Description
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. 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 .
Position Overview: The Center Director serves as the administrative head of the University of Florida/IFAS, Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) located in Immokalee, FL. The Center Director provides strategic leadership and support for the integrated teaching, research, and Extension programs developed by faculty that address the essential needs of the stakeholders, including agricultural, natural resource conservation, and environmental. The Center Director is responsible for developing, promoting and overseeing proactive programs that address current and emerging issues affecting agricultural, natural resource, and urban communities.
SWFREC faculty-led programs address critical regional priorities, including pest and disease protection and production of fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops, water resource management, and the urban–agriculture interface. Through these efforts, the Center advances the sustainability and competitiveness of agricultural systems, supports natural resource conservation, and enhances the quality of life in southwest Florida.
Leadership Responsibilities: The Center Director provides strategic vision and leadership to advance interdisciplinary, high-impact programs conducted by SWFREC faculty, staff, and students. The Director is responsible for supporting and strengthening teaching, research, and Extension programs and for leading efforts to address clientele needs through visionary and proactive Extension programming and scientifically recognized research efforts.
Administrative and Operational Responsibilities: The Center Director is responsible for the effective and accountable management of SWFREC’s financial, personnel and physical resources, including laboratories, field research infrastructure, and associated facilities. The Center Director establishes priorities and implements short- and long-term goals related to programs, personnel, and capital investments to ensure operational excellence and sustained growth of the Center.
The Center Director is accountable for developing, maintaining, and strengthening strategic partnerships with UF/IFAS administration, county Extension faculty, and local, state, and federal agencies, as well as agricultural, environmental, and industry stakeholders. These relationships are essential to advancing the Center’s mission and ensuring program relevance and impact.
In collaboration with stakeholders and UF/IFAS leadership, the Center Director is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously advancing a strategic vision that enhances SWFREC’s impact at the local, regional, and statewide levels.
Faculty, Staff, and Academic Leadership: The Center Director is responsible for fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment that supports excellence among faculty, staff, and students. The Director provides leadership in faculty development, including mentoring, performance evaluation, and oversight of programmatic activities. Responsibilities include coordinating promotion and tenure processes in consultation with appropriate academic department chairs.
The Center Director co-supervises State Specialized Agents (SSA) and Regional Specialized Agents (RSA) located at SWFREC in collaboration with the District Extension Director. The Center Director exercises effective communication and management practices, including delegation of responsibilities and timely decision-making, to ensure efficient and coordinated operations.
The Center Director reports administratively to the Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and programmatically to the Deans for Research, Extension, and Academic Programs.
Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships: The Center Director serves as a key representative of UF/IFAS and is accountable for building, sustaining, and strengthening productive relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. The Director is responsible for fostering trust, maintaining goodwill, and ensuring active engagement with commodity organizations, regulatory and governmental agencies, agricultural and natural resource associations, and private-sector partners, including producers, industry representatives, and environmental organizations.
The Center Director is responsible for initiating, coordinating, and advancing collaborative efforts with UF/IFAS Department Chairs, Research and Education Center directors, District Extension Directors, county Extension faculty, and other UF units. These efforts support the integration of programs across research, teaching, and Extension and ensure the effective development, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives that enhance the Center’s regional and statewide impact.
OTHER INFORMATION:
The Southwest Florida Research and Education Center is situated on 320 acres and is located one mile north of Immokalee and approximately 35 miles southeast of Fort Myers, and is 40 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, which has internationally recognized tourism beach destinations (Sanibel, Captiva, and Marco islands). The Center faculty consists of a range of academic disciplines supporting research and Extension programs in precision agriculture, citrus and vegetable horticulture, irrigation, soil science, pest management, natural resource economics, and water quantity and quality. The SWFREC supplies decision-makers with specific knowledge to protect, sustain and enhance agriculture, human and natural resources through nationally and internationally recognized research, Extension, and teaching programs.
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 56,000 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, 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 (counties operate and maintain). 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 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.
Nominations
Nominations are welcome. Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. This information should be sent to:
Please refer to Requisition # 540255
Dr. Edward A. Evans
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida
Tropical Research and Education Center
18905 SW 281st Street
Homestead, FL 33033
Telephone: 786 217 9225
Electronic Mail: eaevans@ufl.edu
Application Instructions
Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
A formal letter of application which includes a brief statement of the applicant’s administrative philosophy and ideas on the role of a Center Director of an off-campus Research and Education Center,
A current curriculum vitae which includes service, consultantships, and a complete list of grants and publications, and
Three (3) names and contact information of references who can assess the candidates’ qualifications for this position
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 and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:
An earned Ph.D. (foreign equivalent acceptable) in a discipline relevant to agriculture, environmental horticulture, natural resources, or a closely related field is required. The candidate must possess a record of scholarship and academic achievement consistent with appointment at the rank of Professor within UF/IFAS. The successful candidate will demonstrate a proven record of excellence in research and teaching, along with experience in Extension or stakeholder-engaged programming that translates scientific knowledge into practical applications addressing clientele needs. The candidate must have demonstrated leadership experience, including responsibility for mentoring and supervising faculty, staff, and students, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing organizational environment. Strong administrative, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills are required, along with the ability to manage complex programs and make effective decisions. The candidate must demonstrate a history of securing extramural funding from competitive sources, including commodity and industry groups and governmental agencies such as the USDA. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the ability to build and sustain productive relationships with a variety of stakeholders and must exhibit a clear understanding of and commitment to the mission of the landgrant system, including the integration of research, teaching, and Extension. A strong commitment to the core values of the University of Florida is essential.
Ideal Candidate: A nationally recognized, stakeholder-engaged scientist with proven leadership in managing complex research and Extension programs, capable of advancing the landgrant mission through strategic vision, partnerships, and operational excellence.