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Professor and Director, School of Food Science
University of Idaho and Washington State University
12-month, tenured faculty position

LOCATION

University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho and Washington State University, Pullman, Washington

SCHOOL VISION

Washington State University (WSU) and the University of Idaho (UI) are committed to a strategic vision of excellence, impact, and accountability, focusing on agriculture as a priority area. These two Land Grant universities, located 8 miles apart, have created the first in the nation combined School of Food Science. The School of Food Science concept evolved through the mutual efforts of both UI and WSU faculty, and is based on more than 15 years of successful collaboration in research, extension, and serving the students of both institutions. The newly formed School will potentially be one of the largest in the nation with 19 faculty FTE. In 2007, the scholarly productivity of just the food science faculty at WSU ranked 6th among 40 universities nationwide that offer Ph.D. degrees in food science (http://chronicle.com/stats/productivity/). Prior to the creation of the School, during the period of 2003 through 2007, the combined faculty with its collaborators obtained over $16 million in extramural grants and published nearly 350 peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and books. The combined undergraduate and graduate student population currently stands at 76. Unique strengths of the School include being one of five national programs in enology, while also demonstrating strength in fruit, vegetable, and dairy processing, food chemistry, product development, food microbiology and food safety. The School has strong outreach programs in the region and internationally. Technical assistance is provided across the entire range of food science and food processing topics with special strength in HACCP, food safety, lean manufacturing, product traceability, and quality assurance. With the combined efforts, and in close partnership with food engineering faculty members in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at WSU (http://www.bsyse.wsu.edu) and the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at UI (http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/bae/), we are now positioned to become one of the nation’s premier food science units. Our collective vision for achieving this goal includes:

  • Preparing undergraduate and graduate students for rewarding careers and personal leadership in the food industry, academia, and governmental agencies
  • Providing leadership in food science teaching, research, and extension, with particular emphasis on food chemistry, value-added process/product development, emerging processing technologies, and food microbiology and safety
  • Partnering with the food processing industry in the Pacific Northwest
  • Attaining a top 3 ranking among university food science programs in the U. S.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The School of Food Science invites nominations and applications for the position of Director.

The Director shall be a demonstrated leader and an effective communicator who works with and motivates the faculty and staff to achieve the School’s shared vision. The Director will provide transparent leadership in strategic direction, oversight of planning activities, professional development and promotion, academic and research program assessment and enhancement, personnel recruitment and management. The Director must actively promote and foster interaction among programs at our various locations and supports external development opportunities. The Director will integrate the School’s teaching, outreach, and basic and applied research activities to provide appropriate, innovative, timely, and novel technologies and practices for the well-being and benefit of commercial food processing industries and the citizens of Idaho, Washington, and the world. The Director must have a commitment to the diversity and breadth of teaching, research and extension programs encompassed by food science at a Land Grant university, and must excel in the ability to effectively represent all aspects of the School. The Director will facilitate the continued rise in the School’s national and international reputation. In addition, the Director must be proficient in developing, overseeing, and managing budgets and resources efficiently, and instrumental in building and strengthening departmental relationships with professionals, processors, commodity groups, industry and professional organizations, and other stakeholders.

The Director reports to the deans of the College of Agricultural and Life Science (CALS, UI) and the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS, WSU).

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

  • Applicants must have an earned doctorate in food science or a related discipline.
  • An overall record tenurable at the rank of professor.
  • A record of excellence in leadership in at least two of the following four areas: (1) food science-related research, (2) teaching and learning, or interactive communication, (3) outreach or extension programs, or (4) academic administration.
  • Proof of excellence in attracting competitive funding, promoting productive teamwork, and facilitating and developing the full potential of diverse individuals and disciplines.
  • Evidence of successful financial management.
  • Demonstrated abilities in consensus building, strategic planning and implementation, and communication with diverse stakeholder and constituency groups.

Desired

  • Prior involvement in the Land Grant university system.
  • Experience in curriculum development in both graduate and undergraduate degree programs.
  • Skills in shared governance and effective representation of departmental units to upper levels of administration.
  • Prior experience in communicating remotely with faculty, staff, students and other constituency and stakeholder groups.
  • Strong ties or experience in industry collaboration.
  • Experience in student recruitment.
  • Demonstrated abilities in private fund raising.

SCHOOL

The School of Food Science (http://sfs.wsu.edu/ and http://www.ag.uidaho.edu/fst/) is in the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS, http://www.cahnrs.wsu.edu) and the UI College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (http://www.ag.uidaho.edu/index.htm). The administrative offices are located on the main campuses in Pullman, WA and Moscow, ID with members of the faculty located on both campuses and also located at the following sites:

Degree Programs
Students can obtain a B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. in Food Science from either university.

