Director of Beef Center of Excellence

Campus

OSU-Stillwater

Contact Name & Email

Jane Carpenter, jane.carpenter@okstate.edu

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm with occasional evenings and weekends.

Appointment Length

Regular Continuous/Until Further Notice

Hiring Range

Commensurate with education and experience

Special Instructions to Applicants

For full consideration, please include a resume, cover letter and contact information for three professional references.

About this Position

Oklahoma State University invites applications for the inaugural Director of the Beef Center of Excellence, a newly established virtual center dedicated to advancing cross-disciplinary research, extension, and engagement across the beef cattle industry. The Director will serve as the founding leader of this initiative, building the center from the ground up and positioning OSU as a national hub for beef cattle innovation and collaboration. This is a unique opportunity for a visionary leader with deep ties to the beef industry to shape a program that spans the full supply chain.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategic Direction

• Work with the Beef Center of Excellence advisory board, administration, faculty, and staff to develop overall vision and strategic planning for the Beef Center of Excellence
• Develop and execute a long-range plan for center growth, programming, and impact
• Represent the center internally across OSU colleges, OSU Extension, and experiment stations, and externally with industry, government, and academic partners

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and sustain relationships with producers, packers, feeders, breed associations, commodity groups, and other stakeholders throughout the beef supply chain
• Serve as a liaison between the beef industry and OSU's research and extension communities
• Coordinate and facilitate industry advisory groups, ensuring meaningful industry input into center priorities and programming, and work closely with the Beef Center of Excellence advisory board

Teaching, Research, and Extension Coordination

• Identify and catalyze cross-disciplinary research opportunities that address critical needs in beef production, sustainability, food safety, economics, and market development
• Collaborate with faculty across OSU Agriculture to develop coordinated research and extension programming
• Support the translation of research findings into practical tools, resources, and recommendations for industry audiences through OSU Extension
• Maintain a cohesive collections of resources that can be deployed to fund impactful and cutting-edge research and outreach
• Develop innovative programs and curriculum to train students to be leaders in the beef industry
  Fundraising & Development
• Lead fundraising efforts for the center, including cultivating donor relationships, pursuing corporate partnerships, and identifying grant opportunities
• Work closely with the OSU Foundation advancement staff to develop and execute a fundraising strategy aligned with center goals to include endowed chair positions and advisory board membership cultivation
• Steward existing donors and industry partners to support long-term investment in the center

Communications & Outreach

• In coordination with the office of communications and marketing in OSU Agriculture, develop a communications strategy that elevates the center's visibility and impact with both industry and academic audiences
• Represent OSU and the Beef Center of Excellence at regional, national, and international beef industry events and conferences

About the Beef Center of Excellence
The Beef Center of Excellence is a virtual, cross-disciplinary center at Oklahoma State University designed to integrate expertise from across the university and the beef supply chain. The center's mission is to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the beef industry through coordinated research, extension, education, and industry engagement. Oklahoma State University is home to one of the nation's premier animal science programs and has a long tradition of partnership with Oklahoma's beef cattle industry. For more information, visit: https://agdivision.okstate.edu/animal-excellence

There are lots of great reasons to work at OSU, check out our great benefits and eligibility at https://hr.okstate.edu/prospective-ee.html

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's in animal science, agricultural business, agricultural communications, economics, range science, entomology or a related field
  (degree must be conferred on or before agreed upon start date)
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in the beef industry, agricultural research administration, extension, or a closely related field
  

  • Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement, partnership development, or industry relations

Skills, Proficiencies, and/or Knowledge:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across academic, industry, and policy audiences
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or doctoral degree in a relevant field
• Experience in fundraising, development, or grant writing
• Familiarity with agricultural research and extension programs
• Existing relationships within the Oklahoma and national beef industry