Description

The School of Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville (UTK), invites applications of exceptional leaders for the position of Professor and Director of the School of Natural Resources (SNR). This is a full-time, 12-month, tenured position.

The University of Tennessee – Knoxville stands as Tennessee's flagship state research institution, renowned for its outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs that command national and international recognition across various fields. A core component of UTK's mission is embodied by the UT Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), which seeks to fulfill the land grant mission by addressing pressing societal issues through research, teaching, and Extension efforts. The School of Natural Resources is the comprehensive natural resources program in the state, consisting of 36 teaching, research, and Extension faculty, 19 professional staff, 8 administrative support staff members, and more than 325 students in our undergraduate and graduate programs.  The school’s mission is to advance the science and sustainable management of natural resources to promote their health, utilization, and appreciation in Tennessee, the region, and beyond.  Knoxville offers a pleasant mix of urban culture and wildland recreational opportunities within a region recognized as a global hot spot for biodiversity. The University of Tennessee is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Several key federal, state, and non-governmental organizations are on or near campus. Research activities are supported at ten AgResearch and Education Centers across the state.

The Director’s responsibilities include leadership of all school programs and administrative responsibility for planning, fiscal management, human resources, and facilities. The Director reports to the Deans of AgResearch, UT Extension, and the Herbert College of Agriculture, working with their offices to accomplish school goals and objectives. The Director guides the School of Natural Resources in its mission to deliver statewide, nationally and internationally recognized programs in teaching, research, and Extension. The Director helps articulate and promote the School’s vision to provide high quality, relevant education and training for undergraduate and graduate students that encompasses the vision of the University of Tennessee – a world enriched by our ideas, improved through action, and inspired by the Volunteer spirit of service and leadership – thus positioning students to take their places as academic and industry leaders in the state of Tennessee and the world. 

The Director serves as the chief executive officer of the School and is responsible for providing dynamic, visionary leadership in the following key areas: 

Strategic Leadership: Facilitate the achievement of the School’s teaching, research, Extension, and service missions, while ensuring alignment with institute and university goals and growing all programs and enhancing leadership.
Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with faculty, staff, students, administration, alumni, industry and agency partners, advisory groups, and external constituencies to establish priorities and guide the School’s growth. 
Faculty and Staff Development: Recruit, support, mentor, and evaluate a diverse team of faculty and staff; lead efforts in performance management, retention, and professional development. 
Student Success: Oversee student recruitment, advising, and support efforts to enhance enrollment, retention, and student achievement within the School’s disciplines. 
Academic Program Quality: Ensure the health, accreditation, and continuous improvement of academic programs and maintain high standards for teaching and learning outcomes. 
Collegiality and Professionalism: Promote a positive, collegial, and welcoming School culture that values teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration. 
Resource Management: Manage the School budgets, human resources, and facilities; identify and cultivate internal and external funding and sponsored opportunities to support program growth. 
Visibility and Advocacy: Enhance the visibility of the School (forestry, wildlife, fisheries, outdoor recreation, and renewable carbon) through strategic marketing, promoting excellence, and fostering recognition of faculty, staff, and student achievements at the institute, university, state, and national levels. 
Faculty Mentorship: Implement and administer a structured faculty mentoring program, ensuring long-term support through multi-member mentoring committees. 

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: The successful candidate must:  

Qualify for the rank of Professor in the School of Natural Resources with an earned PhD in forestry, wildlife, fisheries, outdoor recreation, wood science or closely related field and a distinguished record of scholarly achievement 
Display evidence of visionary leadership that aligns with faculty goals for the Extension, research, and teaching programs within natural resources
Demonstrate interest in and understanding of the Land Grant philosophy  
Possess excellent interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills
Have a strong commitment to development of faculty, staff, and students and a proven ability to foster collaboration across disciplines and institutions 
Demonstrate administrative and leadership experience, including supervision of personnel, fiscal management, and strategic planning  

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  We seek a collegial leader with:  

Experience working within a land-grant university system
Experience in and a willingness to engage in assessing priorities, strategic planning and implementation, and adaptability to change in a multidisciplinary environment 
Skills in effective management of personnel and mentorship, navigation of administrative challenges, and facilitation of productive teamwork
Demonstrated fiscal and resource management skills, and a commitment to financial transparency
Experience in teaching, and curriculum development and assessment
International reputation in specialty area, successful grantsmanship at regional and national levels, and active involvement in appropriate scientific societies
Demonstrated evidence of successful collaboration including scholarly activity and establishing productive partnerships

To apply, please submit the following documents through UTK’s faculty application portal:

1.      Cover letter outlining your relevant experiences in reference to the qualifications detailed in the announcement

2.      A leadership statement (two-page limit) to address all three areas of the Land Grant mission

3.      CV

4.      Full contact information of three professional references

5.      Copies of transcripts

Closing date: Review of applications will begin February 6th, 2026, and continue until the position is filled.