Job Information
Iowa State University Professor and Department Chair - Department of Community and Regional Planning in Ames, Iowa
Position Title:Professor and Department Chair - Department of Community and Regional Planning
Appointment Type:Faculty
Job Description:
Job Description:
The Department of Community and Regional Planning (CRP) in the College of Design at Iowa State University is seeking an accomplished administrator with demonstrated achievements in planning for the role of Department Chair to support and promote the interdisciplinary and collaborative work of all departmental faculty and staff.
As a Carnegie Foundation- designated Research-Extensive institution, we seek an individual in the field who will support the department's long-standing scholarly excellence in education, research, and practice. The Chair will be expected to foster collegiality and enhance our unique land- grant university status by upholding and inspiring our work both on and off campus. The Department Chair will enrich our community as we pursue an appropriate balance in knowledge building and sharing, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Founded in the late 1940s, the program has a long history of excellence. The CRP department integrates research, teaching, and outreach consistent with the tenets of Iowa State’s land grant mission. Planning at Iowa State is known for strong community-based learning and scholarship and for maintaining a close relationship with the University’s Extension and Outreach program. The department offers two accredited, on-campus degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning (one of only 16 accredited undergraduate planning programs in the United States) and a Master of Community and Regional Planning. The department offers a new, fully online Master of Community Development program, as well as graduate certificates in Geographic Information Systems and Heritage Preservation. The department also supports joint graduate degrees between Planning and Sustainable Agriculture, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Business Administration.
The successful candidate will oversee a diverse department comprised of 12 faculty with wide ranging experience and expertise, including two faculty who hold joint appointments with Iowa State Extension and Outreach. The Chair will be an advocate for members of the department in their relationships with allied programs, college and university administration, alumni, the profession, and the public. We seek a candidate who can support all three dimensions of the land-grant mission: education, research, and outreach. Candidates must demonstrate experience and aptitude in strategic planning and facilitating communication to support success for all students, faculty, and staff. As an academic administrator, the candidate must show an in-depth knowledge of the field of planning, an understanding and appreciation of the breadth of planning research and practice, and an appreciation for allied disciplines.
The Chair is the designated executive officer of the department and is responsible for personnel matters, including faculty recruitment and advancement, budgeting, departmental governance, and collaborative engagements. The chair also maintains relationships with the department’s extensive alumni network around the state, region, and nation. The Chair oversees administrative operations of the department, including teaching assignments, as well as assessment and accreditation. The Chair serves at the pleasure of the Dean of the College of Design. The proposed start date for the position is July 1, 2025. This is a full-time position, and candidates must be eligible for appointment at the rank of full professor with tenure.
Duties of the Chair
Provides leadership, strategy, and support for the department
Assists in the articulation of the department’s mission , values, and interests within the university and beyond
Supports the advancement of the department in all three dimensions of the land-grant mission: education, research/creative inquiry, and outreach
Supervises teaching assignments, program assessment, and accreditation
Supervises faculty within the department
Mentors and supports departmental faculty members through promotion and tenure
Plans and manages departmental financing, budget, and workforce in coordination with finance and human resources support
Maintains and strengthens interdisciplinary connections with other college/university programs, as well as with communities, professionals, and other external stakeholders (alumni, donors, and community partners)
Supports college/department/university efforts in recruitment, marketing, communication, and fundraising
Promotes the visibility and impact of the department and its students and alumni in national and international contexts
Engages in scholarship and teaching
Proposed Start Date: July 1, 2025
Number of Months Employed Per Year: 9 Months
Time Type: Full Time
Required Minimum Qualifications
Terminal degree (PhD or D.Des in planning or a very closely related field)
Record of achievement in research and teaching sufficient to qualify for appointment as a tenured faculty member
Preferred Qualifications
Documented experience in academic administration, at the departmental, collegiate, or university level
Demonstrated experience with budgeting, personnel management, student recruitment and success, supporting faculty professional development
Evidence of or interest in fundraising, and cultivating donors
Department and College Description
The department resides within the College of Design at Iowa State, one of the largest comprehensive colleges of its kind in the United States.
The College brings together nearly 100 faculty members that serve approximately 2000 undergraduate and graduate students in seven fields: architecture, studio arts, industrial design, graphic design, interior design, landscape architecture, and community and regional planning. The collaborative opportunities that emerge from the close interaction of these disciplines are one of the college's greatest advantages.
Personnel in the college are dedicated to the broad, interdisciplinary education of design professionals. We are committed to the expanded role of design as an agent of positive change in society and advocate for sustainable practices. The successful candidate is expected to share and advance these values.
The Department of Community and Regional Planning has an outstanding international faculty committed to excellence in teaching planning at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Our students develop the skills and experience to become practicing planning professionals and regularly engage with communities around the state, region, and nation to understand planning challenges and achievements.
Proposed Start Date:July 1, 2025
Number of Months Employed Per Year:09 Month Work Period
Time Type:Full time
Application Instructions:
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full consideration, applications should be received by November 22, 2024.
Candidates should submit the following documents in PDF format:
A letter of interest describing why you seek the position and how you meet the qualifications
A curriculum vitae
Contact information for three references, including name, mailing address, email address, and phone number
Contact Information
Inquiries of interest, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically, in confidence to: Erin Olson-Douglas, Associate Dean for Outreach and Extension, Chair of Search Committee [ eod@iastate.edu ]
Why Choose ISU?Iowa State Faculty enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:• Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans• Generous leave plans• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)• Life insurance and long-term disability• Flexible Spending Accounts• Various voluntary benefits and discounts• Employee Assistance Program• Wellbeing program
Original Posting Date: July 2, 2024
Posting Close Date:November 22, 2024
Job Requisition Number:R14990
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State , we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming, global, and culturally diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/diversity-and-inclusion/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against. Inquiries can be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, 515 294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu .
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485 . Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485 . TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942 .
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.