Associate Dean for Research and Discovery, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Associate Dean for Research and Discovery, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University and Associate Director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station (IAHEES)

Job Description
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS, https://www.cals.iastate.edu/) at Iowa State University seeks an Associate Dean for Research and Discovery (ADRD) and Associate Director of the IAHEES.  We seek an innovative, strategic, and visionary leader to provide management of the college’s research and discovery functions ((https://www.cals.iastate.edu/research). The ADRD works in collaboration with the dean, department chairs, college-level centers, and other unit leaders (https://www.cals.iastate.edu/about/departments/centers-institutes). The ADRD will ensure that daily operations directly advance the mission of the college and its units, and that resources are deployed wisely and efficiently. The ADRD is responsible for the effective and compliant conduct of the research enterprise of the college, and maintenance and growth of the research enterprise.

The ADRD represents the dean and the CALS research enterprise at the university level, including interactions with the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost, Office of the Vice President for Research (VPR), Iowa State University Research Foundation, and Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, among others.  The ADRD collaborates with the North Central Regional Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (NCRA).   The ADRD must have excellent communication skills and ability to work with many internal and external stakeholders.

Position responsibilities include, but are not limited to -

• Research enterprise:
• Articulate with others in college leadership the CALS’ research vision and set priorities
• Coordinate to integrate research, with extension/outreach, teaching and other academic functions of CALS
• Identify and grow research opportunities in alignment with ISU & CALS priorities
• Develop strategies for improvement and maintenance of research infrastructure on- and off-campus
• Faculty support:
• Ensure faculty readily and reliably know about research funding opportunities
• Provide programs for faculty research development and grant coaching/mentoring
• Facilitate development of research teams to address grand challenges
• Be knowledgeable of Federal and ISU research policies, practices, and processes to effectively guide faculty, department chairs and center directors with respect to research
• Supervise the College of Agriculture’s Research Excellence Support (CARES) Team that facilitates and supports faculty research efforts, including proposal preparation and submission, and research development

• State, national, and international research presence and leadership:
• Represent CALS and IAHEES with the regional association of experiment station (NCRA) directors and the Experiment Station Section (ESS) of APLU
• Engage with funding agencies (public and private) to advance the research enterprise

• Corporate relations and commercialization
• Work with Iowa State University Research Foundation, Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations, and college offices of Development, and Partnerships
• Cultivate research opportunities with public and private partners
• Cultivate relationships with Iowa agriculture, natural resources, and commodity groups
• Cultivate faculty for support from and collaboration with the private sector/industry, and for internal and external entrepreneurial activities

• Coordinate with ISU offices, centers, institutes, and key collaborators
• Serve on the VPR’s research leadership council and facilitate research coordination with VPR and colleges
• Serve as liaison to the Bioeconomy Institute, Center for Metabolic Biology, Crop Bioengineering Consortium, Plant Sciences Institute, and others
• Coordinate with CALS centers and research and discovery groups
• Liaise and collaboration with local, state and federal affiliated agencies

Appointment conditions:

• 12-month appointment
• 85% Administration, and 15% teaching, research and/or outreach and service
• Initial appointment is five years and renewable with a formal review in year four
• Serves at the pleasure of the dean

Required Qualifications

• PhD and qualified as a tenured Professor in one of the departments in the college 
• Previously held appointment as department chair, center/program director, or other significant research and/or administrative appointment
• Evidence of successful research experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Senior level researcher/director experience
• Demonstrated experience managing complex research projects and/or units
• Demonstrated experience with systems approach, transdisciplinary teams, and/or convergence science related to research
• Demonstrated success with securing federal competitive grants and contracts, and state and industry support 

Application Materials Required: 

• Letter of application that includes the following – 
• motivations for interest in the position 
• outlook on how research and discovery can support all the missions of the college and its departments
• leadership approach to building the R&D enterprise in a college of agriculture and life sciences in the context of a Land Grant University
• perspectives on how the ISU Principles of Community can be advanced in the context of the R&D and related arenas
• Full academic C.V.
• Names and full contact information for three to five professional references – references should include at least one external to the applicants’ current institution (no references will be contacted without prior permission of the applicant)

Application material must be submitted BEFORE 11:59 PM, CST on April 19, 2021 for guaranteed consideration. Review of applications will begin on April 20, 2021, however the position will remain open until filled. 

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

To ensure consideration, submit application by 04/20/2021

Quick Link 

https://isu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/IowaStateJobs/job/Ames-IA/Associate-Dean-for-Research-and-Discovery---College-of-Agriculture-and-Life-Sciences---Iowa-State-University_R4397 

Department/Program & College Description:
CALS is one of the world's leading institutions of agriculture and life sciences, and ranks among the top 4% worldwide.  It is one of eight academic colleges at Iowa State University.  The university enrolls about 30,000 students and the college has nearly 5,000 students.  CALS has about 300 faculty and more than 400 staff, including more than 100 with some formal relationship to the Extension mission across all 99 IA counties.  There is an extensive system of college farms across the state and in the immediate vicinity of the university, and many greenhouse, laboratory and related facilities. There are 15 academic department in the college.  This includes eight departments formerly shared with other colleges at the university, and creating an environment where transdisciplinary work is very active.  The college research enterprise annually receives about $55million in work each year, and gifting to the college to support its missions exceeds $30million each year.  More information on the university, college and region is found at –

Department Unit/Website:

University information

• https://www.jobs.iastate.edu/whyisu
• https://www.iastate.edu/

College information

• https://www.cals.iastate.edu/ 
• https://www.cals.iastate.edu/content/points-pride

Region information

• https://www.iowa.gov/about 
• https://www.cityofames.org/about-ames/about-ames
• https://iowaagriculture.gov/  
• https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Iowa/

Iowa State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity, 3350 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294‐7612.