Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed

** Director, Texas A&M Agri Life Foundation Seed
**** Texas A&M Agri Life Research and Extension Center, Vernon, Texas
**** Position Overview
** Texas A&M Agri Life Research seeks a dynamic, strategic, and experienced leader to serve as Director of Texas A&M Agri Life Foundation Seed. Located at the Texas A&M Agri Life Research and Extension Center at Vernon, the Director provides statewide leadership and strategic, operational, fiscal, and personnel oversight for the Foundation Seed program. This position is separate from the Director of the Texas A&M Agri Life Research and Extension Center  Director supports Agri Life Research plant breeding programs by leading production, quality assurance, commercialization, marketing, and distribution of genetically pure, high-quality seed of publicly developed varieties.

The Director works closely with Agri Life Research faculty, Texas A&M Innovation, Texas A&M Agri Life Extension Service, seed producers, licensees, commodity organizations, and other stakeholders to facilitate variety release, licensing, market adoption, and sustainable program growth. The position advances the land-grant mission by helping move improved, well-adapted varieties from research programs into agricultural production for the benefit of Texas agriculture and beyond.
** Position Responsibilities
*** Provide leadership, vision, and strategic direction for Texas A&M Agri Life Foundation Seed, including development and implementation of strategic and business plans.
* Oversee foundation seed production and related operations, including production planning, planting, field inspection and rogueing, harvesting, conditioning, storage, inventory management, and distribution.
* Ensure effective quality assurance and quality control, including testing seed lots for viability, vigor, genetic purity, seed health, and other applicable quality standards.
* Ensure compliance with federal and state laws, seed certification standards, licensing requirements, contractual obligations, and applicable Texas A&M University System and Agri Life Research policies and procedures.
* Collaborate with Agri Life Research plant breeders and Texas A&M Innovation to support variety evaluation, release, intellectual property protection, licensing, commercialization, and deployment.
* Develop and maintain effective relationships with seed producers, licensees, seed companies, commodity organizations, public agencies, and other stakeholders.
* Lead market development, marketing, communications, and distribution strategies that expand the reach and impact of Agri Life-developed varieties and support sustainable program growth.
* Manage the unit’s financial operations, including budget development and oversight, revenue generation, cost recovery, cost containment, financial forecasting, and reporting.
* Identify opportunities to strengthen the program’s business model, revenue, expand partnerships, and improve operational efficiency while maintaining service to public plant breeding programs.
* Recruit, supervise, develop, and evaluate Foundation Seed personnel and foster a culture of safety, accountability, service, teamwork, and operational excellence.
* Oversee facilities, land, equipment, information systems, and capital improvement needs associated with seed production, processing, storage, and distribution.
* Coordinate with Agri Life Research leadership and the Vernon Center Director on shared facilities, personnel, resources, safety, and other site-based administrative matters.
* Represent Texas A&M Agri Life Foundation Seed in institutional meetings, professional organizations, industry events, producer meetings, outreach activities, and stakeholder engagements.
* Perform other duties necessary to advance the mission and effectiveness of Texas A&M Agri Life Foundation Seed.
** Administrative Relationships
*** Reports to the Director of Texas A&M Agri Life Research or the Director’s designee.
* Works collaboratively with Agri Life Research faculty and leadership statewide;
Texas A&M Agri Life Extension Service specialists and agents; the Texas A&M Agri Life Research and Extension Center at Vernon;
Texas A&M Innovation and related commercialization offices; seed producers, licensees, and industry partners; commodity organizations; and other public and private stakeholders.

Operational oversight, budgeting, personnel management, and performance evaluation will be conducted in accordance with agency policies and leadership direction.
** Required…