Job No. 155588
- Job Title:
- Associate Dean and Director of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service
- Employer:
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North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Location:
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Raleigh , NC
- Posting Date:
- 09-Jun-2025
- Description:
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About the Department
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) fulfills its land-grant mission to educate students through its Office of Academic Programs, seeks new knowledge through the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service (NCARS), and extends educational programs throughout the state through NC State University Cooperative Extension Service. These teaching, research, and extension functions are integrated within the College’s twelve departments.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State leads partnership-driven discovery, learning, and engagement. We prepare students, create, and apply unbiased knowledge through advances in science and technology, and drive economic development to improve the quality of life in North Carolina, our nation, and the world. We fulfill the land-grant mission by embracing an interdisciplinary approach to achieve new scientific breakthroughs that translate into discoveries and meet grand challenges involving food, farming, fiber, feed, families, health, energy, water, and the environment. CALS is also a research and development hub for the state’s life sciences and biotech industries and a driver of prosperity for North Carolina agribusiness.
Essential Job Duties
As the CALS Associate Dean for Research and Director of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service (NCARS), the individual in this position is responsible for the leadership and administration of the research programs in CALS. NCARS manages over $122 million annually in contracts and grants from a diverse portfolio of state, federal, private, and endowment sources, making it a large and complex organization central to CALS’s mission.
This leadership position provides a platform to redefine the role of a land-grant university in modern society and to demonstrate the real-world value of agriculture and life science research at NC State University. This individual reports to the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and will work closely with the Associate Deans and Directors of Academic Programs and NC State Cooperative Extension, department heads, faculty, staff, students, research station superintendents, personnel in the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), and representatives of agriculture and the life sciences industries.
This position will be instrumental in spearheading transformative initiatives, including 22 centers, programs, and institutes. These currently include the NC Plant Sciences Initiative, the NC Food Animal Initiative, the NC Food Innovation Lab, the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein, the National IR-4 Project, the Genome Editing Center, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, the Center of Excellence for Regulatory Science in Agriculture, Plants for Human Health Institute, and a number of other centers and service laboratories.
The Associate Dean for Research will drive the future of research within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences by strategically developing infrastructure, empowering faculty, and cultivating a vibrant culture of innovation. A core strategic function of this role is funding acquisition. This demands a sharp, dedicated, and creative thinker to develop, facilitate, and obtain new revenue streams through grants, appropriations, public/private partnerships, and other resources that will significantly enhance the work of the CALS research program. This individual will be a visionary leader who will elevate CALS’s research impact across all aspects of fundamental and applied life sciences by leveraging existing strengths, strategically addressing weaknesses, and forging high-performing interdisciplinary teams to lead in an increasingly complex and interconnected scientific world.
Furthermore, this individual will be a key advocate and influential voice for NC State CALS at the state, federal, and international levels, actively engaging with funding landscapes, public and private partnerships, and policy organizations to secure vital research support and shape the national agricultural research agenda. Cultivating strong stakeholder relations is equally strategic. NCARS interfaces with over 80 active commodity organizations, agricultural advocacy organizations such as NC Farm Bureau, NC State Grange, NC Biotechnology Center, NCDA&CS, and a variety of agricultural and life science companies. NCARS also has a close working relationship with the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at NC A&T State University.
A critical component of this position includes nurturing relationships with commodity groups and their national checkoff organizations, which have historically provided substantial funding to NC State research. The role also involves engaging with associations that advocate for NC State funding at the federal level. A critical aspect of these relationships is an understanding of the intertwined nature of basic science and applied research as sources of new knowledge that Extension partners communicate to external stakeholders.
The ideal candidate will have:
Agriculture & Life Sciences Expertise: Deep understanding of the college’s mission, interdisciplinary research, and specific knowledge related to both plant and animal systems and the life sciences.
Strategic Vision & Leadership: Ability to think innovatively, anticipate future trends, define successful research in evolving landscapes, and steer major initiatives, and will advocate for agriculture and the life sciences to the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) at NC State University.
External Advocacy & Policy Influence: Proven ability to advocate for the college’s research priorities with industry, stakeholders, and federal/state agencies (USDA, NIFA, etc.), APLU and others in shaping agricultural research policy.
Stakeholder & Constituent Relations: Skill in building and maintaining strong relationships with diverse internal and external groups, including faculty, staff, industry partners, and the broader community.
Research Innovation & Adaptability: Fostering a culture of innovation, adapting to changes in the research environment and funding, and redefining approaches to research success.
Research Commercialization & Economic Impact: Experience in building pathways for commercializing research, collaborating with startups and industry, and translating scientific discoveries into tangible economic growth and societal benefits.
Collaborative Partnership Building: A track record of establishing and managing collaborations across academia, government, and industry, including intercollege partnerships.
Financial Management & Funding Acquisition: Understanding of federal and state funding landscapes, experience managing large budgets, and the ability to secure support through public-private partnerships and diverse funding sources.
Team Leadership & Development: Experience in leading and managing large, multi-disciplinary research programs and building effective teams that complement strengths and address weaknesses.
Land-Grant Mission Alignment: Strong understanding and experience with the mission and regulations of a land-grant university, including compliance with multiple regulations.
Oversight of Research Stations and Field Labs: Provide oversight for off-campus facilities, including 4 field laboratories and 18 research stations operated in partnership with NCDA&CS that support over 1,200 acres of field research and host record attendance at field days and other events.
- Contact information:
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Raleigh, NC 27695
- United States
- Employer's Website:
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