Associate Director

Associate Director

Posting Number : SP005056P

Division / College : College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

Department : WRDC (Western Rural Development Center)

Location : Boise

Posting Context Statement :

The Western Rural Development Center (WRDC) is one of four rural development centers established by Congress's Rural Development Act of 1972. It is a collaborative effort between the USDA and the University of Idaho. The core of its funding comes from NIFA. The WRDC works with public universities in the Western region to conduct research-based studies and educational outreach programs. It partners with local communities, decision-makers, entrepreneurs, families, farmers, and ranchers to address various rural development issues. The WRDC's objective is to enhance the capacity of the regions' land-grant universities and cooperative extension services to help rural communities thrive and become self-sustaining.

Position Overview :

The Associate Director will play a key leadership role in advancing the mission of the WRDC by supporting day-to-day operations, promoting collaborative multistate projects and driving research and outreach efforts that strengthen rural development across the Western United States. The Associate Director will work closely with the WRDC Director to guide programmatic initiatives, identify research theme leaders, support grant projects, and facilitate integrated teams across research, education and extension functions. A central responsibility of this position is to lead a regionally relevant extension program and establish a complementary research agenda that addresses pressing rural development challenges. The successful candidate will also engage with stakeholders, publish scholarly and extension materials, lead integrated research and Extension projects, and ensure that WRDC-supported projects align with institutional and regional priorities. Duties may include :

• Support the WRDC Director with daily operations, oversee funded projects, manage budgets, track deliverables and prepare reports
• Lead integrated research and Extension initiatives focused on rural development in the Western U.S., ensuring quality, ethical standards and scholarly contributions
• Write and disseminate peer-reviewed journal articles, curricula, Extension bulletins and educational resources; deliver workshops, webinars and community outreach activities
• Work with multidisciplinary and multistate teams, faculty and stakeholders to set priorities, develop coordinated initiatives and provide technical leadership
• Develop methods and guidelines for Extension programs, conduct and publish research, and support projects
• Represent WRDC on review panels and committees, peer-review scholarly work, and supervise students or project staff as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Required Experience :

Required Education :

Required Other :

Additional Preferred :

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions :

None

Degree Requirement :

Listed degree qualification is required at time of application

FLSA Status : Exempt

Employee Category : Exempt

Pay Range : $86,153.60 or higher depending on experience

Type of Appointment : Of_Appointment

FTE : 1.0

Full Time / Part Time : Full Time

Funding : This position is contingent upon the continuation of work and / or funding.

A visa sponsorship is available for the position listed in this vacancy : Uncertain