Department Head, BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

CSU; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo seeks a full-time 12-month Department Head for the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering (BRAE). The appointment is tenured and begins July 1, 2027, providing leadership for instruction, research, and alumni, donor and industry engagement.

The Head will lead 11 tenure‑line faculty, 3 full‑time lecturers, part‑time faculty, and staff, guiding recruitment, budget, curriculum, ABET assessment, and student success while

Responsibilities

• Faculty and staff recruitment, evaluation, mentoring, retention, and workload assignments
• Advancement and fundraising
• Management of budget, facilities, and departmental resources
• Academic advising and support student success
• Departmental curriculum development, University assessment, ABET assessment, and strategic planning
• Equal‑opportunity, accessibility, and nondiscrimination initiatives that foster a respectful and inclusive academic environment for all

Job description

The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, California, is seeking a full‑time 12‑month department head for its BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department (BRAE).

This position has a start date of approximately July 1, 2027. The Department Head is a tenured faculty position and will provide leadership for all academic and administrative functions including instruction, research, and alumni, donor and industry engagement. The Department Head leads a talented team of 11 tenure‑line faculty, 3 full‑time lecturers, a pool of part‑time faculty, and 2 office and technical staff, all of whom engage with approximately 340 students in two undergraduate majors. This position will provide strategic leadership for the BioResource and Agricultural EngineeringDepartment in the following areas:

• Faculty and staff recruitment, evaluation, mentoring, retention, and workload assignments
• Advancement and fundraising
• Management of budget, facilities, and departmental resources
• Academic advising and support student success
• Departmental curriculum development, University assessment, ABET assessment, and strategic planning
• Equal‑opportunity, accessibility, and nondiscrimination initiatives that foster a respectful and inclusive academic environment for all

The Cal Poly community promotes a “teacher‑scholar model,” which emphasizes scholarly activities and teaching excellence. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and potentially graduate courses in the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department programs. These may include lower division general engineering, senior projects, and support courses within the department. They will be expected to engage in scholarly activities (i.e., research, publishing, presenting, and grant or contract writing). Additional duties will include mentoring students, and participating in University, College, and Departmental committees, service, and other activities.

Department Head appointments and 12‑month assignments are made and continue at the pleasure of the College Dean. This is a tenured position within the BioResource and Agricultural EngineeringDepartment. Appointments with tenure shall be made only after an evaluation and recommendation by tenured faculty in the appropriate department. Tenure is given only in the