Position Title: Academic Department Head/Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Ecology

Employee Classification: Acad Dept Head-12m

College/Division: Agricultural,Consumer & Env Sci Col

Department: 303500-FISHERY AND WILDLIFE SCIENCES

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  Commensurate on experience

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  The department of Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Ecology is seeking candidates with an appreciation for a multidisciplinary department and possesses the vision, energy, and enthusiasm to provide dynamic leadership for teaching, research, and service activities.

Classification Summary:
The Department of Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Ecology applies traditional and emerging scientific methods to understand the ecology of fish and wildlife and the communities they inhabit. They apply this knowledge to help make more informed conservation and management decisions as well as to further society’s understanding of the structure and function of ecological systems.
The department strives for excellence in research, teaching and outreach with our efforts focused on the diverse ecosystems of the American Southwest as well as on issues occurring nationally and internationally.

Classification Standard Duties:
The Head of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology serves as an advocate for the Department and is responsible for implementing the Department’s vision as well as all aspects of administration including fiscal and personnel management, developing and maintaining departmental facilities, faculty, and program evaluations, and administering departmental programs.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Candidates must have compiled a demonstrable record of academic achievement and professional experience consistent with the university rank of 'Full Professor' or Associate Professor eligible for promotion to Professor within the department with a doctorate in wildlife biology, fisheries biology, wildlife management, conservation ecology, biology, ecology, or related field.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Candidates must provide evidence of leadership, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and preferably prior administrative experience. Academic teaching proficiency and evidence of a strong research program is required. Active participation is expected in recruiting and mentoring students and faculty from diverse cultures. An ability to promote the Department to the college, university, industry, granting agencies, and state and federal resource agencies is essential. Candidates must understand and have a strong commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and outreach as the State’s land-grant university.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
We are seeking candidates with an appreciation for our multidisciplinary department who possess the vision, energy, and enthusiasm to provide dynamic leadership for teaching, research, and service activities. Candidates must have compiled a demonstrable record of academic achievement and professional experience consistent with the university rank of 'Full Professor' or Associate Professor eligible for promotion to Professor within the department.
The Department Head is expected to provide proactive, effective leadership while fostering positive working relationships among faculty, staff, and students within and among academic and extension departments. A commitment to strengthening teaching and research programs through active participation in teaching and development of grant support is highly desirable. The Department Head is also expected to assist the ongoing development of a doctoral program within the Department and to proactively develop working relationships with tribal, state, and federal agencies, professional societies, and other organizations.

The Department Head may be expected to teach one upper division course in their area of specialty annually contingent upon department need.

Foster collaborations and participate in activities and on research teams that support the work of the Center of Excellence in Food and Sustainable Agriculture (CESFAS).

The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology (FWCE) at New Mexico State University is one of eight departments with the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES; [https://aces.nmsu.edu/]). The mission of the FWCE Department is to provide academic instruction, research and service focusing on ecology, conservation, and management of aquatic and terrestrial resources. Particular attention is placed on research issues that reflect the unique floral and faunal assemblages and ecosystems of New Mexico and the arid Southwest. The Department is growing and includes a U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit [https://www1.usgs.gov/coopunits/unit/NewMexico] as well as strong ties with the USDA-ARS and NSF LTER-funded Jornada field site whose headquarters are on campus, and access to the state’s federal and state-owned lands (total 40%) for research and teaching. The Department has approximately 179 undergraduate students and 40 M.S. and Ph.D. students, and values diversity and inclusivity. Undergraduate degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology with either a Wildlife Ecology and Management or Aquatic Ecology and Management Option. A joint undergraduate degree in Conservation Ecology is offered in conjunction with the Department of Biology. The graduate degree is a Master of Science in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology while opportunities exist to direct doctoral students among many other programs at NMSU. For more information: [https://fwce.nmsu.edu/].

Preferred Qualifications

Special Requirements of the Position
*Please include on the application:
-Your resume/cv
-Cover letter
-Transcript
-A statement of your contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion. For more information about this requirement see https://eid.nmsu.edu/eid-statements/index.html
-Statement of research interests (2 page maximum)
-Statement of teaching philosophy and experience (2 page maximum)

Department Contact:  Ricardo Ramirez, 575-646-1145, ricarami@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.