Director of the Center for Urban Agriculture at The University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia

Job Description:

Posting Number:

F1731P

Working Title:

Director of the Center for Urban Agriculture

Department:

CAES-Ctr Urban Agriculture

About the University of Georgia:

Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia's oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (
https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,000 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 40,000 students including over 30,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens.

About the College/Unit/Department:

About UGA Griffin Campus: The UGA Griffin Campus, located 40 miles south of Atlanta, was established as the Georgia Experiment Station in 1888. Since that time, UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has housed world-renowned Research and Extension programs at this Griffin location. The growing Griffin campus currently has about 100 buildings comprising about 400,000 square feet and is located on about 1,000 acres. UGA Griffin also has a robust research enterprise with an economic impact of $15 million in the general areas of agriculture, food science, food processing, and food safety, among others. Notable research centers at UGA Griffin include the Center for Food Safety, the Food Product Innovation & Commercialization Center, the Center for Urban Agriculture, and a Turfgrass Research & Education Center.

About the Center for Urban Agriculture (CUA): The Center for Urban Agriculture is housed within the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on the Griffin Campus. It is a non-departmental unit dedicated to supporting UGA Extension and Research in Georgia's urban areas. It currently supports Extension and research programs in sustainable turfgrass, urban environment, nursery and landscape, local food, professional training and certification, and urban forestry.



CUA Vision Statement: The Center for Urban Agriculture and Environmental Science provides leadership in education and research, crafting solutions to complex urban issues.

CUA Mission Statement: The mission of the Center for Urban Agriculture is to support collaborative efforts across academia, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations to generate and disseminate research-based information that addresses economic, environmental and social aspects associated with urban life.

College/Unit/Department website:

https://ugaurbanag.com/

Posting Type:

External

Retirement Plan:

TRS or ORP

Employment Type:

Employee

Benefits Eligibility:

Benefits Eligible

Anticipated Start Date:

12/01/2023

Job Posting Date:

08/24/2023

Open until filled:

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications should be submitted in UGAJobs by September 30, 2023, to ensure full consideration. Please contact Jule-Lynne Macie,
jlmacie@uga.edu, Search Committee Chair, for more information. .

Location of Vacancy:

Griffin Area

EEO Statement:

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

Classification Title:

Open Rank

Faculty Rank:

Open Rank

Contract Type:

Negotiable

Tenure Status:

Negotiable

Minimum Qualifications:

Candidates must have a Master's degree at minimum in an appropriate discipline closely related to supporting Extension programing and outreach management.

Position Summary:

The University of Georgia (UGA) invites nominations and applications for the position of Center for Urban Agriculture Director. This position is located on the UGA Griffin Campus in Griffin, Georgia. The position will direct the activities and programs of the Center for Urban Agriculture (CUA), supervise employees and manage budgets. The successful candidate will serve as a liaison to bring together multi-disciplinary teams of Departmental Extension and Research Faculty, County Extension Faculty and Industry partners to solve urban issues, advance urban agriculture across Georgia, and engage nationally in this effort. The Director will serve as a catalyst to bring together multi-disciplinary teams to generate extramural funding through projects, sales and service, grants and donations to support the work of the Center. The position is statewide in scope, with an emphasis in Georgia's urban and emerging urban areas. This position's direct supervisor is the Assistant Dean for Extension and Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leader.


Primary Responsibilities:

• Grow CUA's impact by being active and visible in local, regional and national food, agriculture, fiber, and environment networks and by developing strategic partnerships and expanding the Center's network.


• Provide leadership and management of CUA. Represent the CUA with internal and external stakeholders.


• Supervise staff, including monitoring the development and implementation of work plans, project deliverables and timelines for collaborative projects, and navigation of partnerships and other organizational relationships.


• Generate extramural funding and in-kind resources to support the projects and programs of the CUA. This includes, but is not limited to, federal grants, foundation funds, contracts, sales and service revenue and more.


• Provide leadership and foster collaboration with research, Extension, and academic programs within the University System.


• Collaborate with Deans, Directors and Department Heads to support the vision and mission of the CUA.


• Increase collaboration and partnering with other institutions and agencies to increase outreach efforts and impacts.


• Build effective working relationships and partnerships with community leaders, urban ag and sustainable ag organizations.


• Bring together multi-disciplinary teams and actively seek and secure funding opportunities to support initiatives of the CUA.


• Stewardship of all facilities and resources by working with the Campus Director and Facility Maintenance Division.


• Optimize multiple, often competing, priorities simultaneously.


• Remain current with field trends in urban agriculture systems development and policy advancements.

Additional Requirements:

Candidates must meet the requirements for appointment as a Non-Tenure Track Public Service Associate or as a Tenure Track or Tenured Associate Professor. For the requirements for each of these faculty ranks, please see:Guidelines for Appointments and Promotions for Public Service and Outreach Faculty Ranks (
https://outreach.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Guidelines-for-Appointments-and-Promotion-2021.pdf).


Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion and Tenure of Academic Rank Faculty (
https://provost.uga.edu/faculty-affairs/UGA_Guidelines_for_APT_approved_2_2020.pdf).


To be eligible for tenure upon appointment, candidates must have been tenured at a prior institution and bring a demonstrably national reputation to the institution. Candidates must be approved for tenure upon appointment before hire. If the successful candidate is appointed as an Associate Professor, the appointment home will be in one of the Academic Departments in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Please see the Promotion and Tenure Unit guidelines for additional information (
https://provost.uga.edu/policies/appointment-promotion-and-tenure/promotion-tenure-criteria/).

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification:

• A doctorate or terminal degree in a related field to the Center's function and/or Extension is preferred.


• An accomplished record of work associated with Extension and outreach.


• Ability to interact with research colleagues in an academic setting.


• A proven record of obtaining extramural funding, including grant application experience.


• Evidence of supervising a team.


• A proven record building teams and collaborations.


• Past involvement with applied program/project implementation, community organizing and policy advocacy is a plus.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies:

• Working Knowledge in urban agriculture area(s) is preferred. (including but not limited to food systems, small organic or sustainable ag production systems, green industry, arboriculture, urban soils, water quality/quantity or related fields)


• Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision making and reporting.


• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including strong writing, presentation and public speaking.


• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, mediation and problem-solving skills.


• Ability to program for and interact with a wide and varied audience.

Is this a Position of Trust?:

Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?:

Yes

Does this position require a P-Card? :

No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? :

No

Is driving a responsibility of this position?:

Yes

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?:

Yes

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications):

Yes

Credit and P-Card policy:

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the
UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy:

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the
UGA Background Check website.

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