Assistant​/Associate Professor, Technology Adoption and Human Resources

• Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track 1

Central California

• San Luis Obispo 1

Appointment Type

Bargaining Unit

Apply now Job no: 553505
Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: San Luis Obispo
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Faculty - Agriculture

The Agricultural Business Department (AGB) in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, is seeking a full-time, academic year, tenure‑track Assistant/Associate Professor of Technology Adoption and Human Resources starting August 17, 2026. Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The successful candidate will build on Cal Poly’s strong position within the California agricultural industry to train the next generation of agricultural leaders, and will advance AGB’s capacity to develop programing in technology adoption and the implications for human resource management. California agricultural producers are having to adapt quickly to rising labor costs and lower labor availability, causing a surge in automated technologies being developed and adopted in agricultural production.

In addition, the entire food value chain is adopting more advanced technology to track and manage agricultural products as they move from producer to processor to consumer. To train leaders that can help manage and advance these trends, AGB seeks an Assistant or Associate Professor to focus on technology adoption and human resource management. The successful candidate will support AGB’s efforts to assess the commercial viability of technologies under development, the skills workers require to successfully adapt to the changing technological environment, and the workforce training and development implications of these trends.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop contacts among California’s agricultural producers, technology producers, and the food distribution industry. The position will also be expected to work with other CAFES departments and centers, such as Biological, Resource, and Agricultural Engineering (BRAE) and the Cal Poly Strawberry Center.

Teaching responsibilities may include courses such as basic and intermediate agricultural economics, human resource management, data analytics, quantitative management methods, and agribusiness management. Collaborations with other departments in the college, and with other colleges, are encouraged. Duties may include but are not limited to supervision of undergraduate senior projects and advising student clubs and national competition teams. The successful candidate is expected to participate in scholarly activities (i.e., research, grant writing, publications, presentations) as part of their professional development.

Research collaboration with undergraduate students is particularly valued. The successful candidate is also expected to provide service on committees for the department, college, and university, as well as service to state, national, and professional organizations.

Rank and salary commensurate with education and experience of the individual selected. Anticipated hiring ranges:

Associate Professor: $105,492 - $114,720

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities.

Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the…