Department Head of Pathobiological Sciences/ Chair

Full Time
R00113245

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Job Posting Title:
Department Head of Pathobiological Sciences/ Chair

Position Type:
Faculty

Department:
LSUAM School of Veterinary Medicine (Oliver Garden (00071990))

Work Location:
Veterinary Medicine

Job Description:

The Head of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences (PBS) at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine serves as the chief academic and administrative leader of a multidisciplinary department focused on microbiology, immunology, cancer, and pathology. As the executive officer of the department, the head leads and supports faculty, staff, and students; administers the department's teaching, research, and service missions; and oversees curriculum delivery in professional and graduate programs. The head manages the department's fiscal, human, and physical resources; reports to the Dean of LSU Vet Med; and contributes to the school's research mission by maintaining an active, externally funded research and graduate training program.

Job Responsibilities:

The head of the department shall in accordance with university and school policies:

General / Programmatic:

• Plan and manage department functions, seeking counsel from the department faculty and delegating duties when possible. As a faculty member, the department head is expected to participate in the teaching, research and other activities of the department.
• Assume responsibility for the quality, effectiveness and progress of the department including leading the departmental faculty to excellence in the teaching, research, service, and community engagement activities for the department and school.
• Coordinate development and improvement of professional and post-graduate programs.
• Promote acquisition of resources needed to support scholarly activity and motivate department faculty toward sponsored scholarship productivity.
• Be responsible for an annual budget for his/her administrative area and its subsequent execution.
• Provide for the control, maintenance, and general supervision of movable and fixed property and all official records assigned or delegated to the department.
• Facilitate and improve the efficiency and operation of organizational units assigned to the department.
• Formulate and execute departmental policies and execute school and university policies as these affect the department, with due regard for the prerogatives and responsibilities of the faculty.
• Implement policies for the safety and protection of employees and students in the department. The department head has the authority to take whatever emergency action deemed appropriate to avoid accidents or damage to personnel or property, pending investigation by the dean and appropriate safety committees and other officers.
• Develop and execute, with counsel from the faculty, long-range departmental strategic planning.
• Call and preside over all meetings of the departmental faculty and staff.
• Serve as a member of the Dean's Cabinet of LSU Vet Med.
• Serve as communications officer for all official business within the department and with the dean.
• Promote the public image of the department, the school, and the university.
• Have a clear vision supportive of all departmental constituents.

Personnel:

• Coordinate the recruitment of new faculty members and support staff with the counsel of departmental faculty, and advertise vacancies appropriately, consistent with the University's policies on equal employment opportunity and affirmative action.
• Recommend, after due faculty consultation where appropriate, appointment, reappointment, salary increases and adjustments, promotion, tenure, dismissal, and other personnel actions relating to the members of the faculty and staff under his/her direction.
• Promote and facilitate faculty professional development, thereby enabling each faculty member to realize full potential in teaching, research, and service.
• Serve as a facilitator and team-builder to encourage interactions among faculty within the department and between departments to achieve individual and departmental goals.
• Develop and supervise an effective support staff and structure.
• Maintain an independent, extramurally funded research program that aligns with the departmental leading areas of research (virology and viral pathogenesis, bacterial pathogenesis, lung biology and disease, immunology or cancer biology).
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Ph.D., DVM, VMD, MD or equivalent in a biomedical sciences discipline is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in a school/college of veterinary medicine or a health sciences center is desired. Leadership and mentorship experience, especially involving fiscal and personnel management, is desired.

The applicant should have a history of continuing success in obtaining extramural funding and have accomplishments commensurate with the title of full professor and approval as a member of the LSU Graduate Faculty. The applicant should demonstrate an interest in graduate and professional education and appreciate the missions of the department, which include basic and applied research in microbiology, immunology, cancer, and pathology, and collaboration with the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. The successful candidate must be able to communicate effectively as a writer, listener, and articulate speaker at all levels of the university, industry and private sectors; and be committed to graduate student recruiting and the professional development of faculty, staff, and students, with an appreciation for the value of organizational health and mentorship. Attributes should include unquestionable integrity, high energy, resilience, patience, and a sense of humor. The head should have the capacity to lead in a model of shared faculty governance and transparency, and should be innovative, with an interest in building collaborations both intramurally and extramurally. The head should have a team-building mentality, be inspiring and lead by example.

Special Instructions:

Please attach ALL required documents under the "Resume/CV" section of your application. Interested applicants should submit the following:

1. Curriculum vitae
2. Letter of intent outlining interest in the position, overall qualifications and experience related to the position and career goals
3. Statement describing the applicant's vision and leadership style
4. Statement summarizing the applicant's research program
5. Statement of teaching and capacity-strengthening philosophy
6. Four professional references

A copy of your transcript(s) may be attached to your application. However, original transcripts are also required prior to hire.

For questions or concerns regarding the status of your application or salary ranges, please contact Dr. Oliver Garden at ogarden@lsu.edu.

Posting Date:
February 25, 2026

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):
May 24, 2026

To apply, visit https://lsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/LSU/job/Veterinary-Medicine/Department-Head-of-Pathobiological-Sciences--Chair_R00113245