Department Chairperson of Plant and Soil Sciences

42025BR

Plant and Soil Science

Position Description

Administers affairs of a clinical, basic science, or college department.
The Department of Plant and Soil Science invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, tenured appointment at the rank of Professor, beginning June 2026, or soon thereafter. The successful candidate will be an innovative, dynamic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial Chair of the Department of Plant and Soil Science, providing intellectual and strategic leadership for teaching, research, service, outreach and engagement endeavors. Applicants should have academic credentials commensurate with a tenured appointment at the rank of full professor with tenure and a Ph.D. in a related field of agronomy, agricultural sciences, soil science, horticulture, or a related discipline. The candidate will serve as an exemplary faculty colleague and mentor and effectively represent the Department within the College, University, and broader community.

Among key responsibilities, the Chair will manage departmental personnel; administer the academic programs; develop and sustain connections with related professional and industry entities to promote teaching, research, development, and outreach; effectively represent the Department to internal and external entities; effectively manage the unit's budget to sustain a culture of fiscal responsibility and health; and promote the success of the faculty, staff, and students in the department. The Chair will also serve as a departmental faculty member with the following expectations related to teaching and research: (1) Maintain a research program as commensurate with the position and participate in graduate advising through thesis and dissertation committees, and (2) Teach courses as appropriate to serve the needs of the Department.

About the University

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world.
About Lubbock:Referred to as the "Hub City" because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care hub of the South Plains region, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land. With a mild climate, highly rated public schools, and a low cost of living, Lubbock is a family-friendly community that is ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock is home to a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene, a vibrant arts community, and is within driving distance of Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, and other major metropolitan cities. Lubbock's Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a comprehensive overview of the Lubbock community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.

About the College

Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University invites applications for the Department Chair of Plant and Soil Science beginning in June 2026. The Chair of the Department of Plant and Soil Science (PSS) is a key leader within the Davis College and closely collaborates with other College administrators to advance its teaching, research, outreach and engagement missions. Reporting to the Dean of Davis College, the Chair provides leadership for the PSS Department and is responsible for overseeing and managing departmental faculty (46 faculty and instructors), staff (24 full-time staff), facilities, and farm/greenhouse operations; developing and maintaining internal and external relations with departmental stakeholders; and providing leadership for the department's academic and service programs.
Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources includes the departments of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Agricultural Education and Communications, Animal and Food Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Natural Resources Management, Plant and Soil Science (PSS), and Veterinary Sciences, along with multiple research centers and institutes ( https://www.depts.ttu.edu/agriculturalsciences/ ). The College has over 156 tenure-track faculty, 2,506 undergraduate and 506 graduate students, and numerous other staff employees. It has generated approximately $15 million in extramural research funding during FY25.

About the Department/School/Area

The PSS Department is a comprehensive academic unit conducting research and offering coursework and programs in several areas of plant and soil sciences. There are 46 full-time faculty members (of these faculty, there are five endowed chairs, two professorships, and 7 have joint appointments with Texas A&M AgriLife Research) and a student body of 159 undergraduate and 163 graduate students. B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, along with four academic certificates, are offered in Plant and Soil Science. Additionally, the department has a strong distance education program and is part of the IDEA Online Higher Education Alliance. The Department is research-intensive while fostering strong teaching expectations and commitments. Faculty in PSS have multiple research collaborations with Texas A&M University and USDA ARS in Lubbock. Students in the Department are prepared to meet the challenges of managing soil, water, and plant resources to support sustainable production and environmental quality.

Faculty in PSS have access to the Quaker Research farm (120 acres for large and small plot research and 13 acres for turfgrass research), the FBRI Research Farm (40 acres), and New Deal Research Farm (120 acres for crop production research). Additionally, there are 3 greenhouse facilities, the TTU Garden and Greenhouse Complex, the Interdisciplinary Greenhouse (formerly BASF), and the Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance (IGCAST) Phytotron. Faculty from PSS are also affiliated with the Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute (FBRI) and https://www.depts.ttu.edu/igcast/IGCAST.

Major/Essential Functions

In line with TTU's strategic priorities to engage and empower a diverse student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should demonstrate experience working with diverse student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels. This experience may span teaching, research, creative activity, and service.

Organization

Texas Tech University

Faculty Qualifications

• A Ph.D. degree or foreign equivalent in agricultural sciences, soil science, horticulture, or related disciplines.
• A strong record of academic accomplishments that will allow a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of full professor in a field relevant to the Department.
• Demonstrated experience in leading complex, multi- or trans-disciplinary teams in high-impact and successful research.
• An outstanding record of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, outstanding extramural funding, and university and professional service.
• Demonstrated success in stakeholder engagement and communication.
• Experience with complex academic budgeting and record of successful personnel and budget management.
• Experience in external fundraising or development activities.
• Highly refined verbal and written communication skills and a commitment to sharing departmental accomplishments and its vision for the future with prospective students, alumni, and stakeholders.
• Distinguished record of success in research and teaching.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with the following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Exemplary and visionary leadership skills, as evidenced by prior experience as a chair, director or other faculty leadership position.
• Demonstrated leadership in shaping and adapting an academic department's missions to the ever-changing teaching and funding environment.
• Support and leverage an academic Department's multidisciplinary strengths and actively engage all faculty, engaged in diverse fields, towards a shared goal.
• A demonstrated and ongoing commitment to serving all people.
• Previous experience or other evidence of administrative ability to direct the activities of a large academic department, ability to provide a clear vision and to plan strategically to achieve departmental goals and objectives, a track record of making timely decisions and responding promptly to administrative deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to create a shared vision and align resources to achieve strategic outcomes.
• Exceptional skills in interpersonal communication and relations.

Duty Point

TTU Lubbock, main campus and affiliated facilities

Safety Information

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

Does this position work in a research laboratory?

No

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include the following documents in your application:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Administrative, Research, and Teaching Philosophy
• List of at least six professional references

Job Type

Full Time

Pay Basis

Monthly

Pay Statement

Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan. For additional information, please reference the institutional pay plan by visiting www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/payplan.

Travel Required

Up to 25%

Grant Funded?

No

Job Group

Faculty Administration

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

Salary Grade

800

Applications must be received by

11/01/2025