Director for the School of Human Environmental Sciences

Director for the School of Human Environmental Sciences

Institution Name:
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation's top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation's strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process, please submit a request via the Disability Accommodations | OEOC | University of Arkansas (uark.edu) : Request an Accommodation. Applicants are required to submit a request for each position of which they have applied.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 479.575.5351.

Department:
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Summary of Job Duties:
The Director of the School of Human Environmental Sciences provides strong, multidisciplinary leadership across research, teaching, and outreach programs that advance the School's academic, research, and community impact. The School Director promotes a culture of collegiality, professionalism, collaboration, and innovation; communicates effectively with internal and external stakeholders; and integrates research, teaching, and outreach (including Extension collaborations) to serve the College and University. The Director advances the School in alignment with the University's 150 Forward Strategic Plan Student Success, Research Excellence, and Employer of Choiceand contributes to campus "Reaching Higher" priorities.

The Director strengthens the School's profile locally, across Arkansas, and beyond by cultivating strategic relationships across campus and with state and federal agencies, community partners, and industry. The Director grows a high-impact research enterprise that develops and transfers credible, timely, objective knowledge to address stakeholder, workforce, and community needs. The Director stewards resources, supports faculty and staff development, and secures funding to sustain excellence. The Director partners with the Bumpers College leadership and staff to engage alumni and supporters; cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts; and expand resources for scholarships, faculty and staff excellence, research, facilities, and programs.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned Ph.D. (or equivalent) in a discipline represented within the School or a closely related field
• Qualify for appointment as Professor with tenure at time of hire
• Demonstrated leadership skills in academic administration, including personnel management, budgeting, and strategic planning
• Evidence of success in research, teaching, and/or engagement that supports faculty and student excellence
• Demonstrated strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and collaboration skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading a multidisciplinary unit or team
• Experience with the land-grant mission
• Experience with donor engagement and fundraising
• Evidence of securing and managing competitive extramural funding
• Experience with in-person, online, hybrid program development and delivery
• Experience with accreditation processes in disciplines relevant to the School
• Experience in outreach, Extension, or community partnership
• Experience aligning curricula and student experiences with workforce needs and pathways to graduate/professional education

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of academic program development (undergraduate and graduate), including assessment and accreditation, and the ability to grow curricula and expand delivery (in-person, online, and hybrid)
• Leadership skills necessary to administer a program spanning resident instruction, research, outreach, and engagement, and the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and stakeholders
• Ability to cultivate a supportive and collegial work environment for faculty, staff, and students
• Knowledge of trends and funding opportunities in fields represented by the School related to research and academic programs, with the ability to attract extramural funding
• Knowledge of organizational structure, budgeting procedures, personnel management, and administrative policies
• Ability to speak and write clearly and to communicate ideas effectively
• Ability and interest in providing multidisciplinary leadership and coordination of broad research interests
• Ability to recruit undergraduate and graduate students, and a commitment to fostering research and academic excellence
• Skill in data-informed decision-making, strategic planning, and continuous improvement
• Ability to build partnerships with external organizations and to engage alumni and supporters in advancing the School's mission

Additional Information:
Completed applications received by December 14th, 2025 will be given full consideration. Applications submitted after this date may be reviewed as necessary to fill the position.

Salary Information:
Commensurate with education and experience

Required Documents to Apply:
Cover Letter/Letter of Application, Curriculum Vitae, List of five Professional References (name, email, business title), Other (see special instructions for details)

Recruitment Contact Information:
Lucciana Lorenzetti, llorenze@uark.edu, Recruitment Coordinator

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS

Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please also provide a statement, not exceeding two pages, outlining professional goals and philosophy of leadership.

Pre-employment Screening Requirements:
Child Maltreatment, Criminal Background Check, Motor Vehicle Reports Check, Sex Offender Registry

The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University's Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

To apply, please visit:  https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UASYS/details/Director-for-the-School-of-Human-Environmental-Sciences_R0078346-2?q=Director%20for%20the%20School%20of%20Human%20Environmental%20Sciences

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