Executive Director – Agriculture, Natural Resources & Strategic Centers, USU Extension

Utah State University Extension is seeking an experienced collaborative and forward-thinking leader to serve as Executive Director & Extension Professor Agriculture Natural Resources & Strategic Centers. Based at Utah State Universitys main campus in Logan Utah this position provides statewide leadership for Extensions agriculture natural resources and strategic center portfolio and also serves as the State Agriculture Extension Program Leader.

As a senior leader within USU Extension the Executive Director provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for a diverse portfolio of Extension programs centers facilities and statewide initiatives including:

• Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources Department
• Davis Agricultural Heritage Center
• USU Botanical Center
• Ogden Botanical Gardens
• Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter

Reporting to the Vice President of USU Extension the Executive Director works across these areas to establish strategic direction align people and resources strengthen partnerships support organizational leaders and increase the collective impact of Extension programs and facilities throughout Utah.

This position serves as a leader of leaders providing direction support and accountability to directors faculty and personnel responsible for the day-to-day leadership of programs and centers within the portfolio.

The Executive Director also serves as a member of USU Extensions senior leadership team contributing to organization-wide strategy resource planning policy development and decision-making.

While each area within the portfolio has a distinct mission audience and expertise the Executive Director is responsible for identifying opportunities to connect programs people facilities partnerships and resources in ways that strengthen USU Extensions statewide mission and service to Utah communities. The successful candidate would be expected to represent USU Extension at social and donor events industry conferences and other events where USU Extension leadership is expected to represent USU with distinction. This position requires frequent statewide travel as well as frequent evening and weekend work.

Strategic Leadership

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for Agriculture & Natural Resources and the centers and initiatives within the assigned portfolio.
• Establish priorities that align with USU Extension and Utah State University goals.
• Translate organizational priorities into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
• Work with faculty and staff to establish goals priorities and expectations for their respective areas.
• Identify emerging opportunities challenges and needs throughout Utah and position Extension to respond effectively.
• Advise Extension executive leadership regarding programs facilities personnel resources partnerships risks and opportunities.
• Lead and support organizational change and strategic initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration across programs and centers while preserving the distinct mission and strengths of each area.

Agriculture & Natural Resources

• Provide executive leadership for USU Extensions statewide agriculture and natural resources portfolio.
• Support Extension faculty staff specialists programs and initiatives serving Utahs agricultural producers landowners communities industries home horticulture and natural resources.
• Strengthen connections among county and statewide Extension programming academic departments researchers industry government agencies and community partners.
• Support development of responsive programming addressing current and emerging agricultural and natural resource needs.
• Encourage interdisciplinary approaches that connect university expertise with practical needs throughout Utah.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen expand and sustain high-impact Extension programming.
• Advocate for the personnel financial and program resources necessary to support effective statewide delivery.

Strategic Centers & Facilities

• Provide executive leadership and long-term strategic direction for the USU Botanical Center Davis Agricultural Heritage Center Ogden Botanical Gardens and Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter.
• Support the distinct educational agricultural horticultural environmental conservation research demonstration and community-facing missions of the centers.
• Work with center leadership to establish long-term strategic and operational priorities.
• Provide strategic oversight for significant Extension facilities land equipment and other physical assets.
• Identify opportunities to increase utilization programming partnerships visibility and community impact.
• Coordinate facility capital maintenance and infrastructure priorities with appropriate university partners.
• Support sustainable operational and financial models for Extension centers.
• Encourage collaboration among centers and other Extension programs when shared expertise facilities or resources can increase impact.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of university facilities land equipment and other resources.

Organizational Leadership & People Development

• Provide direct leadership supervision coaching and development to county Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty and program coordinators. There are approximately 50 direct reports.
• Administrate the promotion and tenure process for county faculty in the Agriculture and Natural Resources department.
• Build a strong and collaborative leadership team across programs and centers.
• Establish clear roles responsibilities decision-making authority expectations and accountability.
• Support faculty in addressing complex organizational personnel programmatic and operational issues.
• Evaluate organizational structures and workforce needs and recommend changes when appropriate.
• Oversee and support recruitment retention professional development and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of collaboration professionalism innovation transparency accountability service and responsible stewardship.
• Encourage communication and collaboration across geographically dispersed personnel and programs.

Financial & Resource Stewardship

• Provide strategic oversight of financial personnel facility and program resources across the portfolio.
• Work collaboratively with Extension executive leadership and Extension Business Services to establish funding and resource priorities.
• Provide strategic direction regarding allocation and use of resources while maintaining appropriate financial controls and administrative responsibilities.
• Review financial and operational performance and identify areas requiring attention or investment.
• Evaluate the long-term financial sustainability of programs centers facilities and initiatives.
• Support development of grants gifts partnerships program revenues and other external resources.
• Ensure resources are aligned with Extension priorities and used responsibly.
• Promote accountability and stewardship of state federal county grant gift program-generated and other university resources.

