School of Planning, Design and Construction

The Michigan State University (MSU) Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) and Social Science (SSC) invite applications and nominations for the position of Director of the School of Planning, Design, & Construction (SPDC). The full time, annual (12-month) position is open to candidates who are currently in the tenure system at MSU, with a preference for a faculty member at the level of full professor with tenure.

Position Summary:
SPDC actively seeks a dynamic academic and administrative leader who can advance and promote, in meaningful ways, an environment in which individuals of differing perspectives and cultural backgrounds pursue research and academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

The Director provides leadership to the School regarding activities related to teaching, research, Extension, outreach, service, alumni relations, and collaboration with appropriate industry partners at the local, national, and international levels. This position serves as the chief administrative officer of the School and is therefore responsible for the management of resources to ensure program quality and growth. The successful candidate will be appointed to a renewable five-year term. The Director reports to the Deans of CANR and SSC and also interacts regularly with the senior leadership of both colleges, as well as MSU Extension and AgBioResearch.

The successful candidate must be able to articulate a vision for the School and have experience with long range planning to further advance the School’s mission, promote national and international prominence and secure financial support for the activities of the School. The selected individual will be committed to working across the four accredited disciplines that comprise SPDC – Construction Management (CM), Interior Design (ID), Landscape Architecture (LA), and Urban and Regional Planning (URP); fostering the School’s rise toward academic and professional excellence; and leading its advancement in ground-breaking scholarship. Skills in active listening and effective communication are important for this position. It is preferred that the Director possess the highest quality academic credentials and reputation in one or more disciplines of the School and have a demonstrated record of securing external/donor support for research, outreach, and/or instruction.

Required qualifications for the Director’s position are:
• Ph.D. in CM, ID, LA, URP, or a relevant field;
• Articulated vision for SPDC and experience with long-range planning;
• Interest in and ability to work effectively with diverse groups of industry members, professionals, and all other stakeholders;
• Ability to recognize and facilitate diverse professional goals while fostering an inclusive and cooperative culture within the School;
• Supervisory experience in an administrative role;
• Ability to manage professional relationships, effectively resolve conflicts, and maintain accountability;
• Strong credentials in teaching and scholarship;
• Evidence of interdisciplinary research activities;
• Demonstrated history of securing external funding; and
• Excellent leadership, communication, and people skills.

Other, preferred qualifications are:
• Experience in leading an academic unit with undergraduate, graduate, and accredited degree-granting programs;
• Evidence of innovative and entrepreneurial efforts to keep instruction, scholarship, and resource management at the forefront of higher education;
• Track record of securing funding from private donors;
• Experience in developing international research and teaching collaborations; and
• Experience recruiting faculty with strong research agendas and successfully mentoring faculty in their career development.

How to Apply:
Applicants for the position of SPDC Director (posting #928774) are asked to submit the following materials through EBS (https://ebs.msu/edu), clicking on the “Careers @ MSU” tile: 1) a résumé/CV, 2) a cover letter describing your interest in the position with an emphasis on your experience and philosophical approaches to faculty development, student success, and achieving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, and 3) names and contact information for three references who are familiar with your career, professional work and leadership skills. We will request letters from your references upon receiving your application. The search committee will maintain confidentiality until the interview stage. The position remains open, and the search active, until filled.

Review of Applications:
The posting will close on February 29, 2024. The preferred starting date for the successful candidate is August 16, 2024. Questions regarding this position can be addressed to the Search Committee Chairperson: Dr. Vance Baird, Chair, Horticulture Department, Michigan State University, bairdw@msu.edu.

Additional Information:
The School is a global leader in uniting academic programs related to the built environment: Construction Management, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Urban and Regional Planning, providing an excellent work environment for 43 faculty and academic specialists and eight staff members. The School offers eight (8) degree pathways to career success ranging from Bachelor’s to PhD – including five (5) professionally accredited degrees. In doing so, we currently serve over 500 undergraduate and 65 graduate students. SPDC provides approximately $400,000 in scholarships annually for undergraduate and graduate students from endowments and gifts.

The School also hosts the National Charrette Institute. Opportunities exist to collaborate closely with those and other units of the University, such as the Center for Community and Economic Development, and the Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Community Sustainability, and Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences.

The mission of the School is to advance the knowledge, prepare innovative leaders, and support the practice of planning, design, and construction. Please refer to the School’s homepage available at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/spdc/.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.