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About the Role

The Department of Food Science at UMass Amherst seeks a dynamic, innovative, and principled academic leader for a tenure-track faculty position with a five-year commitment as Department Head. This mid-career or senior level role requires a strong track record in leadership and a vision for the future of food science, aiming to advance research, education, extension, and outreach while fostering a collegial culture.

Responsibilities

Lead the department in articulating its vision and goals for research, education, outreach, and inclusive excellence.
Serve as the responsible authority for all research, educational, outreach, facilities, and personnel matters within the department.
Provide strategic and operational leadership, including policy development and administrative structure implementation.
Model success in research, education, outreach, and inclusive excellence, and facilitate faculty development.
Use data-informed insights for strategic planning, accountability, and enhancing teaching, research, and engagement.
Develop and support programmatic relationships with internal and external partners.
Engage with the department’s Advisory Board for meetings, events, and activities to support industrial and alumni engagement, student success, and fundraising.
Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, equality, and inclusiveness.
Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Requirements

Ph.D. or equivalent in Food Science or a related field.
Current position as a tenured associate or full professor with credentials and experience appropriate for a mid- to senior-level appointment.
Internationally recognized for contributions in a food science-related discipline.
Demonstrated leadership skills and experience (managing academic programs or serving on key committees).
Strong track record of scholarship, extramural funding, and teaching commensurate with experience and rank.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
Evidence of commitment to fostering a collegial, collaborative, and inclusive workplace.
At least 5 years of experience in a tenure-track professorship post in Food Science or related fields.
Record of excellence in research, teaching, and outreach.
Successful record of leadership in grant-funded projects is desirable.
Demonstrated experience working constructively across differing perspectives.
Demonstrated experience supporting faculty and staff development.
Demonstrated experience promoting fair and transparent academic processes.
Demonstrated experience aligning individual strengths with department-wide strategic goals.

Skills

Leadership
Interpersonal skills
Communication skills
Negotiation skills
Research
Teaching
Outreach
Grant writing
Teamwork
Collaboration
Inclusiveness

Location

Amherst

Work Type

full time
Onsite

Experience Level

mid-career
senior level
Associate Professor
Full Professor
tenured associate or full professor
at least 5 years’ experience

Education Level

Ph.D. or equivalent

Salary/Compensations

$90,160 and $246,287
additional financial support in the form of summer salary, administrative stipend and/or research funding from the College will be negotiated with the finalist.

About the Company

The Department of Food Science at UMass Amherst has evolved into one of the most prestigious food science departments globally.
The department is renowned for its cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaborations, and commitment to solving global food challenges.
Research areas span from the molecular properties of food to foods for health and wellness, the safety of food, and sustainable food material processing.
The department has a strong advisory board that supports industrial engagement, student mentoring, and fundraising.
It is a highly collaborative department, home to several of the world's most recognized food scientists.
The Department of Food Science is playing a significant role in a campus-wide Future of Food Initiative, bringing together food-related strengths with industrial and community engagement that aims to drive economic development.
An anticipated development of this initiative is to build a Food Innovation Hub, which will include a food-grade pilot plant, innovation kitchen, sensory lab, and collaboratories along with more research labs for future growth.
The first academic discipline in food science began at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1918.