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Open Positions

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Associate Dean and Director, Office of Research

Washington State University | Pullman, WA

Application Deadline: September 1, 2025

• Position Details

  Position Details

  Position Summary

  The College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) seeks candidates to provide visionary leadership for the CAHNRS Office of Research, staff, faculty, and unit leaders to foster competitive research programs in each of the core areas: agricultural, human and natural resource sciences.

  The Associate Dean and Director provides visionary leadership to the research enterprise of CAHNRS, including supervising core Office of Research staff, deploying resources, and working collaboratively with academic units, Research and Extension, and subject-matter center leaders to incentivize and achieve excellence in discovery and translational research. The Associate Dean plays a critical leadership role in assuring Washington State University achieves its land grant mission of enhancing the vitality and sustainability of the State’s diverse and expansive food production systems, its environment and natural resources, and its people and communities. The Associate Dean is responsible for leading CAHNRS’ large and internationally recognized research programs, including over 1,500 personnel, of which nearly 300 are permanent faculty appointed in more than 13 departments located at five campuses and four Research & Extension Centers throughout the state. Annual research expenditures total over $100 million and are derived from state (~35%), capacity funding (4%), extramural grants (46%), and other (~15 %) sources. Annual extramural funding awards received by CAHNRS researchers exceeds $65 million, including significant funding from stakeholders, such as commodity commissions and agencies, to support research and facilities. The CAHNRS Office of Research also maintains strong and effective partnerships with the USDA-ARS units located at Pullman and across the state.

  The Associate Dean and Director carries the additional designation of Director of the CAHNRS Office of Research (COR), also known as the Agricultural Experiment Station by the USDA Secretary of Agriculture. This title occurs upon recommendation of the Administrator of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and in this role has all of the authority and responsibilities that the designation entails.

  The Associate Dean and Director reports to the Dean of the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) and serves as a member of the Dean’s Executive Leadership Committee, participating along with the Associate Deans of Student Success and Academic Programs and Extension in college-level strategic planning, decisions, and governance.

  
  

  Position Responsibilities

  • Work closely with the Dean to advance and promote a clear and compelling vision for the future of WSU food/agricultural, human, and natural resource science research, and motivate internal and external constituencies to work collaboratively to achieve that vision.
  • Provide leadership and direction of all funds, public and private, used to support the CAHNRS college, including grants, gifts, and royalties and guidance to obtain additional funds.
  • Provide strategic oversight and direction for internal research grant competitions.
  • Foster a collaborative research environment that aligns with institutional goals and academic excellence.
  • Provide oversight of research activities within the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences while serving as a member of the College’s administrative team to build strength in research, teaching, extension, and international involvement.
  • Direct personnel matters associated with COR activities, including hiring, assigning duties, delegating authority, and making recommendations for appointments, promotions, and salaries.
  • Collaborate with the Dean, Vice President for Research, Office of Research Support and Operations, and other administrative entities to secure grants and contracts that build capacity and provide direct delivery of contracted services.
  • Work with the Dean and the WSU Foundation to raise private funds necessary to carry out the mission of CAHNRS and the COR.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders important to the research mission of CAHNRS.
  • Ensure CAHNRS and the COR are committed to the Land Grant Mission of WSU and realization of the spirit and letter of federal and state civil rights law and regulations.
  • Support and promote WSU’s and CAHNRS’s strategic initiatives.
  • Cultivate open communications and strong relations with stakeholders including industry organizations, state and federal funding agencies, USDA-ARS and Washington federal legislative offices.
  • Maintain close relationships with CAHNRS research faculty and staff, including those at Research and Extension Centers across the state as well as academic and Extension programs and other colleges to assist in formation of teams to identify research and funding opportunities.
  • Facilitate funding opportunities for CAHNRS faculty and staff by maintaining a strong administrative team of grant proposal and grant management specialists.
  • Assist commercialization of intellectual property developed by CAHNRS faculty and staff.
  • Direct/allocate research space, facilities and equipment.
  • Provide leadership and oversight in the management of the Research and Extension Centers throughout the state.
  • Travel required to fulfill all responsibilities.

  
  

  Required Qualifications

  • History of academic and research excellence for a qualified appointment as a professor and tenurable in a unit within the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.
  • Demonstrated administrative and organizational skills, as evidenced by successful performance in: personnel management; budget and fiscal management from diverse sources; strategic program visioning, planning, management, oversight and evidence-based evaluation; intellectual property creation or administration; and resource procurement.
  • Strong record of research achievement and innovation, as well as understanding and commitment to excellence in the areas of applied research, extension/outreach and scholarship.
  • Demonstrated successful experience and commitment to the recruitment, retention, development, and enrichment of a diverse faculty and staff, and promotion of a positive workplace culture.
  • Terminal degree in disciplinary field aligned with an academic unit in the college.

  
  

  Preferred Qualifications

  • Evidence of effective communication and collaboration skills with private and academic professionals, support staff, and diverse internal constituencies.
  • Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with external constituencies and stakeholders, and to develop collaborations within and outside of CAHNRS.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with and lead a variety of groups, including governmental agency representatives, commodity groups and persons of diverse cultures and backgrounds.
  • Demonstrated skills in organizing interdisciplinary and interinstitutional research.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage or apply the resources of the university to address societal issues and opportunities outside of the academic setting.
  • Ability to take on new responsibilities and work effectively in an environment of rapid change.
  • Demonstrated commitment to promotion of value, inclusion, and respect for gender, sexual orientation/identity, race, culture, and nationality diversity among faculty, staff, and audiences served.
  • An outstanding record of research accomplishments and support from a diversity of funding sources, including competitively funded grants from federal agencies, industry sources, private foundations and commodity groups.
  • Significant knowledge and experience in the policies, processes, and programs for obtaining funding from federal agencies and private foundations.
  • Ability to foster the transfer of university-developed technologies and practices to industry and facilitate public-private partnerships.
  • Experience as director or chair of an academic unit with research expectations.
  • Earned Ph.D. in discipline relevant to the position

  
  

  Other Details

  Position Type: Full Time
  Position Term: 12 Months
  Anticipated Start Date: January 1, 2026, or as negotiated
  Salary: $160,000-$240,000 | Commensurate with experience & qualifications

  
  

  Application Details

  Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

  • A letter of application describing your professional goals, relevant academic and administrative preparation, and experience in leadership positions.
  • A statement of your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion that describes your understanding of these issues, your record of activities to date, and plans and goals for advancing equity and inclusion if selected.
  • A current curriculum vitae.
  • Name, title, organization, phone number, and e-mail address for four people willing to serve as employment references.

  
  

  Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

  External Candiates: upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.
  Current WSU Employees (internal candidates): before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.

  Apply Now!
  

Questions?

Contact us at paajobs@scisoc.org