Department Chair - FNPS, Clemson, South Carolina

Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences (FNPS) Department Chair

Clemson University invites nominations and applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences (FNPS). Reporting to the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences’ (CAFLS) Dean, the Chair of FNPS will be a key member of the CAFLS leadership team, which consists of five academic departments within the college. Serving as the next FNPS Chair requires the passion, skills, commitment, and vision to lead the long-term development of our uniquely diverse teaching, research, extension, and other outreach programs. The individual selected for this role will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and will promote and guide new initiatives in a large and diverse department.

The position is located on the Clemson University main campus and will be a full-time, 12-month, tenured position with a 100% administrative appointment. The Department consists of 30 faculty, 8 staff, and offers degrees in Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN) (BS); Packaging Science (BS); Food, Nutrition and Culinary Sciences (MS); Packaging Science (MS); and Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences (PhD). The department’s growing degree programs are nationally recognized for our focus on engaging students. The department’s current enrollment is 473 undergraduate students and 59 graduate students. It is also the home of the following departmental service labs and organizations:

Center for Flexible Packaging (CEFPACK)

Clemson Extension Food Safety and Systems Program Team

Clemson Extension Food Entrepreneur Product Testing Program

Cryovac Flavour Mark Retort Laboratory

DuPont Packaging Lab

Mama Mary’s Research and Development Kitchen

Sensory Evaluation Laboratory

Packaging Permeation Testing Laboratory

Clemson Package Dynamics Laboratory

‘55 Exchange Student Entrepreneurial Center (Home to Clemson Ice Cream)

Electrolux Shelf-Life Testing Lab

Our undergraduate Food Technology Concentration is approved by the Institute of Food Technology (IFT), and the Research Chefs Association (RCA). Our undergraduate Nutrition Concentration has a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) that is approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

Responsibilities include:

• Providing leadership and vision to the department.

• Advancing the goals of the land-grant mission in research, teaching, and extension/outreach.

• Promoting equality and diversity.

• Recruitment and evaluation of faculty and staff.

• Supporting teaching efforts, problem-solving of faculty/student interactions, and student exit interviews.

• Fostering strong working relations with the health professional, food, and packaging industries as well as key constituency groups.

• Providing leadership with college support for development and fund-raising.

• The successful candidate will also manage the department’s fiscal affairs including developing revenue generating programs and corporate/individual gifts.

Clemson University, a Carnegie R1 institution, is South Carolina's public land-grant University. South Carolina's highest-ranked national university is located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounded by Lake Hartwell and the Clemson Experimental Forest. A top-25 public university with a reputation for excellence, Clemson University provides a hands-on education - in the lab, in the classroom and in the field. Academic programs lay the groundwork for innovative research, and real-world experiences carry forward to rewarding careers. This strikingly beautiful campus enjoys a temperate and pleasant climate. We welcome applications and nominations of outstanding scholar-educators to come join the Clemson Family.

Candidates must hold a PhD in Food Science, Human Nutrition or Packaging Science (or related disciplines). Academic experience is required, with demonstrated excellence in developing productive research, teaching, public service and/or industry programs. Candidates must demonstrate a record of scholarly achievement appropriate for a tenured faculty member at the rank of Professor at an R-1 institution. Candidates must also be able to demonstrate some form of leadership experience.

Preferred Qualifications

The successful candidate will have strong interpersonal, communication, personnel management, and consensus-building skills, and possess the ability to work effectively with a wide range of groups and individuals, including but not limited to, industry, university administration, government agencies, constituency groups, other departments, alumni, students, and parents. Candidates with documented evidence of administrative experience, capacity for leadership and management skills in an academic environment will receive favorable consideration. Candidates who can document experience with and/or strong commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion are preferred.

Application Procedures and Deadlines:

• A vita that demonstrates significant achievement in research, teaching, extension or outreach, service, and management/leadership experience.

• Contact information for five (5) potential references (Note: references will not be contacted until the final stages of the interview process, after notification of candidates).

• A concise letter of intent

• A statement of administrative philosophy

• Leadership examples

• Diversity statement

• A statement describing how you would balance the need for a unified departmental vision with the need for each of the three disciplines to satisfy different stakeholder needs.

Documents will be submitted electronically in PDF format via Interfolio (http://apply.interfolio.com/140480). Applicants may request that their candidacy remain confidential during the review process. Review of nominations and applications will begin on April 15th, 2024, and continue until a suitable candidate is identified. Please visit www.clemson.edu/fnps to learn more about the department and Clemson University. For additional information regarding the position or recruitment process, contact Mitch Day at maday@clemson.edu, Clemson University Talent Acquisition Team.