Auburn University is seeking a Director for the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences (SFAAS) in the College of Agriculture to provide vision and leadership that enhances the College's tradition of excellence in teaching, research, extension/outreach, and service. The successful candidate will serve as the chief academic and administrative officer for the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences and will report directly to the Dean of the College of Agriculture.

The School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences began as a department in 1933 and is noted as one of the best programs of its kind in the world. The SFAAS conducts outstanding teaching, research, extension/outreach and international programs in freshwater and marine aquaculture, fisheries management, and aquatic sciences. The SFAAS has 23 tenure/tenure-track faculty, supports five research fellows and over 100 other full-time employees. The SFAAS is the academic home for about 60 undergraduate students pursuing Bachelor's degrees, and 100 graduate students pursuing a Master of Science, Master of Aquaculture or Doctor of Philosophy in Fisheries. Facilities managed by the SFAAS include the E.W. Shell Fisheries Center, Fish Farming Center, Auburn Shellfish Laboratory, as well as facilities at the Claude Peteet Mariculture Center.

The College of Agriculture consists of the Departments of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology; Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences; Animal Sciences; Biosystems Engineering; Entomology and Plant Pathology; Horticulture; Poultry Science; and the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences. The College of Agriculture has 138 tenured and tenure-track faculty members, 270 graduate students, and over 1,000 undergraduate students.

Auburn University is a Carnegie R1 research institution and one of the nation's premier land, sea and space grant institutions with an enrollment of more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Auburn University is ranked in the top 50 public universities for its undergraduate programs and its College of Engineering is ranked 38th among public institutions offering doctoral programs. The University is in the city of Auburn in east-central Alabama along the rapidly develop I-85 corridor, approximately 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, GA and southeast of Birmingham, AL and is about 60 miles northeast of the state capital (Montgomery). Auburn residents enjoy a thriving community, recognized as one of the "best small towns in America" with moderate climate and easy access to major cities or to beach and mountain recreational facilities. Auburn University is understanding of and sensitive to the family needs of faculty, including dual-career couples. For details, visit the following link: http://www.auburn.edu/academic/provost/facultyjobs/.

The responsibilities of this position are to provide visionary leadership and overall management of the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences. The Director is responsible for all budget development and management, securing funding, recruitment and supervision of personnel, professional development of faculty and staff, and coordination of the assessment and development of academic programs within the School. The Director is assisted in these tasks by two Assistant Directors. Together, they will provide oversight of the numerous state-wide departmental facilities which include extensive research, teaching and outreach/extension facilities at Auburn, Greensboro, Mobile, Dauphin Island, Gulf Shores, and Fairhope.

In addition to leading a world-renowned School, the Director must develop strong working relationships with other departments, commodity groups, agribusiness representatives, various government and private/non-government agencies, and students and alumni. The successful candidate will report to the Dean of Agriculture and maintain close relationships with the Directors of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, USDA-ARS Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit, the Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, the International Center for Aquaculture and Aquatic Environments, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, the Alabama Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium (Dauphin Island Sea Lab), the Aquaculture and Fisheries Business Institute, and the Alabama Department of Natural Resources.

The position requires an earned doctorate or equivalent and a distinguished scholarship record sufficient to merit appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor. The successful candidate should have a vision for advancing and improving the SFAAS; commitment to shared governance; interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary program development; and a demonstrable record of successful administrative skills, experience, and cooperation to achieve university level goals. Effective communication skills with multiple constituencies in a diverse community; management skills for complex organizations including facilities development; strong interpersonal skills; and wide-ranging participation in service activities and professional societies are required. The candidate must be knowledgeable of, and committed to, the unique mission of a land-grant institution and have substantial accomplishments in at least two of the three land grant mission areas.

Capacity for visionary leadership and successful experience in the process of securing funds from the university and external sources for programs related to teaching, research, extension, community outreach and service are desired.

Candidates will submit their application package at the following link: https://www.auemployment.com/postings/41822. This should include a letter of application, curriculum vita, five references, a statement on your leadership philosophy, and a vision statement outlining goals for the SFAAS and your strategic approach to reach them. Keep each statement to no more than 3 pages. While applications and nominations may be accepted until the position is filled, interested parties are highly encouraged to submit their materials by January 30, 2024 to assure optimal consideration. Direct questions to the search committee chair, Dr. David Held, dwh0004@auburn.edu.

The candidate selected for this position must be able to meet eligibility requirements to work in the United States at the time appointment is scheduled to begin and continue working legally for the proposed term of employment.

Auburn University is an EEO/Vet/Disability Employer

AUBURN UNIVERSITY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by applicable law.