Superintendent/Shenandoah Valley AREC

Virginia Tech; Raphine (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech, located at SVAREC in the Shenandoah Valley, seeks a Superintendent to lead research and extension programs and to manage operations at the McCormick Farm site. You will oversee budgets, staff, facilities, and external partnerships, guiding applied agricultural work for beef, sheep, forage, and forests.

The role requires a Master's in animal science or related field, plus strong leadership and communication abilities, with experience in farm management and a commitment to outreach

Qualifications

• Master's degree in animal science, agronomy, or related discipline.
• Agricultural research experience.
• Strong leadership, communication, interpersonal and administrative skills.
• Farm business management experience; experience with ruminant production and forage management.
• Physically able to perform manual labor.
• Administrative experience with personnel and fiscal management.
• Commitment to applied research and extension programming.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office for management and communications.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Willingness to work with the McCormick museum.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage budgets.
• Facilities management and coordination.
• Daily management, evaluation, and supervision of staff.
• Liaise with college and VAES administration and faculty.
• Promote the program with local leaders and government agencies.
• Develop strategic plans with faculty and coordinate research/extension at SVAREC.
• Oversee historic McCormick Farm site and public tours.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Administrative skills

Farm management experience

Ruminant production experience

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Education

Master's degree in animal science, agronomy, or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

The College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (CALS) and VirginiaAgricultural Experiment Station (VAES) at Virginia PolytechnicInstitute and State University (Virginia Tech) is seeking aSuperintendent for the Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research andExtension Center (SVAREC). The SVAREC is located about 65 milesnorth of Roanoke near the town of Steeles Tavern. Formally known asthe McCormick Farm, the site was the home of Cyrus McCormick,inventor of the grain reaper. The SVAREC primarily supportsresearch and extension programs in beef cattle production andreproduction, forages, sheep, and forestry. In addition, theVirginia Sheep Producers Association Performance Ram Lamb test isconducted annually at the AREC. The center has 3 fulltime employeesand 1 part time in addition to the superintendent. These andadditional center programs are key sources of information locallyand statewide for progressive beef, sheep, forage and forestproducers. At least 12 other faculty from other Virginia Tech unitsconduct cooperative research at SVAREC. The Center comprisesapproximately 878 acres of land (plus additional leases) pluslivestock facilities. For more information about the SVAREC, visitthe website,https://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/shenandoahvalley.html

The superintendent is the administrative head of the SVAREC. Theprimary responsibility of the superintendent is to provideleadership and support for excellent in integrated research andExtension programs critical to profitability and sustainability ofbeef, sheep, forages, and forests and related agricultural programsin the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Superintendent will beresponsible for all aspects of Center operations includingproviding leadership for conducting research and extension programsas well as being actively involved in the planning and day to dayconduct of research and Extension projects. Specificresponsibilities include: preparation and management of budgets;facilities management and coordination; daily management,evaluation, and recruitment and supervision of staff; liaison withcollege and VAES administration and faculty; and promotion ofprogram with local leaders and government agencies. The position isresponsible for public relations and visibility of center programs.The superintendent will work closely with faculty from campus andother ARECs to develop strategic plans and execute protocols forresearch and extension programs at the center, schedule and discusswork priorities with the staff on a regular basis, and physicallyassist with projects, management of herds, facilities, and grounds,and maintenance. The Superintendent is also responsible formanaging the historic McCormick Farm site, protecting its status asan historic site, facilitating tours as requested, overseeing theMcCormick Memorial Plot, grounds, and buildings, and hosting theannual McCormick Farm Mill Day.

May carry and use a firearm as part of daily responsibilities for wildlife control.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree animal science, agronomy, or a closely relateddiscipline
• Agricultural research experience
• Evidence of strongprofessional leadership, communication, interpersonal andadministrative skills
• Farm business management experience;experience in ruminant animal production, reproduction, forageutilization and management, including operation of farm equipmentand livestock management.
• Physically able and willing to performmanual labor
• Administrative experience with personnel and fiscalmanagement
• Strong commitment to applied research, extensionprogramming, and longterm sustainability of agriculture
• Skilled incomputer software programs (Microsoft, others) for management andcommunications
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effective(oral, written) with individuals at all levels and from diversebackgrounds within the university, industry, and publicsectors.
• Willingness to work with the McCormick museum ininterpreting the McCormick story.

Preferred Qualifications

• Capacity for implementing technology applications such as precisionagriculture and other technologies appropriate for advancingapplied research and Extension programming.
• Familiarity workingwith Extension, academia, and/or a farm-based researchfacility.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$95,000 - $105,000; commensurate with experience

Hours per week

40 hours per week

Review Date

September 20, 2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminalconviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve),Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking ahands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to beleaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institutionthat enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout theworld, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, andcreativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverseenrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, andprofessional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presenceacross Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C.area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sitesin Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution,Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in researchannually.

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