Professor and Head of Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
United States

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Internal to Campus

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.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences brings biological, physical, and social scientists together to identify, teach, and publicize solutions for the sustainability of urban, managed, and natural ecosystems from the local to global scale.

Be a part of our story. Join our dynamic and internationally recognized department, which includes 24 tenure-track and specialized faculty members involved in research, teaching, extension, outreach and international activities with expertise in a number of fields including applied ecology, soil and water sciences, and environmental social science. The department offers curricula for approximately 250 undergraduates and 110 graduate students pursuing Ph.D. degrees on campus. NRES is uniquely positioned to address unprecedented threats to the sustainability of natural and coupled human-ecological systems.  The conservation of biodiversity and the integrity of ecological systems, environmental social science, basic and applied soil and water science, and sustainable agriculture are particularly active research areas, making NRES poised to address many of the world’s pressing environmental issues.  

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 Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) 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 Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. 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 NRES 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 ecology, social science, environmental sciences, environmental policy, 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 and communicate ideas effectively. Candidates must also demonstrate a strong commitment to the mission of a land-grant university and international activities. Experience with public and private funding sources is necessary.

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: Compensation is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Proposed Starting Date:  July 1, 2021

Applications: For full consideration, candidates should apply by April 26, 2021. Please create your candidate profile at http://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 26, 2021. 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. Shelly Nickols Richardson, Search Committee Chair via e-mail (nickrich@illinois.edu). For technical assistance with the online application process, please email jobs@illinois.edu.

The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. 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.