulting scholarship is integrated with educational programs resources tools or technologies that meet the needs of citizens communities organizations businesses government agencies or policymakers. This position requires dynamic transformational leadership to champion the reinvention of the landgrant mission for the 21st century and help position the University of Massachusetts Amherst as the flagship public campus of Americas education state.

Essential Functions

• Lead CAFE in pioneering a new approach to the landgrant mission of serving the needs of people and communities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by advancing and applying scientific research.
• Foster multi and interdisciplinary research and educational programs that advance scholarship and address issues of critical public concern.
• Direct organizational systems and procedures to support fiscal management program development program assessment and evaluation personnel management and information management and technologies.
• Shape support and maintain a framework and a culture of shared leadership and effective communication among internal managers external stakeholders and University leaders.
• Communicate a compelling vision for CAFE to internal and external audiences in both rural and urban settings.
• Convene a broad array of internal and external stakeholders to inform program development.
• Stakeholders include faculty and staff university administrators program participants collaborating local state and federal officials businesses professional associations and nongovernmental organizations.
• Represent UMass Amherst to the USDA in interactions with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and in appropriate regional and national professional groups.
• Direct and oversee externally focused initiatives and procedures to support communications and marketing public accountability organizational advocacy and resource development.
• Contribute to the evaluation of Extension Faculty annually and for promotion.

Requirements

The successful candidate must have an established record of executive leadership in a public or private setting related to agriculture food or the environment; significant experience in programmatic leadership; and a track record of developing fiscal and management systems for progressive change. The candidate should be able to provide leadership for the development of innovative entrepreneurial academic and educational activities.

• Doctoral degree in a natural science agricultural science public policy public health or education.
• Four 4 or more years of relevant academic leadership and management in work related to agricultural food or environmental issues.
• Four 4 or more years of experience in fiscal and personnel management.
• Strong demonstrated abilities as a successful communicator including experience dealing with sensitive public issues in on and offcampus settings.
• Prior experience in or knowledge of landgrant universities and extension programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Entrepreneurial track record.
• Prior experience in higher education and basic and applied research.
• Record of innovative program development and revenue generation.
• Experience in disciplinary or professional roles that cross traditional boundaries between agricultural food and environmental areas.

Application Instructions

Along with the application please submit a cover letter current curriculum vitae a one 1 page statement of the candidates vision of research and educational outreach within a land grant university a one 1 page statement of the candidates administrative philosophy a Diversity Statement (see below) and contact information for three 3 professional references.

The preferred starting date for this position is January 1 2025 or sooner. Start date can be discussed with the finalist.

As part of a commitment to their own multicultural community CNS seeks an individual with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and one who will understand and embrace university initiatives and aspirations. In addition to the application materials above candidates will need to submit a Statement of Contribution to Diversity Equity and Inclusion. The Diversity Statement should identify past experiences and future goals. These contributions may result from lived experiences scholarships and/or mentoring teaching and outreach activities. University is committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women minorities protected veterans and individuals with disabilities and encourages applications from these and other protected group members. Because broad diversity is essential to an inclusive climate and critical to the Universitys goals of achieving excellence in all areas we will holistically assess the many qualifications of each applicant and favorably consider an individuals record working with students and colleagues with broadly diverse perspectives experiences and backgrounds in educational research or other work activities. We will also favorably consider experience overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to an academic career and degree.