Chair, Department of Agriculture

Department Werth College of Science, Technology & Mathematics Job Posting Title Chair, Department of Agriculture

Job Description Fort Hays State University (FHSU) is seeking applicants for Chair of the Department of Agriculture. The position is a 12-month appointment. Depending on qualifications, applicants will be evaluated for tenure and the rank of Full Professor upon hire.  The successful candidate must have a distinguished record of teaching, research, and service with an understanding and appreciation for on-campus and online delivery systems.

The Chair will also have excellent communication and organizational skills, have demonstrated leadership abilities, and understand the needs of faculty, staff, and students.  Future directions for the Department will include conservation and precision agriculture, renovation of the agriculture education program, and explorations of new undergraduate and graduate degree offerings and certifications.

Minimum Qualifications:

Earned doctorate in agriculture or closely-related field;

A recent record of the items listed below in keeping with appointment to Full Professor:

- Teaching excellence;

- Commitment to student success;

- Research accomplishments;

- Service to the discipline and community.

Preferred Qualifications:

Successful academic administrative experience including both fiscal and supervisory responsibilities, especially within the field of agriculture;

Demonstrated success with student recruitment and retention initiatives;

Experience with formalized assessment;

Record of external funding through grants and/or donor fundraising;

Demonstrated success with online education.

Responsibilities The Chair of the Department of Agriculture reports to the Dean of the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics. The Chair, in consultation with the Dean, is responsible for the management, operation, and development of the department, including:

Provide strategic direction and vision for the department.

Oversee curriculum development, assessment, and continuous improvement considering holistic student success initiatives and program review.

Ensure programs meet regulatory requirements.

Support innovation in teaching, research, and service activities.

Foster interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and colleges.

Recruit, hire, onboard, mentor, and evaluate faculty members including merit reviews.

Manage promotion, tenure, and post-tenure review processes.

Coordinate faculty workloads and teaching assignments including course scheduling.

Encourage faculty scholarship, grant activity, and professional development.

Address personnel issues, conflicts, and performance concerns.

Monitor enrollment trends and student retention.

Address student concerns and academic issues.

Assist with student recruitment and outreach activities.

Manage the department budget and other financial resources;

Lead student recruiting and retention efforts for the department;

Teach 6 credit hours per semester and 3 credit hours during the summer.

Initiate and facilitate donor fundraising;

Ensure department initiatives align with University and Regents goals and plans;

Participate in college and university service activities;

Rank:
Preferred:  Professor;
Will consider:  Associate Professor Benefits:
To review our competitive benefit package, please visit FHSU Benefits.

Appointment Date:
July 2027.  This position is an on-campus position, not eligible for remote assignments.

Priority Deadline:
Review of applicants will being on or after November 4, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

Application Process:

To apply for this position, please visit FHSU Careers. Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.

Required Application Documents Candidates should submit a single PDF containing:

Cover letter addressing experience, qualifications, and how the applicant is suited to the position;

Current curriculum vitae;

The names and contact information of at least three professional references.

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact:

Dr. Mark Arantmearant About the Department:

The Department of Agriculture has eight full-time faculty positions serving approximately 400 undergraduate students pursuing Bachelor of Science degrees in Agriculture or Agricultural Business with the latter available online. The Agriculture major includes options in Agricultural Education, Agronomy, Animal Science, Agricultural Leadership, Agricultural Communications, Business Agronomy, and General…