Director, Product Development Center

Alcorn State University; Lorman (MS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Alcorn State University is seeking a Director for the Product Development Center in Mississippi. Lead education programs, workshops, certifications, demonstrations, and training opportunities to connect agricultural production with value-added processing and market access.

You will drive revenue-generating activities, oversee facilities and equipment, and build collaborations with faculty, students, producers, and industry partners to advance the university's land-grant mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant food/agriculture field.
• Experience in food processing, product development, or agricultural innovation.
• Experience managing facilities, equipment, or technical operations.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Plans and executes a year-round calendar of educational programs, workshops, certifications, demonstrations, and training opportunities.
• Identifies opportunities for revenue through fee-for-service activities, training, facility use, partnerships, grants, and related initiatives.
• Develops programs connecting agricultural production with value-added processing, entrepreneurship, marketing, and market access.
• Ensures Center serves producers and businesses, not just as a facility for use.
• Maintains inventory and schedules maintenance of equipment and facilities.
• Establishes preventative maintenance and coordinates repairs.
• Ensures compliance with university policies and safety/regulatory requirements.
• Directly supervises PDC personnel and sets performance expectations.
• Develops staff through training and professional development.
• Positions the PDC as a working lab and innovation center that demonstrates the land-grant mission.
• Develops opportunities for faculty, students, researchers, producers, and industry partners to conduct applied research and product development.
• Creates opportunities for hands-on experience in food processing, product development, entrepreneurship, marketing, and QA.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Science, Agribusiness, or related field

Job description

Job Title

Director, Product Development Center

Essential Job Functions

Programming and Revenue Generation

• Plans and executes a year-round calendar of educational programs, workshops, certifications, demonstrations, technical assistance, and training opportunities.
• Identifies opportunities for the Center to generate revenue through fee-for-service activities, training, facility use, technical assistance, product development services, partnerships, grants, and other approved initiatives.
• Develops programs that connect agricultural production with value-added processing, entrepreneurship, marketing, and market access.
• Ensures that the Center is actively serving producers and businesses rather than functioning solely as a facility available for use.

Equipment, Facility, and Operational Oversight

• Maintains an accurate inventory of Center equipment, supplies, and assets and ensure that equipment is properly scheduled, maintained, and utilized.
• Establishes preventative maintenance schedules and coordinate repairs and servicing of equipment and facilities
• Ensures compliance with applicable University policies and procedures and all relevant food safety, sanitation, occupational safety, and regulatory requirements. · Monitors facility utilization and identify opportunities to increase the productive use of available space and equipment.
• Coordinates with appropriate University personnel regarding purchasing, contracts, maintenance, facility needs, and capital improvements.

Staff Supervision and Accountability

• Directly supervises PDC personnel and establish clear work assignments, performance expectations, schedules, and measurable outcomes.
• Develops staff capacity through training and professional development.
• Position the PDC as a working laboratory and innovation center that demonstrates the University's land-grant mission in action.

Applied Research and University Engagement

• Develops opportunities for faculty, students, researchers, producers, and industry partners to conduct applied research and product development activities through the Center.
• Creates opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in food processing, product development, entrepreneurship, marketing, business development, quality assurance, and related areas.
• Builds collaborations across the University's academic, research, and Extension programs.
• Other related duties, as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Education · Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Science, Agribusiness, or related field.

Minimum Experience · Experience in food processing, product development, or agricultural innovation. · Experience managing facilities, equipment, or technical operations. · Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.

Licenses/Certifications N/AKnowledge

Knowledge: Knowledge of principles and practices related to agricultural production, value-added agriculture, food processing, product development, and/or agribusiness. Knowledge of program development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement. Knowledge of revenue-generating and fee-for-service programs, including training, technical assistance, facility use, partnerships, grants, and related activities. Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, occupational safety, and regulatory requirements applicable to food processing or agricultural facilities. Knowledge of equipment and facility operations, including inventory control, preventive maintenance, scheduling, and asset utilization. Knowledge of principles and practices of personnel supervision, performance management, and staff development. Knowledge of applied research, Extension, and/or land-grant university programs and their role in serving producers, businesses, students, and communities. Knowledge of basic budgeting, purchasing, contracting, and resource-management practices.
Skills: Skilled in planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs, workshops, demonstrations, certifications, and technical assistance activities. Skilled in developing programs and services responsive to the needs of agricultural producers, entrepreneurs, businesses, and industry partners. Skilled in managing multiple programs, projects, facilities, equipment, schedules, and priorities simultaneously. Skilled in building collaborative relationships with faculty, students, researchers, Extension personnel, producers, businesses, government agencies, and industry partners. Skilled in communicating technical and operational information effectively to diverse audiences.
Abilities: Ability to translate the University's land-grant mission into practical programs and services that produce measurable benefits for producers, businesses, students, and other stakeholders. Ability to develop and sustain an active, service-oriented center rather than relying primarily on passive facility use. Ability to exercise sound judgment and independent decision-making in managing day-to-day Center operations. Ability to establish priorities, allocate resources, meet deadlines, and hold personnel accountable for results. Ability to develop productive collaborations across academic, research, Extension, industry, and community organizations. Ability to identify opportunities for applied research, student experiential learning, product development, and industry engagement. Ability to prepare and maintain accurate operational records, reports, inventories, schedules, and other documentation.

EEO Statement

Alcorn State University is expressly committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender identity and/or expressions, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Further, the University will not tolerate any instances of harassment/sexual harassment. This policy applies to all employees, regardless of position, consultants and applicants for employment. Additionally, it is the responsibility of all personas making employment decisions to adhere to this policy.