POSITION VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Work Location: Crowley, Louisiana
Position Description:
Our Commitment
The LSU AgCenter is committed to innovation and education that improves the lives of Louisiana citizens and the world. As part of the land-grant, the LSU AgCenter conducts research to enrich and improve the impact of agriculture in the areas of food safety, availability, and security. The LSU AgCenter strives to create a learning and working environments for all by promoting a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability.
What We Are Looking For
The LSU AgCenter is looking for a proven leader who has passion for the land-grant mission in providing oversight to a world-renowned rice research station, sugar cane research station, as well leading a regional Cooperative Extension program of 14 parishes. This dynamic leader should possess the ability to provide strategic leadership and administrative direction for all LSU AgCenter research and extension programs within the Southwest Region. This includes research and extension programs in agronomic and horticultural crops, animal sciences, agricultural and natural resource programs, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and community development.
The regional director provides direct leadership for the region’s programs, but also works indirectly through program coordinators and those with programmatic leadership responsibilities for parish and regional extension programs and research stations. The regional director reports to the directors of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station and Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.
Major responsibilities are as follow:
- Maintain contact and communication with appropriate stakeholder groups to continually assess program needs and effectiveness.
- Work with regional and programmatically related personnel to continually review existing programs, make adjustments and develop new programs to meet regional needs.
- Administer budgets, financial transactions, all human resource management (hiring, personnel issues), facilities and property control.
- Oversee annual personnel evaluations, maintenance and control of facilities and property, and ensure proper financial controls are in place.
- Make recommendations regarding programmatic, personnel, budgetary and facilities and related needs, along with adjustments or reassignments of personnel, to efficiently and effectively serve the stakeholders of the region.
- Facilitate policy and procedure compliance by regional personnel and in regional activities. Promote the principles of equal opportunity and diversity in programs and employment.
- Provide leadership to parish chairs, station coordinators, and programmatic coordinators in problem resolution.
- Represent Agency Directors and the Vice President for Agriculture; provide input into organization-wide planning, programs and decisions; and facilitate their implementation.
- Work cooperatively with other regional directors and administrators of the LSU AgCenter to coordinate and optimize the AgCenter’s statewide efforts and effectiveness.
- Seek opportunities to contribute to the College of Agriculture’s teaching programs and for student involvement in regional programs.
About the Southwest Region: The Southwest Region includes 14 parish extension offices (Acadia, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion, and West Baton Rouge Parishes as well as the three research of Rice, Sugar Cane, and Iberia stations). The Southwest Region Office is located at the Rice Research Station in Crowley, Louisiana. The Southwest Region is one of 5 regions in the LSU AgCenter. The AgCenter is one of nine campuses within the broader LSU enterprise (LSU System), and includes the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, which conducts agricultural-based research, and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, which extends the knowledge derived from research to the people of the state. The AgCenter is headquartered in Baton Rouge and has 13 “on campus” academic departments. Administratively aligned with the AgCenter is the LSU A&M campus’s College of Agriculture (COA) which oversees the teaching function. The COA has eleven academic departments, ten of which are shared with the AgCenter, and a comprehensive array of programs that encompass all aspects of agriculture.
Qualification Requirements: Applicants must have an earned doctorate degree in agriculture, extension education, renewable natural resources, human ecology or other field related to the programs of the AgCenter and hold tenure or have a sufficient record to support granting immediate tenure. Must have demonstrated leadership ability and administrative skills and a commitment to the Land Grant mission, along with a demonstrated record of accomplishment in recognized disciplines related to the AgCenter’s mission. Prior administrative experience is desirable.
Salary and Benefits: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The LSU AgCenter has an attractive benefits package with a wide variety of benefit options. Benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses), university holidays (14 per year, typically includes a week off at Christmas), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits, Employee Assistance Program, and possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System. Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.
Date Available: Upon completion of selection process
Application Deadline: July 31, 2023, or until a suitable candidate is identified. It is anticipated that interviews will be conducted in June.
Application Procedure: Qualified candidates must apply online at https://lsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/LSU (or through Workday for internal applicants) by attaching file(s) containing a letter of application, resume, names and contact information for three references, along with a statement of administrative philosophy and a statement describing how diversity would figure into your teaching, research, or extension activities. Official transcripts will be required prior to hire. Questions about the on-line system should be directed to the HRM Office at 225/578-0324. Questions about the position should be directed to either:
Toby L. Lepley, PhD
Search Committee Co-Chair
Associate Vice-President, Youth Program Leader
Interim Regional Director – Southwest Region
104 Norman J. Efferson Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Email tlepley@agcenter.lsu.edu
Phone 225.478.4161
Adam Famoso, PhD
Search Committee Co-Chair
Associate Professor, Rice Research Station
1373 Caffey Road, Rayne, LA 70578
Email afamoso@agcenter.lsu.edu
Phone 337-788-7531
The LSU Agricultural Center is a statewide campus of the LSU System and provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
