Location: Normal,IL, USA
Summary:
Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station (WTARS) is primarily an experimental research farm mandated to conduct plant, animal, soil, forestry, bioenergy, and environmental research. Periodically the Station also provides hands-on educational opportunities for students of all ages and the public, through our ongoing outreach events. The Research faculty and graduate students from Alabama A&M University (AAMU) and collaborating institutions use WTARS for a broad array of field research. Outreach activities include workshops by Alabama Cooperative Extension Service (ACES); local, regional, and national conferences; ROTC; K-12 school field trips (Hazel Green Middle School located southwest of WTARS); field trips for farmers; 4H and FFA events; fundraisers for local nonprofits; and much more. The station is used by agricultural industry and also by public or private collaborators. The facility is overseen by the Dean/1890 Research Director the College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences (CALNS), under the mandate of the 1890 land-grants mission and operated by a Station Manager. Through the USDA, the Evans-Allen program supports agricultural research, along with extension activities with an emphasis on reaching socially and economically disadvantaged people.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
* Manage daily operations of the research station
* Hire, train, and supervise support staff
* Supervise the collection, summarization, and transmission of research data and records to faculty members; and to collaborators
* Provide/Oversee maintenance of field site in accordance with best land and field research principles
* Maintain an attractive experiment station appearance
* Cooperate/Work with AAMU Physical Facilities in maintaining buildings and field laboratories
* Conduct Future planning of research facilities
Minimum Position Requirements (including certifications, licenses, etc.):
* M.S. in the areas of agronomy, horticulture, Soil Science, and/or Animal Science
* Minimum of three years' experience in managing or utilizing a research and teaching experiment station
* Experience in field research methods, ability to implement experimental design, statistical analysis, and effective communication of research results to clientele
* Evidence of working with farm workers, as well as diverse faculty members, office managers, and administrative staff
* A record of some scientific publications that incorporate field research is desirable
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
* Awareness of ecosystems and environmental sciences to manage forest and agroforest areas, wetlands, water bodies, and riparian zones
* Familiarity with farm equipment and smaller research plot equipment
* Candidate should be detail-oriented and possess strong organization and communication skills
* Strong oral and numerical communication skills
* Ability to lift in excess of 50 lbs.
* Must be willing to travel locally and regionally occasionally