College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

We Transform Lives.

Everything we do is designed to improve the quality of life of the people in the state of Illinois, across the nation, and around the world. We discover, develop, translate, and disseminate knowledge to address societal concerns and train the next generation of experts and leaders in a way that empowers them to expand the boundaries of science to higher levels of understanding and influence.

Broadly speaking, the Department’s research and outreach programs relate to global economic issues related to food, agriculture, development, and environmental sustainability. An applied emphasis helps the Department meet its land-grant mission while maintaining a high level of scholarship. Department wide, responsibilities are divided among research, teaching and extension with annual support of about $6.4 million from state and federal recurring funds, and about $8 million from grants, contracts, and gifts. Currently there are six endowed chair/professorship positions established within the department.
Be a part of our story. Join our dynamic and internationally recognized department, which includes over 30 tenure-track and specialized faculty members involved in research, teaching, extension, outreach and international activities. Their research and outreach programs influence national and international policymaking on issues ranging from how producers, consumers, and agribusinesses manage risk and adapt to climate change to the impacts of new technologies, environmental regulations, federal laws on profitability and human well-being. The department offers curricula for over 700 undergraduates and 90 graduate students, including nine undergraduate concentrations.

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO.

Major Responsibilities:
The Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) is a full-time administrative position in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This position is responsible for the administration of the research, teaching, extension, outreach, and international activities of the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics. Specifically, the Head’s responsibilities are:
• Provide leadership and vision to the department, advancing the goals of the land-grant mission in research, teaching, extension, outreach, and international activities.
• Promote equality and identify ways to achieve greater diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Develop and communicate departmental policy guidelines in consultation with the faculty.
• Support the department’s educational mission and promote student professional development.
• Supervise and evaluate faculty and staff in the department.
• Develop and implement a strong mentoring program to create an inclusive and collaborative environment for both faculty and staff.
• Administer budgetary and financial matters within the department.
• Provide leadership with college support for development and fundraising.
• Represent the department at the college and campus levels.
• Facilitate collaboration with the stakeholders of the ACE department including leaders in industry, government, other universities, public groups, and professional societies.
• In collaboration with ACES Office of Marketing Communications, develop a proactive recruitment and marketing campaign for the department that aligns with college efforts.
• Serve as a member of the ACES leadership team; engage in meaningful discussions with the dean and associate deans concerning departmental priorities, college-level funding initiatives and inter- or transdisciplinary efforts intended to advance the missions of the department, college and university.

Required Qualifications:
All candidates must hold a Ph.D. in agricultural or applied economics, or related discipline that complements departmental programs. We welcome candidates from academic departments and associated units with the rank of full professor or the expectation that they will achieve the rank of full professor upon appointment. A strong background in research and either resident instruction or extension education, as well as evidence of excellent administrative ability are required. The position also requires demonstrated leadership, administration, and management skills as well as an ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people, promote diversity and inclusion, and communicate ideas effectively. Candidates must also demonstrate a strong commitment to the mission of a land-grant university. Experience with public and private funding sources is necessary. Experience with international programs is strongly preferred.

About the University and College:

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the leading public universities in the world with a student enrollment of more than 50,000, and nearly 3,000 faculty. The university is located about 120 miles south of Chicago, within easy driving distance of St. Louis and Indianapolis. Our vibrant and diverse community of 110,000 offers the residential advantages of a medium-sized university city, excellent cultural opportunities, and a high quality of life.

The College of ACES is recognized worldwide for its commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate programs, research, teaching, extension, outreach, and international activities. We offer tremendous opportunities for students to achieve their goals, and our immersion-based academic programs prepare our graduates for local, national, and global careers. ACES research programs are making a difference in people’s lives. Our research and education centers, located throughout the state, provide unique collaborative opportunities for research to generate practical applications that benefit consumers, farmers, commodity groups, agricultural organizations, environmentalists, conservationists, government agencies, industry, and business. University of Illinois Extension connects the University to people, businesses, and communities statewide to help solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future. ACES faculty and staff are leaders in international engagement, addressing global challenges and impacting lives around the world.

Salary and appointment details: Compensation is commensurate with experience and qualifications. The role carries a full-time, 9-month, tenured faculty appointment and a Head appointment with a 12-month administrative stipend.
Proposed Starting Date: August 16, 2022
Applications: For full consideration, candidates should apply by April 5, 2022. Please create your candidate profile at jobs.illinois.edu and upload a letter of application/interest, curriculum vitae, statement of diversity, equity, access and inclusion and contact information for three (3) professional references (include name, title, address, phone, email) by close of business on April 5, 2022. All requested information must be submitted for your application to be given full consideration. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

For further information, contact Dr. Alex Winter-Nelson, Search Committee Chair, via e-mail (alexwn@illinois.edu). For technical assistance with the online application process, please email jobs@illinois.edu.

University of Illinois faculty, staff and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordance with applicable University processes.

The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Convictions are not a bar to employment. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment. The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.