Assistant Director NDAES

Description & Details:

The assistant director is responsible for leading the field operations of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. This network includes research extension centers at Carrington, Langdon, Minot, Williston, Dickinson, Hettinger, and Streeter, North Dakota. It also includes the Agronomy Seed Farm located at Casselton, North Dakota. The network works closely with campus departments, private industry, and state and federal agencies to carry out research and extension programming tailored to meet the needs of citizens and stakeholders in the region which they serve.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate activities among North Dakota State University (NDSU) Research Extension Centers (REC). Serve as a liaison for the NDSU Experiment Station Director to the RECs and the Agronomy Seed Farm.
  • Supervise the Directors of the RECs and the Agronomy Seed Farm, conducting their annual reviews and Policy 327 reviews as required by NDSU policy.
  • Serve as a liaison among the REC directors to the NDSU Vice President for Agriculture (VP for Ag)
  • Schedule and facilitate routine REC director meetings.
    • Work with the VP for Ag to develop meeting agendas
    • Invite guest speakers and other participants to the meetings
    • Coordinate other meeting functions as needed
  • Work with the Associate Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station to improve coordination and collaboration between the Main Station and RECs
• Represent NDSU Agriculture at advisory board meetings, field days, and other events when other campus representation is not available
• Work with RECs and main station to facilitate development of programmatic and capital project priorities to SBARE
• Manage existing AES equipment leases and seek additional partnerships as warranted by the needs of the agency. Ensure excellent working relationship between dealers and the NDSU network of users.
  • Maintain/oversee inventory of equipment leased from CASE-IH
  • Maintain a strong linkage with dealer networks
  • Work with NDSU purchasing to ensure all paperwork is filed regarding lease arrangements
  • Work with RECs and other equipment users to ensure equipment is properly insured, maintained, serviced, and repaired
  • Serve as State Fleet contact person for REC network
• Serve as the liaison between NDSU Agriculture and the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory in Mandan
  • Identify collaborative opportunities that strengthen the relationship between ARS and NDSU Agriculture
  • Serve as a key contact for ARS personnel with NDSU Agriculture
  • Communicate with NDSU faculty and staff regarding collaborative opportunities with ARS
• Supervise directors of NDSU Research Extension Centers and Agronomy Seed Farm.
  • Attend department-based activities to attain assessment of director leadership including advisory board meetings and field days.
  • Interact with department staff to assess department and leadership impacts.
• Represent NDSU Agriculture at meetings and events of the agriculture constituency.
  • Attend activities of North Dakota commodity organizations.
  • Attend activities of farm organizations and rural communities throughout the state.
  • Attend REC and ASF advisory board meetings, field days and related events.
  • Attend meetings of partner organizations such as the North Dakota Crop Improvement and Seed Association, industry partners, and other associated events.
  • Attend legislative sessions and communicate with elected officials and stakeholders
• Evaluate and coordinate programs at Research Extension Centers.
  • Review and ensure alignment with broader goals of NDSU Agriculture.
  • Assess the effectiveness and impact of initiatives undertaken by the REC’s.
  • Review and assess collaborations among REC’s and between REC’s and the Main Station.
• Work with the Associate Director of Extension to improve coordination and collaboration between NDSU Extension and RECs
• Other duties as assigned

Work Schedule:

Full-time (travel required)

Position location is negotiable within the state of North Dakota

Advertised Salary:

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

NDSU offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes single or family health insurance coverage with premiums paid for by the university – with an effective date for new employees the first of the month following the date of hire. Other benefits include wellness benefits, basic life insurance, retirement plan, tuition waiver, annual leave, Employee Assistance Program, sick leave, and holiday pay. Optional benefits include supplemental life, dental, vision and long-term care insurance, flexible spending account and supplemental retirement plans. Information about employment benefits is available at www.ndsu.edu/hr/.

Minimum Qualifications:

• M.S. in an agriculture or closely related field
• Seven years or equivalent experience with agriculture administration at a land grant university or equivalent experience with federal agencies, or private agricultural companies
• Supervisory and/or managerial experience
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Working knowledge of agriculture
• Ability to work closely with a broad array of constituent groups
• Ability to coordinate and communicate with other state agencies, offices, and branches of government

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in an agriculture or closely related field
• Working knowledge of NDSU's land grant missions of teaching, research, and extension
• Demonstrated experience in creating agency and private-public partnerships
• Demonstrated experience cultivating multidisciplinary working groups
• Working knowledge of North Dakota agriculture
• Experience with the NDSU REC network
• Experience managing a team at geographically remote locations
• Proven track record of garnering extramural support
• Experience working with legislators and other elected officials

Applicant Materials Required:

Interested applicants should submit an abbreviated resume or CV (five pages or less); cover letter detailing your qualifications and list of three references.

For further information, contact Dr. Mohamed Khan, Search Committee Chair at Mohamed.khan@ndsu.edu

Screening will begin 4/28/25

NDSU OFFERS EXCELLENT BENEFITS!

Full time employees are eligible for the following benefits:

• Health Insurance coverage with 100% of the premium paid for by NDSU for Single or Family Plan
  • Option of a PPO/Basic Plan or High-Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account
  • Benefits begin the first of the month following date of hire
  • Wellness benefits are included for healthy lifestyle participation
• Superb Retirement Plan
  • Employer Contributions range from 7.5% - 12.26% based on position
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Tuition Waivers for Employee (three classes per calendar year)
• Tuition Waivers for Spouse/Partner & Dependents (eligible for 50% waiver)
• Paid Leave – including Annual leave, Sick Leave and 10 paid Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Optional benefits include Supplemental Life, Dental, Vision, Long-term care insurance, Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care) and Supplemental Retirement Plans
• More Detailed Information Here: Benefits | Human Resources | NDSU

About Us:

North Dakota State University is distinctive as a student focused, land-grant, research university. We educate leaders who solve national and global challenges by providing affordable access to an excellent education that combines teaching and research in a rich learning environment.

NDSU is in the highest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, R1, granted to the top research institutions in the country.

NDSU has offices across the state of North Dakota, and the main campus is in Fargo, on the Minnesota border. Along with Moorhead, Minnesota, Fargo forms one of the largest metropolitan centers between Minneapolis and Seattle. The community is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live.

No Smoking Notice:

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.

EO/AA Statement:

NDSU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable. Direct inquiries to: Vice Provost, Title IX/ADA Coordinator, Old Main 201, NDSU Main Campus, Fargo, ND, 58108, 701-231-7708, ndsu.eoaa@ndsu.edu.

Diversity Statement:

NDSU strives to be a community of belonging, recognizing unique differences as strengths of our university. We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce that supports a community in which diverse populations and perspectives will know and learn from one another. NDSU values candidates who are committed to our core values of respect, inclusivity, community, creativity, excellence, impact, innovation, integrity, resilience, responsiveness, and transformation. Successful candidates will be committed to and help advance our strategic goal to create and maintain an open and respectful environment to promote inclusivity and diversity as a cornerstone of education, research, and outreach.

Veteran’s Preference Notice:

This position is subject to North Dakota Veteran’s Preference requirements.

Reasonable Accommodation Information

North Dakota State University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resources at 701-231-8961 or ndsu.hr@ndsu.edu.