Chair/Academic Rank

Pittsburg State University is accepting applications for the Chair/Rank TBD for the department of Biology.  The Department Chair serves as the chief administrative officer of the department. The Chair provides leadership for the department and is responsible for the academic, personnel, facility, and financial affairs of the department to ensure that the activities of the departments meet the University, College, and Departments’ missions and goals. The Administrative assignment is at the pleasure of the President. 

Duties and Responsibilities of Position

Administrative Duties – 45% (Essential)

• Plan and conduct departmental business, including faculty appointments, promotion, contract renewal, tenure, salary increases, and dismissals. 
• Provide leadership in the development of departmental curriculum. 
• Develop schedules, assign faculty and staff workloads and assignments, and facilitate departmental meetings.
• Oversee the department’s assessment efforts and review, and long‐range planning. 
• Coordinate accreditation and/or approval activities. 
• Assign special projects as needed to ensure the department’s mission and goals are achieved.
• Promote and provide leadership in mentoring and development of faculty, including completion of Annual Performance Appraisals, and student recruitment and retention.
• Promote and enhance the image of the department
• Supervise administrative staff, including completion of Performance Reviews, in accordance with university, college, and department policies and procedures.
• Manage the departmental budgets and expenditures, including General Use, Foundation, or other funds used for Other Operating Expenditures (OOE), scholarships, and other special uses (e.g. grants and travel).
• Promote and provide leadership in community/university relations. Work with PSU Foundation and participate in planned giving and fundraising activities as well as the solicitation of gifts.
• Act as a liaison between faculty in the department and upper‐level administrators.
• Oversee the physical spaces used by the department and work with physical plant to meet facility program needs.
• Promote a collegial department atmosphere. Respond to concerns of staff, faculty, students, and other stakeholders (parents & alumni).

Teaching – 25% (Essential)

• Engage in academic program planning and development, instruction, evaluation, and student academic advisement. The appropriate teaching load is determined in consultation with the Dean.

Service – 15% (Essential)

• Engage in institutional, professional and community service activities. Individual service plans are established each year through the Unclassified Performance Management Process.

Scholarly Activity – 10% (Essential)

• Engage in research, scholarship, or creative endeavor. Individualized plans for scholarly activity are established each year through the Unclassified Performance Management Process.

Other Duties as Assigned – 5% 

Education and Experience

    Required Education and Experience at Hire - 

• Terminal Degree in a field within the purview of Biology.
• 5 years of experience teaching, scholarly/creative productivity and service at the collegiate level complementary with existing department faculty
• Academic leadership and administrative skills
• Appointment at a senior faculty level at PSU (associate or full professor)
• Demonstrated positive professional relationship skills with organizational and external constituents

Candidate's must hold a terminal degree in the discipline of Biology or related field. This degree requirement is necessary for accreditation purposes and to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level.

Screening Services (Background Checks):  Your employment with Pittsburg State University is contingent on a satisfactory criminal background and sex offender check.

Job Type:  Unclassified

Appointment Duration: 12 month Fiscal Year appointment

Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Application Documents Required*:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Names and contact information (address, email and phone) of three references.

*Consolidate documents into a maximum of 2 uploads. 

Open Until Filled with first review  date of December 1, 2025.

Search Committee Chair: Tim Flood  (tflood@pittstate.edu)

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire, as the university does not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

PSU will only accept applications submitted through this process.

Pittsburg State University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.