Washington State University and the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) seeks a Director of WSU Extension’s Youth and Families Unit (Y&F).  This is a permanent, 12-month, full-time, career track continuous or tenured/tenure-track position (depending on background).  Appointment is at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with a negotiable location based in Washington State.

THE OPPORTUNITY

CAHNRS seeks a candidate to provide leadership to the statewide Youth and Families Program Unit of approximately 23 faculty and 63 staff conducting applied research and programming related to nutrition and food safety; individual and family development; and health, wellness, and prevention.  The Extension Youth and Families Program Unit meets community needs by providing community-based programs, conducting applied research, and collaborating with others to create an environment where individuals can thrive in richly diverse communities.  The unit generates and manages over $5 million in annual extramural expenditures.  This position offers an opportunity to develop and implement a strategic vision with the program in order to build its capacity and to increase its impact.  This will involve collaboration and integration with other units within the university and CAHNRS, while expanding partnerships with counties, tribes, agencies, and other entities across the state and nation. The successful candidate is expected to engage in an active, research-based Extension program commensurate with this leadership role.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide leadership in furthering, articulating, and implementing a compelling vision for Y&F through effective research, academic, and Extension programming.  This vision should be based upon the land-grant mission and in line with strategic university and college goals, disciplinary need, and prioritized needs of major stakeholders, including state and federal partners and funding agencies.
• Develop partnerships and relationships with units and colleges outside of CAHNRS to forward the interest of Y&F, particularly around health Extension.
• Represent the vision, interests, and activities of Y&F to internal and external constituencies, including relevant stakeholder groups, to facilitate collaboration and achieve the vision.
• Create a positive, collaborative, and collegial environment for Y&F faculty and staff.
• Transact official unit business and work collaboratively with deans, other administrators, and stakeholders, and actively participate with the CAHNRS Leadership Team and the Extension Administrative and Leadership Teams.
• Strengthen communication and collaboration within Y&F and across CAHNRS administration and chairs/directors to support Y&F faculty and staff, and jointly advance research, academic, and Extension priorities.
• Be an effective advocate for Y&F to enhance and improve the Y&F infrastructure and program support through a portfolio of internal and external funding sources.
• Provide leadership in the formation and execution of departmental policies, hold meetings with all available members of the faculty on matters of policy, and ensure compliance with university policies and procedures applicable to Y&F.
• Execute day-to-day operating decisions, and the exercise of leadership responsibilities.
• Conduct annual reviews of faculty and staff and make recommendations to the CAHNRS Dean for appointments, promotions, and salaries of members of the unit.
• Establish collaborative Extension, research, or scholarly activities and programs.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Extension Director, CAHNRS Dean, and WSU Provost.
• Additional guidelines on the duties and responsibilities of chairs and directors is available in the Faculty Manual  and in the Provost Guidelines on the Duties and Responsibilities of Chairs and Directors.