Department Head - Horticultural Science

North Carolina State University is a land-grant institution with strong research, teaching, and extension programs in the agricultural and life sciences. Current University enrollment is 40,503 with greater than 28,000 undergraduate and 10,000 graduate students. The Horticultural Science Department currently consists of 32 faculty members having the rank of assistant, associate or full professor, 3 full-time non-tenure track professionals, and 53 exempt professional staff and 34 SHRA employees. The Department is well known for its excellence in academic programs and offers the following degree programs: two-year Associate, Bachelor of Science, Master of Horticultural Science (non-thesis), Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy, undergraduate Certificate, and Masters Certificate. Current Departmental student enrollment includes 47 students in the associate degree program, 189 students in the undergraduate program and 63 graduate students.

NC State Horticulture is nationally and internationally recognized as an outstanding Department with fully integrated programs in teaching, research and extension. Areas of expertise include biotechnology, horticultural pest management, plant breeding and genetics, fruit production, floriculture, greenhouse production, nursery production, weed science, urban horticulture, landscape design and construction management, business management, specialty crop production, organic and sustainable agriculture, and vegetable production. Nearly half of the faculty in the Department are actively involved with extension programming to support North Carolina producers of tree fruit crops, small fruit crops, vegetable crops, nursery/landscape crops, floriculture, landscape design, consumer horticulture, 4-H youth, new crop development and the Master Gardener program.

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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University (NC State) invites applications for the position of Head of the Department of Horticultural Science. We seek an engaging, collaborative, and strategic leader committed to advancing excellence in teaching, research, and Extension while fostering a vibrant, collaborative, and forward-looking departmental culture. The Head is responsible for providing visionary and decisive leadership, serve as a strong mentor for faculty, staff, and Extension professionals across on-campus and off-campus locations statewide, and support their success while stewarding departmental resources. The successful candidate will advance a future-focused vision for innovative research, enrollment growth, and high-impact Extension programming; strengthen statewide Extension efforts; and serve as a connector between horticultural science and emerging university-wide research initiatives.

As the department's lead representative, the Head will build and sustain strong relationships with commodity groups, industry partners, alumni, and donors. The Head will play an active role in development efforts that support new departmental initiatives, distinguished professorships, graduate student fellowships, and enhanced student opportunities and serve as the lead representative in interactions with College and University administrators, industry and commodity groups, and consumers. The Department Head will have the unique and exciting opportunity to shape the future of the Horticulture program at NCSU, capitalizing on a significant generational transition of faculty expected over the next few years. The Department Head is expected to promote collaborations and partnerships with other College and University departments as well as state, national, and international agencies to position the Department as global leaders in their discipline.

The Head's office and administrative home of Horticulture Science is located on the main campus of NC State University in Raleigh. This position will further have responsibilities with Horticulture departmental faculty, staff, and students with duty stations located at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River, the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, and other NC State University research and extension facilities within North Carolina.

In order to be considered, applicants must provide the following:

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

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