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Posting Detail Information

Working TitleProfessor & Head, Dept of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture

Position LocationFort Collins, CO

Work LocationPosition is fully in-office/in-person

Posting Number202500362F

Proposed Annual Salary Range$220,000 to $240,000; commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

+ Review our detailed benefits information here. (https://hr.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/01/benefits-summary-afap.pdf)

+ Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

+ For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator (https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/) .

+ Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in (https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-community/) !

Position TypeFaculty

Work Hours/Week40

Description of Work Unit

Horticulture and Landscape Architecture ( HLA ) consists of a talented and diverse group of 26 faculty, 38 administrative and research staff, 61 graduate students, 463 undergraduate students across on-campus and statewide Research Centers. HLA’s mission is to discover, apply, and disseminate knowledge and technology to develop leaders in horticulture, environmental horticulture, and landscape architecture. The department is committed to solving problems for people, agriculture, and the environment, improving public education and policy, and cultivating a workplace that values scholarship, creativity, teamwork, and diversity.

With an annual base budget exceeding $2.8 million and total annual expenditures over $11.5 million, the department maintains state-of-the-art facilities, including the Nutrien Building, the Horticulture Center and laboratories at Spur in Denver and across multiple Colorado research centers. HLA offers B.S., B.S.L.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, including an online B.S. in Horticulture that enrolls about 150 students. Programs emphasize hands-on experiential learning and human engagement with the landscape through three undergraduate majors: Horticulture, Environmental Horticulture, and Landscape Architecture. Research, teaching, and outreach are supported by the department’s trial gardens, new greenhouse facilities, agricultural research centers, and modern laboratory and design studio spaces.

About Fort Collins and Colorado State University

Located on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Fort Collins is a vibrant, active community with easy access to hiking, skiing, rafting, and other outdoor recreation. Residents enjoy over 300 days of sunshine per year in a mild climate ideal for year-round activities. Colorado consistently ranks among the nation’s top places to live, and Fort Collins exemplifies the best of Colorado: recognized by Forbes (Best Place for Business/Careers), Gallup Well-Being Index (healthiest Mid-Size City in America), CBS MoneyWatch (Top 10 Best Places to Retire), and Outside Magazine (Best Towns in America). Learn More:http://www.fcgov.com/fcfacts.php?ID=6.

Tenure/Tenure Track?Yes

% Research0

% Teaching0

% Service0

% Administration100

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on12/31/2025

Number of Vacancies

Desired Start Date

Position End Date

Position Summary

Colorado State University invites applications and nominations for the position of Professor and Head of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture ( HLA ) in the College of Agricultural Sciences. This full time, 12-month, tenured faculty position offers an exceptional opportunity for a visionary leader to advance a department that integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ( STEM ) within the art and practice of horticulture, environmental horticulture, and landscape architecture. As stewards of the natural environment, landscape architects, environmental horticulturalists, and horticultural scientists apply the STEM disciplines to create sustainable, resilient, and health-supportive environments. The Department Head will lead these transdisciplinary efforts, promoting excellence in teaching, research, creative scholarship, and extension. This leadership will foster collaborations across CSU and with external partners, including research center faculty and staff, alumni, industry professionals, government agencies, professional organizations, and advisory boards.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished scholar and collaborative leader who can articulate and execute a strategic vision for a department that bridges environmental sciences, design innovation, and human well-being. The Department Head will foster a collaborative, inclusive, and forward-thinking approach to guiding the department’s strategic plan and ensuring alignment with CSU’s land-grant mission. The Head will work closely with faculty, staff, and students to secure resources, strengthen academic programs, and position the department at the forefront of landscape architecture, environmental horticulture, and horticulture research and education. The Head is responsible for the evaluation and professional development of faculty, administrative staff, and Academic Success Coordinators (advisors), as well as for the development, management, and oversight of the department’s budget.

Working collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders, including the horticulture industry, food and green industry groups, and professional organizations in landscape architecture, the Head will guide a program that is strategic, innovative, and responsive to emerging opportunities in research, teaching, outreach, and engagement.

The position also provides opportunities for personal engagement in research, teaching or creative scholarship, consistent with the administrative responsibilities of the role.

Conditions of EmploymentPre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Valid Driver’s License

Required Job Qualifications

Candidates for the Department Head position must demonstrate:

+ Earned terminal degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field (e.g., horticulture, plant science, agriculture, environmental horticulture, landscape architecture, community planning).

+ Sustained record of scholarly achievement (teaching, research, and/or engagement) commensurate with the rank of Full Professor.

+ Demonstrated experience leading and managing people and resources to sustain academic and scholarly programs.

+ Proven record of engagement with industry professionals and stakeholders to promote research, extension, outreach, and industry partnerships consistent with the Land-Grant mission.

Preferred Job Qualifications

+ Demonstrated ability to administer a complex organization with transparency, equity, and fiscal responsibility.

+ Proven capacity to develop and implement a strategic vision through an inclusive and collaborative process.

+ Commitment to fostering a highly collaborative and innovative environment.

+ Record of effective mentorship and professional development for faculty and staff.

+ Exceptional communication and advocacy skills.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter which addresses how professional experiences align with identified required and preferred qualifications of the position, a current resume or CV, a statement, no more than two pages, describing your leadership philosophy and style and vision for the HLA department (upload under “other” and the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of three (3) professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates. If you have questions, please contact Search Chair [email protected].

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.

Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University ( CSU ) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Search ContactJan Leach [email protected] 970-491-2924

Essential Duties

Job Duty CategoryLeadership

Duty/Responsibility

+ Support of the Land Grant missions of teaching, research and extension

+ Develops departmental priorities and allocates resources; advocates for the department and cultivates an environment that encourages excellence

+ Promotes opportunities for interdisciplinary research, teaching, and extension

+ Identifies opportunities to obtain additional resources for the department and enhances faculty, students and staff experience to support a climate of inclusiveness and respect

+ Takes leadership role in the development, management, vision, and trajectory of the department’s strategic plan.

Percentage Of Time50

Job Duty CategoryAdministration

Duty/Responsibility

+ Responsible for performance reviews of faculty, administrative staff, and Academic Support Coordinators (advisers), and the development and administration of the department’s budget.

+ The Head works collaboratively with a broad range of constituencies including the green industry, food and agricultural commodity groups and landscape architecture professional organizations to foster a program that is both strategic and innovative, and enhances research, teaching, and outreach.

Percentage Of Time50

References Requested

References Requested

Minimum Requested3

Maximum Requested3

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

+ Cover Letter

+ Resume or CV

+ Other

Optional Documents