Categorized Under:
Organization:Virginia Tech
Location:Blacksburg, Virginia
Job Description:
The College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech invites applications and nominations for the position of Professor and Department Head, Department of Wood Science and Forest Products. This is a full time, 12 month, tenure-track position. The position will become available August 1, 2009. The Department is one of four academic units in the College of Natural Resources (Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Geography, and Wood Science and Forest Products).
Established in 1979, the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products has grown to 16 full-time faculty, 6 full-time staff, 9 research-postdoctoral associates, 3 affiliated and adjunct faculty, 41 graduate students and nearly 50 undergraduate students. The department is one of the leading programs in Wood Science and Forest Products in North America and boasts a diverse faculty with wide ranging research and educational interests including: forest products marketing, non-timber forest products, packaging science, unit load design, wood performance in structures, wood composites, wood adhesion, wood formation, cell wall architecture, bio-materials, wood processing, lean manufacturing, and wood industry management. We have a long history of graduate education, completing more than 115 Ph.Ds and many more M.S. degree candidates since formal establishment of the department. Faculty actively participate in interdisciplinary research initiatives on the Virginia Tech campus and the department supports many doctoral candidates pursuing degrees through these initiatives. The Department offers Master of Forestry, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in consistent with areas of faculty specialization. The department has 45,000 sq ft of research and teaching space and is currently planning new facilities and infrastructure.
The Department Head provides leadership in the management and administration of the Department, with oversight in areas of faculty and staff recruiting and retention, diversity, curriculum development, extension and engagement programming, research, budgeting and reporting, facilities, gifts and endowments, and the acquisition of external funding.
The Department Head reports to the Dean, College of Natural Resources and maintains liaisons with other administrators of the college, university, state and federal agencies, and associations.
A resource website has been established for this search with important information about the position, process, department, university, and community. The website is located at www.woodscience.vt.edu/searchresources.
Required Education:
Candidates must have a Ph.D. in an academic discipline related to areas of programming in the department.
Skills:
Candidates should possess a distinguished record of accomplishment, including demonstrated strength in learning, discovery, and engagement. Candidates should have administrative experience or demonstration of administrative potential through roles of continued responsibility and working effectively with people at all levels of an organization or within a university environment. Demonstration of prior collegial leadership and effective communication skills is paramount. The Department Head should be responsive to the needs of faculty and the diverse student body, and committed to cultural and intellectual diversity. Candidates should be able to serve as an effective advocate of the Department in addition to providing a clear vision for moving the Department into the future as a leading frontier in wood science and forest products. Candidates should have knowledge and understanding of the role that wood and renewable materials has both in the national and international arena. Knowledge of the current and emerging trends and issues in wood materials science and utilization is desirable. Candidates should qualify for appointment at the rank of professor in the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, through an established record of accomplishment.
Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the above required qualifications, the candidate would have a demonstrated history of collaboration with colleagues on and off campus, experience reaching out to business, industry, government agencies and associations and the ability to be a good departmental, college, and university citizen.
Apply By:7/24/2009
Contact:Dr. Janaki Alavalapati
Phone:540-231-5676
Email:jrra@vt.edu
Mailing:
Application materials should include the applicant’s resume, with names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of five professional references. References will not be contacted until later stages of the search and candidates will be notified in advance of contacting references. The applicant should address his or her interest in the position by preparing a written statement of interest that addresses the matching of personal skills and education with the position description; please limit to no more than three pages. Please also include a separate vision statement for leading the department. All materials must be submitted electronically. An official transcript must be provided as a condition of employment. Submit on-line at www.hr.vt.edu/employment referring to posting No. 090244. Review of candidate files will begin July 24, 2009 and continue until a suitable candidate is identified. Confidentiality of nominees and applicants will be assured until the on-campus interview stage of the search.
Posted By: KBrasher
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