Job location: JD Alexander Florida Polytechnic Main Campus

Employment Type: Full-time
Posted data: 2021-01-22
Req: R1328
Department Chair –Natural Sciences   

Job Description Summary   

The Department of Natural Sciences at Florida Polytechnic University seeks candidates for a Department Chair with an appointment at either the Associate Professor or Professor level. This individual must have broad teaching capacity that supports the department’s educational mission and must have a demonstrated research track record in an area that is directly applicable to the departments research mission. The appointment at the Associate Professor or Professor level will begin on August 15, 2021. Department Chair appointments are for a term of three years, are renewable, and department chairs also hold academic faculty appointments.
The Department of Natural Sciences at Florida Polytechnic University has embarked on a new initiative in Engineering Physics since August 2019. The new undergraduate program has been formally approved and the courses to support the degree delivery are being deployed as required in the coming six semesters when the degree delivery should become more routine.

This position is part of a strategic expansion of the department that will add approximately three faculty to the current seven full time faculty members within the department. As a part of this faculty expansion, the department will be emphasizing and improving its current teaching mission and also putting in place a research presence for the department. Relatively near-term plans include a Master’s degree program for the department.
Ideally, applicants will provide evidence of prior success in teaching (both undergraduate and graduate) and research with an established record of independent research productivity and funding, publication history in high quality, peer reviewed journals, and supervision of graduate and/or undergraduate students.   

Job Description   

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION:

• Ph.D. in Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering or closely related field.
• Six years of experience as a faculty member or as an independent researcher.

DESIRED / PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated involvement in department level or institution level policy creation, management, or curriculum development.
• Direct experience as a department chair or associate chair of a department.
• Curriculum development and significant teaching experience at all collegiate levels.
• Funded research experience as a Principal Investigator.
• Demonstrated ability to identify project opportunities and independently develop proposals that are subsequently funded.
• Experience with students’ academic mentoring and as a thesis advisor.
• Experience in program assessment and execution of a continuous improvement plan.

• Active participation in professional activities and organizations.

• Prior professional US experience with progressive responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and work effectively with diverse campus community.

ABOUT FLORIDA POLY:

Florida Polytechnic University opened for classes in 2014-15 and is the twelfth university in the Florida State University System. The University was created as an exclusively STEM-focused public university that offers high-value undergraduate and graduate degrees and that has intentional industry connections with a focus on economic development of the high-tech I-4 corridor. Dedicated to preparing students for the competitive STEM workforce, Florida Polytechnic University blends traditional subject matter mastery with problem solving and laboratory experiences to provide students with learning opportunities applicable to both the workplace and a career of lifelong learning. The University delivers its courses in small class sizes, emphasizes a positive student to faculty experience, and is dedicated to both its teaching and research mission.

Faculty are employed at Florida Poly via renewable, term defined appointments, codified in a collective bargaining agreement, that substantially mirrors tenure systems with reappointment and progression in rank upon completion of a significant review of accomplishments.

Lakeland, home to Florida Polytechnic University’s ultra-modern campus, is located along the I-4 High Tech Corridor halfway between Tampa and Orlando. Our central Florida community combines small town comfort with big-city culture. Florida’s High-Tech Corridor is home to 11,000 high-tech businesses, and Polk County alone has more than 600,000 residents, four universities and one state college. Lakeland is just a 45-minute drive from Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, professional sports teams, and thriving performing art centers. With no income tax in Florida, and home values increasing by approximately 10% over the past year, Lakeland and Central Florida continue to rise among the best places to live and work.

EXPECTED STARTING SALARY: Commensurate with experience and qualifications

APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE:

• Positions are open until filled (or recruitment cancelled). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled.

• Employment is contingent upon proof of the legal right to work in the United States. This proof must be provided prior to employment at the University. An appointment is not final until proof is provided.

APPLICATION PROCESS: All Applicants are required to submit the following in PDF format to the Florida Polytechnic Careers Website:

• Cover letter, including information regarding the candidate’s leadership vision
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Research Interests
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• List of at least 3 professional references (names and contact information)

Diversity Statement:

Florida Polytechnic University is an equal opportunity/equal access institution. It is the policy of the Board of Trustees to provide equal opportunity for employment and educational opportunities to all (including applicants for employment, employees, applicants for admission, students, and others affiliated with the University) without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or genetic information.

 Special Instructions Regarding Attachments:

 

Required attachments are listed on each posting.   Please be sure to attach all required documents in the Resume/CV field before continuing through the application. Once your application has been submitted, no changes may be made and additional attachments will not be considered. 

 

An unofficial copy of the degree/transcript is acceptable during the application process. For positions requiring a degree, the official transcripts are required upon hire. 

 

Foreign Transcript: Transcripts issued outside of the United States require a equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the application deadline.

 

All document(s) must be received on or before the closing date of the job announcements.  

  

  

This position requires a background check, which may include a level II screening as required by the Florida Statute §435.04.