Partnerships & External Relations

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with county and municipal governments state and federal agencies agricultural organizations industry businesses nonprofit organizations community partners donors and other stakeholders.
• Represent USU Extension in appropriate statewide regional university and community discussions.
• Identify opportunities for collaborative programming shared investment and strategic partnerships.
• Strengthen connections between university expertise and the needs of Utah communities.
• Work with Extension and university leadership to develop partnerships that advance organizational priorities.
• Serve as an advocate for the programs people centers and communities represented within the portfolio.

Innovation Program Development & Impact

• Encourage innovation and responsible experimentation across Extension programs and centers.
• Support development and implementation of new programs responsive to emerging needs.
• Establish expectations for evaluation outcomes and organizational performance.
• Use data program outcomes financial information and stakeholder feedback to inform decisions.
• Communicate accomplishments outcomes opportunities and challenges to Extension executive leadership.

Policy Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure operations within the portfolio comply with applicable university policies and state federal contractual and funding requirements.
• Establish expectations for appropriate financial personnel operational and program accountability.
• Work collaboratively with Extension Business Services Human Resources Sponsored Programs Facilities Risk Management and other university partners.
• Identify significant organizational and operational risks and ensure they are appropriately addressed.
  Promote appropriate internal controls and responsible stewardship of university resources.
• Ensure faculty and staff within the administrative portfolio understand and fulfill their responsibilities for compliance and accountability.
• Additional Responsibilities
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of USU Extension and Utah State University priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters degree in an agriculture or natural resources related field (i.e. animal science range management horticulture agronomy forestry) plus substantial progressively responsible leadership experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Rank of Extension Professor or Professor with tenure or if outside Utah State University the equivalent of Full Professor rank with tenure.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex organizations programs centers or multiple functional areas.
• Demonstrated experience supervising developing and supporting employees.
• Experience with strategic planning organizational development financial management resource allocation and decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain productive relationships with various internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong leadership communication organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with elected officials especially county elected officials.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and lead effectively within a complex organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience within Cooperative Extension higher education agriculture and/or natural resources.
• Experience working as a county faculty/agent or Extension specialist.
• Experience leading statewide or geographically dispersed programs and personnel.
• Experience overseeing significant facilities centers land or public-facing operations.
• Experience working with state federal county grants gifts program-generated and other funding sources.
• Demonstrated success developing external partnerships and securing resources.
• Experience leading organizational change or developing new programs and initiatives.
• Knowledge of the land-grant university and Cooperative Extension mission.

Along with the online application please attach:

1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under Resume/CV
2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

This position operates primarily in a professional office environment but requires frequent travel throughout Utah to Extension offices university facilities agricultural operations centers community locations and other program sites. Work may occasionally occur outdoors and involve exposure to varying weather conditions uneven terrain agricultural environments and active facilities. Frequent evening and weekend work is required including attendance at university industry community donor and stakeholder events.

The position requires extended periods of sitting and working at a computer as well as standing and walking during meetings events facility visits and site tours. The employee must be able to travel independently to locations throughout the state and occasionally transport or handle materials associated with meetings events or program activities.

The position requires the ability to manage multiple and competing priorities exercise sound judgment analyze complex organizational and financial information communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences and make decisions in situations that may involve sensitive confidential or time-sensitive matters. The employee must be able to lead and participate in meetings presentations negotiations and difficult conversations; adapt to changing priorities; and work effectively with geographically dispersed employees and stakeholders.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Utah State University Extension provides research-based programs and resources to individuals families businesses and communities throughout Utah. As part of Utahs land-grant university Extension connects university expertise and research with the practical needs of Utahns.

Through faculty and staff located across the state USU Extension delivers programs in agriculture and natural resources youth development family and consumer sciences community and economic development and other areas responsive to Utahs changing needs.

The Executive Director Agriculture Natural Resources & Strategic Centers will play a key role in bringing together Extensions people programs partnerships expertise and physical resources to strengthen communities and create meaningful impact throughout Utah.

Founded in 1888 Utah State University is Utahs premier land-grant public service university. As an R1 research institution Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local regional and global communities. USU prepares students to be active civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education USU remains a leader in research discovery and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29800 students both online and in person atlocations throughout the state.Utah States 30 locations include a main campus in Logan Utah residential campuses in Price and Blanding and six additional statewide campuses along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference officially joining on July 1 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 202526 with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors and to the community where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected valued and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit hire and retain people from all walks of life who willchampion excellence in education research discovery outreach and believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be recognized our commitment to employees when they namedUtah State the best employer in Utahin 2023.Learn moreabout USU.

The university provides aDual Career Assistance Programto support careers for partners who are also seeking is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability contact the universitys ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at or.

*updated 07/2026

In its programs and activities including in admissions and employment Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment based on race color religion sex national origin age genetic information sexual orientation gender identity disability status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by University policy Title IX or any other federal state or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring promotion transfer or termination based on race color religion sex national origin age genetic information sexual orientation gender identity disability status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal state or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race color religion sex familial status disability national origin source of income sexual orientation or gender identity. Additionally the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USUs non-discrimination policies:

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

Old Main Room 405

1475 Old Main Hill Logan UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination please visit or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

*updated 08/2026