Department Head, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Posting Number: PG193025EP
Internal Recruitment: No
Working Title: Department Head - Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE)
Anticipated Hiring Range: Commensurate with Experience
Work Schedule: Varies
Job Location: Raleigh, NC
Department: Dean's Office - CALS
About the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
NC State University’s Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) has a reputation for excellence and is currently ranked 4th among biological engineering programs across the nation according to US News & World Report. It is led by 27 faculty and 24 staff, and has a strong educational program with 225 undergraduate and 60 graduate students. The department is administratively located in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, with the teaching program jointly administered with the College of Engineering.
The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering provides engineering leadership in the development and dissemination of knowledge related to the efficient utilization of biological systems and to the preservation, restoration and management of natural resources, with academic programs in ecological, environmental, bioprocessing, and agricultural engineering. The Department is also pioneering research, education, and extension in data science and robotics, including leading the NC State Agricultural Data Science Certificate program.
About the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences fulfills the land-grant mission by preparing students to thrive in a global marketplace, pursue cutting-edge research and put those results to work across North Carolina and beyond. The college is a connected community of 3,600 undergraduate, graduate and Agricultural Institute students, 345 tenure track and professional faculty, 100 postdocs, 898 staff and 598 county operations employees.
Academic programs span 17 undergraduate majors, 21 undergraduate minors, 12 undergraduate certificates and 11 graduate certificates in 12 academic departments. The college offers 19 bachelor’s degrees, 91 master’s degrees and 45 doctoral degrees. The Agricultural Institute is the college’s two-year program offering six associate of applied science degrees.
The college brings together the brightest minds in academia, government and industry to drive the vital research and innovation necessary to tackle agriculture and life sciences challenges. Award-winning researchers in the college are conducting bold, interdisciplinary research at the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative, Plants for Human Health Institute, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, the North Carolina Food Innovation Lab, four University Field Labs and over 30 facilities on-campus and off- campus. In partnership with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, the college operates 18 agricultural research stations to test research in real-world scenarios under natural conditions.
The Opportunity
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at North Carolina State University (NCSU) invites applications for the position of Head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
The Position
The Head of the Department provides visionary leadership and effective management to academic, research, and extension programs in a dynamic department with a strong reputation for excellence. The Head also has a key role in the recruitment and development of faculty and staff, oversees the planning and evaluation of the Department’s programs, and is responsible for the allocation and accountability of departmental budgetary matters. This position is expected to promote collaborations and partnerships with other University departments as well as state, national, and international agencies. The Head must be a strong advocate for the Department, the College, the University, and the profession. Because CALS is the primary extension arm of NC State Land Grant College, the department head is also expected to foster strong connections with local communities and industry to ensure the research and extension programs are addressing critical needs of North Carolina and in order to guide the growth and advancement of our teaching programs to best prepare students for the workforce. This position is 100% administrative, but with the flexibility to accommodate some research, teaching, or extension activity.
NC State University is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their experience, research, teaching, and/or service, to the excellence of the academic community.
Qualifications
The successful candidate must have a doctorate in agricultural, biological, or a closely related engineering field, and a record of professional achievement suitable for the rank of professor.
Additional qualifications include but are not limited to the following:
• Demonstrated effective communication skills and team-building abilities among faculty, staff, administrators, and students;
• The ability to articulate the vision of the department within the context of a large land-grant university to outside groups including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the general public;
• Abilities in supporting and mentoring faculty, students, and staff and in fostering effective interdisciplinary scholarship; and
• Professional licensure preferred.
How to Apply:
Inquiries and nominations are invited and may be directed to: NC State Executive Search Services: Justin Lang, at (919) 513-1963 or jdlang2@ncsu.edu or Jennibeth Brackett, at 919-268-2861 or vkbrack2@ncsu.edu.
Confidential review of applications will begin in January 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates should provide a resume/CV, cover letter, a two-page statement of vision for leadership of the department, and the names and contact information of three (3) professional references. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. These materials may be submitted online at https://jobs.ncsu.edu/ (position # 00000320). https://apptrkr.com/4888538
NC State provides equal opportunity and affirmative action efforts, and the university prohibits all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation that are based upon a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation or veteran status.
About NC State
At NC State, we create prosperity for North Carolina and the nation. We value diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. We began as a land-grant institution grounded in agriculture and engineering. Today, we’re a pre-eminent research enterprise that excels across disciplines.
NC State is a powerhouse in science, technology, engineering and math. We lead in agriculture, education, textiles, business and natural resources management. We’re at the forefront of teaching and research in design, the humanities and the social sciences. And we’re home to one of the world’s best colleges of veterinary medicine.
Our more than 37,800 undergraduate and graduate students learn by doing. They pursue original research and start new companies. They forge connections with top employers and serve communities locally and globally. Through it all, they enjoy an outstanding return on investment.
For the second consecutive year, NC State made big moves in a national ranking of colleges and universities to rank 60th in the nation, an increase of 12 spots over 2022. Among public institutions, the university remains in the top 30 nationally, moving up one place to 28th. The university was also ranked 53rd for best value this year, an improvement of 13 spots over last year’s rankings. NC State continues to be one of the best universities in the country for veterans, ranking 36th overall, gaining seven spots since last year.
Our more than 9,500 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Together, they forge powerful partnerships with government, industry, nonprofits and academia to remake our world for the better. We expect everyone to give of their talents, skills, time and effort to make NC State an environment of inclusive excellence for all.
About Raleigh and North Carolina
North Carolina’s rapid growth makes the state a diversity leader and top spot for young professionals and families. Raleigh reflects statewide growth as a city on the rise:
• No. 4 among the best places to live in the U.S. (Money, 2022)
• One of America’s top 20 best-run citiies (WalletHub, 2023)
With Durham and Chapel Hill, the capital city anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The region’s top companies — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — rank among the country’s best employers. NC State also maintains strong agricultural partnerships with Bayer, BASF and Syngenta, companies that lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.
Celebrating its 137th year in 2023, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning, discovery and engagement available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.