Griffith Endowed Chair and SD Water Resource Institute Director

at  South Dakota Board of Regents

POSTING TEXT

The Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department (ABED) at South Dakota State University (SDSU) excited to announce a new opening for the William Mibra Griffith and Byrne S. Griffith Endowed Chair in Agriculture and Water Resources and South Dakota Water Resources Institute Director. We are seeking a scientific leader to collaboratively enhance the region’s water resources sector. This role will be pivotal in shaping the trajectory of water-related research and outreach initiatives. The successful candidate will provide leadership and conduct research and outreach focused on water issues associated with agricultural production. Located on the SDSU campus in Brookings, South Dakota this position is a 12-month full-time, benefits-eligible, faculty position at the associate or full professor located with potential for tenure-track upon hire.
The ABED includes approximately 30 faculty and staff members, over 30 graduate students, and over 220 undergraduate students, of which approximately a third are in the Precision Agriculture major delivered jointly by the ABED and the Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Sciences Department. The department houses the Mesonet at SDState, South Dakota’s live weather network, which provides accurate weather updates every five minutes to increase agricultural efficiency, and the Water Resources Institute, which provides leadership on evolving water concerns and problems faced by South Dakota citizens.
South Dakota State University promotes access to and opportunities for all to receive the benefit of and participate in education, research, and service and is especially interested in candidates that can contribute to this land-grant mission of access.
Must be authorized to work in the U.S. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. degree in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering or closely related discipline.
• A distinguished record of outreach, research, scholarship, and service.
• Eligible for rank of Associate or Full Professor at SDSU in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer Department. Standards documents are available upon request.
• Ability or potential for leadership of employees.
• Ability to develop a quality research and outreach program to evaluate and address water-related issues related to production agriculture.
• Ability to secure extramural funding, present and publish research results.
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively (both verbally and in writing) with colleagues, staff, students, producer groups, and other clientele.
• Ability to work as a contributing team member with effective interpersonal skills.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire and be willing to travel.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of Midwest or Great Plains agricultural production practices;
• Ability to mobilize internal and external stakeholders into a collaborative, guided water ecosystem.
• Experience in agricultural water issues (such as water management for crop production, water quality including specific pollutants, soil health, water issues related to livestock and related production, or sociological issues related to agricultural water management) or urban water issues (such as stormwater management, green infrastructure, or low-impact development).
• Knowledge of governmental environmental quality policies and statutes;
• Registered or eligible to pursue registration as a Professional Engineer.

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION AND CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS

South Dakota State University is the state’s largest, most comprehensive university with more than 200 academic programs, an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students, and over $60 million annual research expenditures.
South Dakota State University offers a rich academic experience in an environment of inclusion and access through inspired, student-centered education, creative activities and research, innovation and engagement that improve the quality of life in South Dakota, the region, the nation and the world. Its employees embrace the university’s core values of being people-centered, expanding knowledge through creativity, embracing organizational and personal integrity, commitment to diversity of thought, and excellence through continuous improvement.
As the state’s 1862 Morrill Act land-grant institution, the work of South Dakota State University is carried out on its main resident campus in Brookings, at sites in Sioux Falls, Pierre, Rapid City, and Aberdeen, and through Extension offices and Agricultural Experiment Station research sites across South Dakota.
Jackrabbits Athletics competes as an NCAA Division I member with membership in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the Summit League and the Big XII for wrestling.
Brookings is home to approximately 24,000 residents and is located 60 miles north of Sioux Falls and 200 miles west of Minneapolis. Brookings is listed as an ideal community for families, students, young professionals and retirees, and is rated among the safest and most vibrant cities in South Dakota.
The Brookings Public School District educates approximately 3,300 K-12 students and ranks among the state’s highest academic achieving school districts. The district includes three elementary schools, an intermediate school for fourth and fifth grade, one middle school, and a high school.
The city also boasts an abundance of attractions and activities, including the Children’s Museum of South Dakota, Dakota Nature Park, South Dakota Art Museum, McCrory Gardens, South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, Outdoor Adventure Center and the Brookings Summer Arts Festival.

The appointment will be 40% extension/outreach, 40% research, and 20% administration as part of the Water Resources Institute. The incumbent will lead research and extension activities that address water issues related to agriculture. This position will require close working relationships within the Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Department, as well as other researchers on campus and nationally on t water resources issues related to precision agriculture, the Water Resources Institute, SD Mesonet, and, East Dakota Water Development District.
Programming will include: 1) Lead a research program to evaluate and address water-related issues related to production agriculture at the field and/or watershed scale; 2) provide leadership and establish collaboration or partnerships in water management with graduate students, faculty in other departments and universities, Extension educators and specialists, government agencies, the agricultural community, commodity groups, and agribusinesses to enhance water-related research; 3) secure external funding; 4) present and publish research results; 5) lead the Water Resources Institute outreach mission by interacting with the public to provide answers to water-related questions and creating an Extension outreach program in collaboration with Extension faculty and field specialists; and 6) contribute to the University and professional communities.