Director, Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Oregon State University invites applications for the position of director of the Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MCAREC). This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position with a 50% administration and supervision, 40% research and scholarship, and 10% service appointment.

The Director provides overall leadership and administration of MCAREC, including fiscal and personnel oversight, ensures high- quality research and extension programs at MCAREC, fosters research and outreach efforts of the staff, establishes priorities and long-range plans, works with external advisory committees, and participates in community and industry meetings. The incumbent must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The incumbent promotes collaboration among on- and off-campus faculty, other departments, branch stations, and industry in the agriculture sector and related natural resource fields.

The Director will establish and maintain strong ties with industry and natural resource agencies and will be a recognized national and international leader in a discipline related to agriculture, including agronomy, agricultural economics, entomology, horticulture, plant pathology, soils, social sciences, water resources or a closely allied field.

The Director is expected to develop and conduct an extramurally funded, innovative research and/or extension program that benefits agricultural production and/or natural resource management in Oregon, the United States, and globally, and that complements existing research and extension programs at MCAREC.

Founded in 1913, MCAREC is one of fourteen agricultural experiment station locations of Oregon State University. MCAREC serves the tree fruit industry in Oregon, which is centered in the Columbia Gorge, and the tree fruit industry across the Pacific Northwest. The Columbia Gorge is known for its production of pears, cherries, apples, and wine grapes. Oregon is the nation’s second largest pear producer and third largest cherry producer.

MCAREC has a 52-acre campus in Hood River, OR that includes research orchards, greenhouse facilities, research laboratories, and cold storage chambers. The laboratories are currently undergoing extensive remodeling and renovations. In addition to the OSU research facilities, the campus houses a work site for the USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), the Hood River County office of the OSU Extension Service, the Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Hood River Watershed Group.

MCAREC has faculty with expertise in entomology and horticulture. USDA-ARS has recently staffed their work site at MCAREC for postharvest physiology and pathology research.

Hood River lies in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, some 60 miles east of the Portland metropolitan area. The town is on the banks of the Columbia River, and it is bracketed by Mt. Hood to the south and Mt. Adams to the north. The region has a wealth of recreational opportunities, which help make Hood River one of the most desirable places to live in the Pacific Northwest.

For more information, please visit: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/mcarec/mid-columbia-agricultural-research-and-extension-center

Application:

For full consideration, apply by February 3, 2023. Closing date for applications is February 10, 2023.

To see the complete posting and apply, please visit: https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/130226

Questions and Further Information:

Stuart Reitz

Search Chair and Interim Director, Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center

541-889-2174

Stuart.reitz@oregonstate.edu 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in agricultural economics, agronomy, entomology, horticulture, plant pathology, soils, or a related discipline related to agriculture.

• National/international record of scholarly achievement in research, extension, instructional and/or service activities commensurate with the rank of Associate Professor with tenure.

• Five years of experience supervising and managing personnel.

• Five years of experience with budget development and success in meeting budgetary goals.

• Clear understanding and commitment to the mission of land grant institutions.

• Outstanding professional and collaborative leadership.

• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively within a team.

• Success in securing internal and external programmatic support for instruction, research, service or outreach. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders in public agencies and private organizations, growers, volunteers, and the public.

• Demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.

• Ability to travel frequently within Oregon.

• This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per OSU Standard 576-055-0000 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

• This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

Preferred Qualifications:

• National/international record of scholarly achievement in research, extension, instructional and/or service activities commensurate with the rank of Full Professor with tenure.

• Demonstrated success in donor development and stewardship.

• Demonstrated success in developing and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.

• Demonstrated successful leadership in the strategic planning and management of a large and complex organization or research program.

• Demonstrated commitment to the recruitment, retention, success, and support of faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.

• Experience in liaison roles with local communities.

• Familiarity with relevant State and Federal research agencies and programs.

• Demonstrated experience leading research or extension teams.

• Research experience with tree fruit, wine grapes, and/or berry crops.