Director, School of the Environment | Washington State University (Pullman, WA)

Washington State University; Pullman (WA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State University invites applications for the Director of the School of the Environment. This 12/9-month leadership role leads academic programs, curricula, and cross-college collaboration across CAS and CAHNRS from the Pullman campus.

The Director will guide teaching, research, extension, and student support, oversee budgets and staffing, and partner with university leadership to advance environmental scholarship and community impact. The appointment begins August 1, 2027.

Qualifications

• Earned terminal degree in a discipline represented within or closely aligned with the School of the Environment.
• Demonstrated academic leadership and administrative experience.
• Experience managing budgets and operations.
• Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Collaboratively develop and implement strategies to strengthen teaching, research, Extension, and student support in the School of the Environment.
• Provide access and opportunity in alignment with WSU’s land-grant mission across classrooms, collaborations, and academic work.
• Build a collaborative culture within the School of the Environment.
• Administer and oversee delivery of academic programs; regularly update curricula and teaching activities.
• Champion the School of the Environment to university administration and external stakeholders.
• Oversee recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and students and support their growth.
• Oversee budget, strategic planning, and daily operations of the department.
• Collaborate with college leadership to align SOE with priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Collaboration across disciplines

Communication

Education

Terminal degree in related field

Job description

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on: December 11, 2026. If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s): 404-NN_FACULTY - Director (Academic)

Business Title: Director, School of the Environment | Washington State University (Pullman, WA)

Employee Type: Faculty

Position Term: 9 Month - Summer

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Washington State University (WSU) seeks a visionary leader for the position of Director of the School of the Environment (SOE) in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS).

The Director provides academic and administrative leadership for SOE, a multi-college and multi-campus enterprise from the Pullman campus. The School Director position is a 12-month academic termed position, through renewable, administrative leadership appointment, as well as either a permanent full-time 9-month tenure-eligible position at the rank of Professor (a successful Professor candidate will have an expedited tenure review upon acceptance of the position), or as a continuous full-time 9-month Career-Track position at the rank of Professor. The selected candidate will be expected to begin the four (4) year renewable appointment as School Director on August 1, 2027.

As Director, The Successful Candidate Will

• Collaboratively develop and put into action strategies that strengthen the School of the Environment’s teaching, research, Extension, and student support.
• Provide access and opportunity in alignment with WSU’s land-grant mission across our classrooms, collaborations, and academic work.
• Build a collaborative and cooperative culture and environment in the School of the Environment.
• Administer and oversee the delivery of the academic programs along with regularly updating the unit’s curricula, delivery methods, and teaching activities.
• Champion the School of the Environment to the university administration, other university units, and external stakeholders.
• Oversee recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students, and support their continued professional growth and development.
• Oversee the management of the department including responsibilities for budget, strategic planning, academic growth, and daily operations.
• Serve as a member of the broader academic leadership team in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), and work collaboratively to align the School of Environment with college(s) and university priorities.

A general outline of duties and responsibilities for school directors/department chairs can be found at https://provost.wsu.edu/procedures/chairs-directors/duties-and-responsibilities/.

Additional Information

Monthly Salary:

$135,000.00 to $200,000.00 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Salary will be determined based on qualifications and experience. The ranges shown reflect the 12-month salary associated with the Director appointment.

If the faculty member returns to faculty in the School of the Environment, they will return to a 9-month faculty appointment into the faculty appointment which they were hired. The return to faculty salary range will be $100,000.00 to $150,000.00 (tenure-track) and $85,000.00 to $110,000.00 (career-track).

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick leave, and paid vacation leave for 12-month appointments; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts.

Benefits:

WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for Faculty and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications for All Candidates at All Ranks and Tracks:

• An earned terminal degree in a discipline represented within or closely aligned with the School of the Environment.
• Demonstrated experience as an academic leader, such as previous experience as a chair, director, program leader, associate director, unit-level administrator (e.g., director of undergraduate or graduate studies) or in another significant academic leadership role.
• Demonstrated administrative experience involving academic programs, budgets, and/or operations.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, extension, and/or service appropriate to the candidate’s discipline and rank.
• Evidence of successful program development and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience effectively supervising, managing, or leading faculty, staff, and/or academic employees.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines and organizational structures and with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in teams to move complex initiatives forward while managing competing priorities and stakeholder interests.
• Demonstrated strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Currently serving in the rank of Professor or equivalent in either a tenure-track or career-track appointment or has a record of accomplishments commensurate with college standards for that track and rank.
• CAS P&T Guidelines: https://cas.wsu.edu/faculty-staff/documents/2020/12/cas-tenure-and-promotion-policy.pdf
• https://cas.wsu.edu/faculty/documents/2025/07/cas-promotion-and-tenure-guidelines.pdf/
• CAHNRS P&T Guidelines: https://provost.wsu.edu/documents/2023/03/cahnrs-promotion-and-tenure-guidelines.pdf/

Preferred Qualifications for All Candidates at All Ranks and Tracks:

• Three or more years of higher education administrative experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing or implementing strategies supporting student recruitment, enrollment, retention, and student success.
• Experience leading strategic planning or organizational change within an academic environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting and advancing faculty research, scholarship, Extension, and/or externally funded work.
• Demonstrated experience with curriculum development, program assessment, accreditation, or academic program review.
• Demonstrated success building collaborative relationships with external organizations.
• Experience leading or working within an interdisciplinary academic unit or team.
• Administrative experience working within shared governance structures and in policy development.
• Demonstrated success in supporting the recruitment, retention, professional development, and recognition of faculty and staff.
• Experience engaging alumni, external partners, donors, agencies, communities, or other stakeholders in support of academic priorities.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility:

May be eligible for work visa sponsorship.

About WSU, Pullman, CAS, and the School of the Environment:

Washington State University is a land-grant, multiple-campus Research 1 institution. This position will serve on the Pullman campus, which has an enrollment of around 20,000 students and is located in southeastern Washington on the homelands of the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe and Palus people. Located 80 miles south of metropolitan Spokane, Pullman is also a quick drive away from the scenic Idaho panhandle and Moscow Mountain. The rolling hills of the Palouse offer a wide range of activities and a true four-season climate. The area provides ample opportunity to enjoy the cultural and academic hub of both Washington State University and the University of Idaho, in the neighboring town of Moscow, Idaho. For more information about the region, please refer to https://pullmanchamber.com.

Area/College:

College of Arts & Sciences | College of Agricultural, Human, & Natural Resource Sciences

Department Name:

School of the Environment

Location:

Pullman, WA

Inquiries should be directed to: Associate Deans Keri McCarthy ([e-mail]; 509-335-7966) and Nancy Deringer ([e-mail]; 509-335-4562).

Background Check:

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:

Full time

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [e-mail].

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/