Director and State Geologist

Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Louisiana State University invites applications for the role of Director of the Louisiana Geological Survey, the state's official geological survey housed within the LSU Energy Institute. The Director serves as Louisiana's State Geologist and provides strategic leadership and overall management of statewide investigations and data resources.

The position leads scientific and technical initiatives, coordinates with state agencies, industry stakeholders, and policymakers, and may be considered for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in geology or related field and 7 years of experience. Eligible for Louisiana Professional Geoscientist licensure.
• Ph.D in geology or related field; senior rank at LSU; eligibility for Louisiana Professional Geoscientist licensure; strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and overall management of the Louisiana Geological Survey while serving as Louisiana's State Geologist. Direct the Survey's scientific, technical, administrative, and operational activities.
• Oversee the maintenance of current surface and subsurface geological surveys of the State of Louisiana and stewardship of the LGS core facility.
• Serve as the primary spokesperson and subject matter expert for the Louisiana Geological Survey to policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the public.
• Contribute to Louisiana Geological Survey and LSU Energy Institute activities, including conferences, workshops, and meetings, and collaborate across LSU academic departments and colleges.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Geology

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in geology or related field

Ph.D in geology or related field

Job description

Job Title

Director and State Geologist

Position Type

Faculty

Department

LSUAM ORED - Energy Institute (John C Flake (00002004))

Work Location

3079 Energy, Coast, and Environment Building

Pay Grade

Professional

Job Description

The LSU Energy Institute is seeking applications for the position of Director of the Louisiana Geological Survey (LGS). The Louisiana Geological Survey is the official geological survey of the State of Louisiana and is housed within the LSU Energy Institute pursuant to Louisiana R.S. 17:1492. The Director serves as Louisiana's State Geologist and provides strategic leadership and overall management of the Louisiana Geological Survey. In this capacity, the Director serves as the chief scientific authority for the Survey while overseeing statewide geological investigations, mapping activities, subsurface studies, geological hazard assessments, geological data resources, field operations, core and sample repositories, and related scientific and technical initiatives. The Director works collaboratively with state agencies, academic researchers, industry stakeholders, policymakers, and external partners to advance the Survey's mission, scientific excellence, and long-term development. A faculty appointment at Louisiana State University may also be considered, consistent with qualifications and university policies.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and overall management of the Louisiana Geological Survey while serving as Louisiana's State Geologist. Direct the Survey's scientific, technical, administrative, and operational activities. Provide scientific leadership and technical direction for statewide geological investigations, mapping activities, subsurface studies, geological hazard assessments, and related research initiatives. (35%)
• Pursuant to Louisiana R.S. 17:1492, oversee the maintenance of current surface and subsurface geological surveys of the State of Louisiana. In addition, oversee the stewardship of the LGS core facility to ensure that cores, logs, and data are preserved, inventoried, and easily accessed by internal and external stakeholders. (25%)
• Serve as the primary spokesperson and subject matter expert for the Louisiana Geological Survey. Represent the Survey before policymakers, governmental entities, industry stakeholders, academic audiences, professional organizations, media, and the public through presentations, testimony, technical briefings, outreach activities, and other engagement efforts. Communicate complex geological information in a manner that supports informed decision-making and public understanding. (25%)
• Contribute to Louisiana Geological Survey and LSU Energy Institute activities, including conferences, workshops, and meetings, and collaborate across LSU academic departments and colleges on geology, energy, and other interdisciplinary initiatives. (10%)
• Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in geology or related field and 7 years of experience. Eligible for Louisiana Professional Geoscientist licensure. LSU values skills, experience, and expertise. Candidates who have relevant experience in key job responsibilities are encouraged to apply--a degree is not required as long as the candidate meets the required years of experience specified in the job description.

Preferred Qualifications

Ph.D in geology or related field. A record appropriate for senior rank at LSU; demonstrated scientific leadership; eligibility for Louisiana Professional Geoscientist licensure; and strong communication skills. The candidate should be familiar with coastal geology, deltaic systems, Class VI and or groundwater regulations, state surveys, and federal or regulatory policies.

Background Check

An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits

LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Employment Conditions

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.

Additional Position Information: Essential Position (Y/N): N

EEO Statement

LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment. Changes in laws, regulations, or government policies may impact the university’s ability to employ individuals in certain positions.

About LSU

LSU includes institutions, facilities and programs in each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, and its campuses stretch the length of the state from New Orleans to Shreveport. Each institution plays a vital role in preparing students to incorporate new knowledge and technologies into their daily lives. LSU researchers across Louisiana are working on developing a wide-range of innovations to improve quality of life by studying issues such as disease management, advance medical treatments, obesity, coastal protection, hurricane preparedness, energy, natural resource management and agriculture, among others. Louisiana’s Flagship University is a land-, sea- and space-grant institution with academic programs in all areas of science, engineering, humanities, arts and social sciences. The University comprises of nine institutions: Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College ("LSU"), the premier flagship university for the state, which include the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and the School of Veterinary Medicine Louisiana State University at Alexandria Louisiana State University at Eunice Louisiana State University at Shreveport LSU Health Sciences Center – New Orleans LSU Health Science Center – Shreveport The Health Care Services Division Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Pennington Biomedical Research Center Any other college, university, school, institution, or program now or hereafter under the supervision and management of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. In implementing its mission, LSU is committed to: Offering a broad array of undergraduate degree programs and extensive graduate research opportunities designed to attract and educate highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students; Employing faculty who are excellent teacher-scholars, nationally competitive in research and creative activities, and who contribute to a world-class knowledge base that is transferable to educational, professional, cultural, and economic enterprises; and Using its extensive resources to solve economic, environmental, and social challenges.

Job Information

Posting Date: October 13, 2026

Closing Date: February 10, 2027