Professor and Chair Department of Animal Sciences

Professor and Chair, Department of Animal Sciences

Job No: 537393

Work Type:
Full Time

Location:

Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)

Categories:
Biology/Life Science, Agricultural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine/Animal Care

Department:  – AG-ANIMAL SCIENCES

Classification

Title:

Chair & Prof

The UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences is dedicated to advancing teaching, research, and extension in livestock species including beef, dairy, poultry, swine, and equine. The department serves approximately 80 graduate students and 560 undergraduate students across its four major specialization tracks:
Animal Biology, Equine, Food Animal, and Integrative Animal Sciences.

• Cultivate stakeholder engagement and alignment with the department's mission and program priorities.
• Engage and consult with an external advisory board and stakeholders in beef, dairy, equine, swine, poultry, small ruminants, meat science, and allied industries to guide program development and impact.
• Provide vision, support, and coordination in planning, developing, and implementing departmental programs in Teaching, Research, and Extension.
• Encourage proactive development of strategic, interdisciplinary programs that address Florida's and the nation's priorities in animal agriculture and related industries.
• Provide strategic financial leadership and stewardship of a large, financially complex enterprise, ensuring long‑term sustainability and growth across all departmental animal programs.
• Develop, promote, and facilitate external funding opportunities from public and private sources, including entrepreneurial initiatives, philanthropy, and donor relations.
• Recruit, retain, and foster the academic growth and professional development of faculty, staff, and students, cultivating a collegial departmental culture.
• Advance undergraduate and graduate education, including recruitment, retention, experiential learning, workforce development, and online offerings where appropriate.
• Provide leadership and administration for statewide Teaching, Research, and Extension programs, including coordination of Animal Sciences programs at UF/IFAS Research and Education Centers (RECs).
• Administer the department's human, fiscal, and physical resources with transparency and accountability, while championing strategic planning and assessment.
• Foster shared governance; evaluate faculty and staff performance; support mentorship, retention, and promotion.
• Represent the department and faculty interests with IFAS and University administrators; collaborate with other departments, schools, RECs, and the College of Veterinary Medicine, as well as with state, federal, and international partners.

• Earned doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Animal Sciences or a closely related discipline (e.g., nutrition, physiology, reproductive biology, genetics, meat science, dairy science, veterinary science).
• A record of outstanding scholarly achievement and professional activities in one or more of the Land‑Grant missions (Research, Teaching, Extension, and/or industry) that will qualify the individual for tenure at the rank of full professor by the date of appointment.
• Evidence of effective administrative leadership and managerial skills, including strategic planning; management of human, fiscal, and physical resources; team building; and mentoring.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary, grant‑funded programs and to generate and manage extramural funds in support of Research, Teaching, and Extension.
• Ability to direct a statewide academic unit with faculty located in Gainesville and at UF/IFAS RECs; commitment to shared governance and overall excellence.
• Strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate student success, including recruitment and retention across all academic programs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to interact effectively with students, faculty, staff, administrators, industry, producers, and other external stakeholders at state, national, and international levels.
• Commitment to continued professional development for self, and faculty and staff.
• Strong support and understanding of the…