Chair & Prof

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF .

 Duties and Responsibilities:  The chair of the department provides: (1) vision, support and coordination in planning, developing, and implementing departmental programs in teaching, research, and extension in accord with the Land-Grant Mission; (2) leadership in recruiting and fostering academic growth and professional development of faculty, staff, and students; (3) administration of the department’s human and financial resources; and (4) promotion of external funding opportunities. The chair administers state, national, and international programs of the department. The chair fosters shared governance, as outlined in the department bylaws, evaluates faculty and staff performance, and encourages the proactive development of strategic programs. The chair represents departmental and faculty interests with administrators, other departments, and units, and outside agencies, individuals and groups in natural resources, industry, and communities. The chair collaborates with the IFAS Senior Vice President, Deans, Associate and Assistant Deans, other IFAS Chairs and Research and Education Center Directors, and other administrators in providing leadership for delivering integrated programs to meet the needs of students, Florida agriculture, citizens of the state of Florida, Extension clientele, research sponsors, and other stakeholders.

Background Information:   The Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation has 25 campus faculty, 5 off-campus faculty, 28 adjunct and affiliate faculty, and 14 staff positions supporting teaching (College of Agriculture), research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station), and extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service). Research grants and contracts support another 75 plus technical positions, graduate student stipends, and post-docs. The Department offers programs leading to B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Departmental enrollment is highly selective with approximately 85 WEC-advised graduate students, more than 100 online Wildlife Forensics Sciences and Conservation student majors and 225 undergraduate majors. A strong team of administrative staff members supports the department chair in personnel, fiscal, and operational management of the department.

The Department's mission is to foster education and research using multi-disciplinary approaches for the purpose of understanding, managing, and conserving biodiversity. The intent is to prepare tomorrow’s conservation leaders through promoting scholarship, communication, and synthesis of new knowledge. The Department has focused historically on strategies for conserving wildlife and habitats in forest, wetland, coastal, and grassland ecosystems, and has a long and storied history working on wildlife conservation across the globe. The breadth of the Department encompasses several programmatic areas including tropical conservation, conservation biology, invasive species management, landscape ecology, wildlife management, including research on non-game and game species, and the human dimensions of resource management. This multi-disciplinary program is further enhanced by the inclusion of the Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit with its research contributions ranging from population to ecosystem ecology. These programs are further enriched at the University of Florida by collaboration opportunities among ecological scientists and faculty in aligned disciplines and various centers across the state and internationally.

The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 60,000 students. UF is a member of The Association of American Universities. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Florida Sea Grant program, and encompasses 16 on-campus academic departments and schools, 12 Research and Educational Centers (REC) located throughout the state, 6 research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments, and Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties. The School of Natural Resources and Environment is an interdisciplinary unit housed in IFAS and managed by several colleges on campus.  UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, which includes approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent support personnel located in Gainesville and throughout the state. IFAS, one of the nation’s largest agricultural and natural resources research and education organizations, is administered by a Senior Vice President and four deans: the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Dean for Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Dean for Research and Director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine. UF/IFAS also engages in cooperative work with Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

The University of Florida’s main campus is located in Gainesville, which is often recognized as one of Florida's most livable cities and one of the best college towns in America. Located in the heart of beautiful North Central Florida, Gainesville maintains a small-town feel, but offers many amenities found in much larger metro areas. With an expanding downtown, a strong cultural arts following and a wide variety of shops and restaurants, world-class medical care and facilities, and relatively low cost of living, greater Gainesville is one of the best places to work, live and play. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

Commensurate with Education and Experience

• An earned doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in ecological science, wildlife, or related natural resources discipline.
• A record of outstanding scholarly achievement and professional activities related to teaching, research, extension, and/or industry that will qualify the individual to be a tenured full professor in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (WEC).
• Ability to direct an academic department engaged in teaching, research, and extension activities at a major Land-grant university with faculty, staff, students, and resources located throughout the state.
• Demonstrated ability to direct interdisciplinary, grant-funded fundamental science and applied research.
• Ability to lead and manage multidisciplinary programs.
• Effective administrative leadership and managerial skills in: defining organizational objectives; developing strategic approaches to planning; managing human, fiscal, and physical resources; motivating people and developing effective teams; facilitating mentoring and retention of new faculty.
• Demonstrated commitment to pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities, private fundraising, and generating and managing grant and other external funds in support of teaching, research, and extension.
• Strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate student recruitment and retention for all academic programs in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Record of effectively mentoring undergraduate and graduate students and commitment to mentoring and evaluating faculty on effective student mentoring.
• Demonstrated ability to interact well with students, faculty, staff, administrators within the university, and external stakeholders at the state, federal, and international levels.
• Effective leadership in outreach to and engagement with varied groups including industry, agencies, NGOs, community, and others.
• Maintain and strengthen collaborations and partnerships with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
• Commitment to shared governance and fostering strong collaborations among state faculty located on the main campus and at the IFAS Research and Education Centers.
• Serve as a bridge between university, faculty, and staff to ensure compliance and effective operations, including continued professional development for self and employees.
• Commitment to international programs.
• Strong support and understanding of the mission of a Land-Grant university.
• Commitment to UF core values.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experiences and abilities that align with the goals and operational needs of the department, as well as the enthusiasm and skills needed to encourage and support departmental personnel along the path to achieving them.

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit additional materials by 1 February 2025.  The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Employment Conditions: This position is available as early as July 1, 2025 and will be filled as soon thereafter as an acceptable applicant is available.

Applications: Individuals wishing to apply must go online to Careers at UF and submit:

1. 1. Cover letter stating applicant’s interest in the position, qualifications relative to the credentials listed above, previous professional responsibilities and achievements, administrative and management philosophy, and how these relate to the chairs’ position. The letter should include the applicant’s general strategy for building and sustaining this department
   2. Complete vita (which includes statement of current position and responsibilities)
   3. Names and contact information of three individuals who are knowledgeable about the applicant’s qualifications for this position

 Contact Information and Nomination Submission

Nominations are welcome.  Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. Please refer to Position 00041867 and forward all nominations to:

Dr. Terrell T. “Red” Baker

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida/IFAS

School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences

PO Box 110410

Gainesville, FL 32611-0410

Telephone:                  352.846.0850

Facsimile:                   352.392.1707

Electronic Mail:          tbakeriii@ufl.edu

The selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible.  Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws.

The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information, and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotion, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.