Department Head - Agronomy

About This Role

The Department of Agronomy invites applications for the position of Professor and Head, Department of Agronomy. This is a 100% administrative position. The department seeks an energetic, visionary, and creative individual who will lead the faculty, staff, and students in their research, teaching, extension, and service missions.

• Foster excellence in research, extension, teaching, and domestic and international service.
• Promote quality instruction in undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Actively involve faculty in shared governance of the department using appointed and elected committees.
• Provide leadership in planning and supervising programs relevant to the department’s mission within the land-grant university system,
• Manage departmental budgetary and financial matters and assist in generating extramural support for departmental activities.
• Recruit and retain productive faculty, staff, and students.
• Evaluate, counsel, and promote professional development of faculty, staff and students.
• Communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, university leadership, department clientele, industry, and supporters.
• Represent and promote the department to the college, university, state, agricultural clientele, and funding agencies.
• Create an environment that fosters collegiality and teamwork.

Worksite Description

This position is On-site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Understanding of teaching, research, and extension functions in the land-grant mission.
• Demonstrated success in teaching, research, and/or extension within a land-grant university or comparable institution.
• Record of scholarly achievement consistent with appointment as a tenured Professor in the department.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership, administration, or program management.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across a variety of clientele groups.
• Demonstrated success as a strategic planner and as a relationship builder with exceptional collaboration, communication, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills.
• A strong vision for the Kansas State University Department of Agronomy in a NextGen land-grant university.

The degree requirement is necessary for accreditation purposes and to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to interdisciplinary programs, public-private partnerships, and/or other collaborations.
• Success in securing extramural funding or developing externally supported programs.
• Experience with budget management, personnel supervision, and strategic planning.
• Experience supporting student success, recruitment, and retention initiatives.

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents:

• Provide a letter of application describing the candidate’s interest and qualifications,
• Complete CV
• Vision statement
• Contact information for three references

Application Window

Applications close on: November 30, 2026

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

Commensurate with education, experience and qualifications