The director of the Center for Grassland Studies (CGS) (0.40 FTE) has oversight of all CGS programs and supervises CGS staff, administering the Grassland Systems undergraduate degree program in cooperation with the Grassland Systems curriculum committee, the four units contributing to the major (Agronomy/Horticulture, School of Natural Resources, Animal Science, and Ag Economics), and CASNR.
Also included is coordination of teaching for the Grassland Systems major in partnership with unit leaders, advising, recruiting, scholarships, assessment, curriculum, and bulletin updates. Outreach and extension activities of CGS include programmatic and administrative support for the Nebraska Grazing Conference; the GRAS 490 Grassland Seminar and Leu Lecture; coordinating the CGS website, newsletter, and social media; and engaging stakeholders through the CGS Citizens Advisory Council and outreach events.
The CGS director promotes grassland research through collaboration to develop grant proposals, encourage research at IANR’s grassland properties, award the Arthur W. Sampson Graduate Fellowship, and administer NU Foundation Funds assigned to CGS for grassland-related activities.
The CGS director manages IANR properties assigned to CGS in accordance with the long-term management objectives of each property, coordinates management efforts with stakeholders, including state and federal agencies and adjacent landowner as appropriate, and seeks ways to integrate IANR grassland properties into the teaching, research, and outreach missions of CGS.
The Director will help position CGS as:
- The University of Nebraska’s convenor for grassland systems expertise and collaboration.
- A catalyst for interdisciplinary research and innovation.
- A trusted source of science-based solutions for grassland and grazing systems.
- A leader in grassland workforce development and student success.
- A connector of CGS strengths, stakeholder needs, and societal impact.
The person hired into this position will retain 60% of their current position and responsibilities.
The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/.
Minimum Required Qualifications
- Must currently hold a full-time associate professor or professor position within the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
- Demonstrated programming (research, teaching, and/or Extension) aligned with grassland systems.
Preferred Qualifications
- A champion for the integration of research, Extension, and teaching to maximize impact and advance the land-grant mission.
- Ability to build trust and foster shared ownership across departments, schools, centers, disciplines, and stakeholder groups.
- Proven success leading collaborative and interdisciplinary initiatives.
- Strategic vision for the future of grassland systems and Nebraska’s leadership role in addressing emerging challenges and opportunities.
- Ability to convene faculty, staff, students, agencies, industry, producers, and partners around shared priorities.
- Commitment to student success, workforce development, and experiential learning.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to elevate visibility, strengthen partnerships, and articulate the value of grasslands to diverse audiences.
- Experience developing external partnerships and identifying opportunities for investment and growth.
- A collaborative leadership style that values multiple perspectives and creates an environment where innovation can thrive.