Facilities
The faculty and laboratories at the UI in Moscow are located in the Agricultural Biotechnology Building and Agricultural Science Building. The laboratories, classrooms, creamery, and processing pilot plant at WSU in Pullman are located in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Building, which dates to the early 1990s.

  • Programs in Idaho are also conducted at the UI Food Technology Center, which is a 7000 ft2 certified food processing facility located in Caldwell, Idaho, adjacent to the University of Idaho Business and Technology Incubator.
  • Enology research is conducted in Pullman and at the Viticulture and Enology Building (2006), IAREC, Prosser, WA.

IDAHO AND WASHINGTON FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

Agricultural production and processing is the number one employer in both states. There is an abundance of major food processing companies in the region, such as: Albertsons, Basic American Foods, Clear Springs Foods, ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Glanbia Foods, H.J. Heinz, J.R. Simplot Co., Jerome Cheese Co., Kraft, Nestle, McCain Foods, Litehouse Foods, Nonpariel Corp., NorSun Food Group, Sorrento Lactalis, and Darigold. In Washington, 473 food processing companies employ over 40,000 workers and account for more than 11 % of the total value of manufacturing production in Washington with around $9 billion in annual revenues . Idaho is home to over 380 food manufacturing companies, which employ more than 16,000 workers, manufacture more than $5 billion worth of value-added food products, and contribute 33% of the gross state product .

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The University of Idaho is the leading research university in Idaho and, like Washington State University is a comprehensive Land Grant university. The University of Idaho is comprised of ten academic colleges with a total student enrollment of just over 11,600. An overview of the University of Idaho can be found at http://www.uihome.uidaho.edu/uihome/about/overview.aspx. The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) at UI provides quality programs in teaching, research and extension. The mission of CALS is to support economic growth and enhance the quality of life for people by preparing students to be innovative leaders in a global society, helping people improve their lives through research-based education and leadership development focused on issues and needs and providing new knowledge to support agriculture and enhance the understanding of natural and human resources. The academic units in CALS are food science, agricultural and extension education, agricultural economics and rural sociology, animal and veterinary science, biological and agricultural engineering, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, plant science, soil science, and entomological science, and family and consumer sciences. Washington State University (http://www.wsu.edu/) is one of only two research universities in the state. It is organized into nine colleges and has a total enrollment of 22,500 students. Of these, approximately 18,000 are on the main campus in Pullman. Branch campuses are located at Spokane, Tri-Cities (Richland, Pasco, Kennewick), and Vancouver. CAHNRS is responsible for generating and disseminating knowledge about physical, biological, social, and economic aspects of agriculture, natural resources, and human development. Fifteen departments offer more than 20 majors and options and numerous advanced degree programs that prepare professionals for careers in food and natural resources production, processing and distribution, environmental design, planning and management, and in areas of individual, family, and community health and well-being. Relevance and excellence in research, instruction and outreach are emphasized. The two communities of Moscow and Pullman offer a friendly, small-town living environment and access to a rich assortment of cultural, recreational and athletic attractions. They combine a mild climate, clean air, excellent schools, affordable homes, and a low crime rate. Moscow and Pullman (combined populations of about 50,000) are 75 miles south of Spokane, WA, have a regional airport, and lie close to recreational areas in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. To learn more about the Moscow community, visit http://www.moscow.id.us/ or http://www.moscowchamber.com/. For information about the Pullman community, visit http://www.pullmanchamber.com/.

STARTING DATE

July 1, 2010 or as negotiated.

SALARY/BENEFITS

Upon hire the successful finalist will choose which University will be the primary employer providing benefits. Salary is competitive, commensurate with experience and qualifications, and accompanied by excellent fringe benefits. For WSU, please see http://facultystaff.wsu.edu/employment-benefits.html and for the UI, please see http://www.hr.uidaho.edu/benefits.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Screening of application materials will begin January 15, 2010. To apply, please submit 1) a letter of application addressing each of the required and desired qualifications, 2) your vision to lead the School toward its potential, 3) a curriculum vitae, and 4) please have three individuals provide (directly to us) a signed, written evaluation of your qualifications relative to the position responsibilities.

Send all materials to:
Lisa Clyde
EEO Coordinator
CAHNRS/WSU Extension
413 Hulbert Hall
P.O. Box 646248
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6248
eeocoord@wsu.edu
509-335-2822
Fax 509-335-2926

For information and application status, contact Larry Branen at 208-292-2540 or lbranen@uidaho.edu.

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU is committed to excellence through diversity, has faculty friendly policies including a partner accommodation program, and a NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation grant (see http://www.excelinse.wsu.edu/.)

UI and WSU employ only US citizens and lawfully authorized non-US citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

University of Idaho and Washington State University are committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in their services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521(v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.

 


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