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The Division Director will have the opportunity to lead one of the nation’s premier animal science programs at a pivotal time in agriculture and animal systems innovation. Positioned to advance livestock sustainability, animal health, meat science, and genetics and genomics, the Division offers nationally recognized research strengths and emerging technologies that support bold, interdisciplinary collaboration. This role calls for a confident, authentic leader who thrives in a high-performing academic environment and collaborates effectively with faculty, staff, college and campus leadership, as well as critically important external partners. The leader will provide steady, transparent guidance across the Division, grounded in respect, clarity and integrity to further advance the Division’s national and global prominence.

The Director will guide the modernization of research farms and laboratory facilities to support next-generation science. Many of the Division’s research units present developing opportunities for strategic upgrades, expansion of capacity and integration of new technologies. These improvements will enable faculty, staff and students to conduct cutting-edge research and elevate the Division’s ability to compete for major federal and industry funding. The challenge will be prioritizing investments, cultivating donor relationships, and securing resources while ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing research and teaching operations.

Continuing to strengthen partnerships with commodity groups, agricultural industries and producers across Missouri represents a significant opportunity for the next Division Director to deepen impact, expand collaboration, and advance the Division’s statewide engagement. Missouri’s livestock sector depends on innovation, science-driven decision-making, and Extension support, and the division at Mizzou is currently considered to be a strong partner. That said, the Division Director will play a central role in expanding outreach initiatives, developing new collaborations with producer organizations, and amplifying the Division’s visibility and impact statewide. This skill requires both strategic engagement and the ability to translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions that improve farm efficiency, profitability, and animal well-being.

The Division’s strong student demand creates exciting avenues for sustaining enrollment, particularly in pre-veterinary, equine science, and research-intensive pathways. The Director can champion curriculum alignments, expand experiential learning programs and strengthen high-quality student recruitment pipelines from high schools, community colleges and youth agricultural programs. A key challenge will be ensuring that faculty capacity, advising structures, and hands-on learning facilities scale appropriately to support growing student interest while maintaining academic quality.

Finally, the Director will have the opportunity to advance the Division’s, the College’s and the University’s Extension mission. MU’s land-grant identity mandates that the Division deliver science-based programming that impacts livestock producers, rural communities and the broader agricultural ecosystem. The Director will help elevate programming in areas such as animal nutrition, reproductive management, emerging livestock technologies and meat quality. An important priority in this space will be sustaining timely, high-quality Extension programming while continuing to balance faculty contributions across other mission areas. Tremendous institutional partners across both MU’s collection of Extension and Engagement experts stand ready and able to amplify collaborations with the Director, the Division and the College. 

Key Responsibilities

• Provide principled, strategic leadership that advances excellence in research, teaching, and Extension while elevating the Division’s national and global prominence.
• Foster a collaborative culture that supports faculty, staff, and student success.
• Uphold and strengthen shared governance by engaging faculty, staff, and stakeholders in transparent decision-making, strategic planning, and policy development to ensure collective responsibility and institutional trust.
• Oversee fiscal, personnel, and operational management needs of the Division, ensuring effective stewardship of resources and mission-oriented achievements.
• Lead modernization and strategic enhancement of research farms and laboratory facilities to support cutting-edge science and competitive funding.
• Strengthen partnerships with industry, commodity groups, producers, and donors to expand impact and secure external support.
• Champion research growth and interdisciplinary collaboration to increase federal, state, and industry funding.
• Support innovative curriculum development, experiential learning, and strategic enrollment to ensure long-term viability.
• Advance the Extension mission by expanding science-based outreach to producers and rural communities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in animal science or a closely related field and a record of scholarly achievement sufficient for tenure at the rank of full professor within the division.
• Demonstrated administrative leadership experience.

Additional Criteria Candidates will be Evaluated on:

• Experience as a faculty member and/or administrator within a land-grant university that demonstrates a fluent understanding of the land-grant identity that sits central to this division.
• Prior record of research, teaching, and/or Extension effectiveness and impact. 
• Ability to provide visionary, collaborative, and comprehensive leadership for a multifaceted academic division.
• Commitment to elevating academic programs, supporting faculty excellence, and enhancing student success.
• Capacity to strengthen and expand a high-impact research enterprise across key areas of animal sciences and the ability to translate research into impactful Extension programming for producers and rural communities.
• Effectiveness in engaging commodity groups, industry partners, alumni, and statewide as well as national stakeholders.
• Skill in managing budgets, personnel, and facilities strategically and transparently.
• Strong record of team building, faculty mentorship, staff management, and student engagement.
• Demonstrated success in securing external funding and cultivating philanthropic partnerships.

has been consistently rated as one of the most desirable places to live and work in the U.S. This college city of 128,000-plus residents has the best of both worlds – small-town convenience and warmth with urban sophistication and amenities. Located halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia boasts affordable housing, moderate cost of living, diverse cultural and economic opportunities, and excellent public schools. 

Columbia is a progressive community with rural roots and is a quintessential college town. While Mizzou football defines the scene on Saturday in late summer and fall, other popular events include the annual True/False documentary film festival, the monthly First Fridays Art Walk and the spring Unbound Book Festival. Mizzou’s campus is adjacent to downtown Columbia, within walking distance of restaurants, clothing stores, ice cream shops, and music venues. Downtown’s shopping corridor is packed with designer boutiques, jewelers, florists, bookstores, sweets shops, and purveyors of eco-friendly products and novelty items. 

Columbia’s location in central Missouri is a two-hour drive to either Kansas City or St. Louis; a local regional airport connects the city directly to Chicago and Dallas. Columbia boasts multiple city parks for outdoor recreation as well as easy access to Rock Bridge State Park and Stephens Lake. The region’s caves, forests, streams, and cliffs offer endless exploration for outdoor adventurers. The popular MKT Trail takes cyclists and hikers all through Columbia and links to the 225-mile Katy Trail, which stretches across the state.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits webpage.

The ÎçÒ¹Ó°Ôº is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at (573) 341-7734.