"Director of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences"

The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln seeks a Director of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (SVMBS) to provide leadership, vision, and direction for all aspects of the school. The director must be a creative, dynamic, compassionate, and collaborative person who uses their knowledge and skills to elevate the school to achieve impact. We seek an accomplished scholar who will put the success of the school above their individual accomplishments. The successful candidate must inspire confidence and trust among faculty and staff with disparate expertise and scholarship interests. They will be one who appreciates the complexities of higher education at a comprehensive Research 1 land grant university including how faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders can work together to address critical challenges.

Consistent with UNL's N2025 Strategic Plan, every person and every interaction are treated as important to our collective well-being and our ability to deliver on our mission. SVMBS consists of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, 37 faculty members and 42 staff members committed to high quality, innovative research and service, and affordable, accessible student focused education in veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences.

This is a 100% administrative appointment that will be located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school director will be appointed to a five-year renewable term, subject to satisfactory annual reviews and a formal reappointment process. Additional information can be found at Director of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Search | Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources | Nebraska.

The SVMBS is uniquely positioned for transdisciplinary work at the intersection of agriculture, veterinary medicine, and biomedical research. It houses the UNL Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine (PPVM), the nation's first 2+2 veterinary education program. Offered in partnership with the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the PPVM delivers a high-quality, AVMA-accredited education for Nebraska residents. In addition, the SVMBS is home to the Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center (GPVEC), which is located at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC). This unique educational center offers immersive clinical training in production animal medicine for veterinary students from across the country and provides outreach/Extension services to veterinary practitioners and livestock producers. The SVMBS also includes the state-of-the-art Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center (NVDC), which provides comprehensive diagnostic services to clinicians and producers across the state. SVMBS plays a central role in the Nebraska Center for Virology, a hub for cutting-edge research on infectious diseases affecting both animals and humans. SVMBS supports Nebraska One Health, a program that addresses interconnected human, animal, and ecosystem health through research, collaborative disease surveillance, teaching, and outreach. Collaborative partnerships include the University of Nebraska Medical Center; state and federal agencies working on human, domestic animal, and wildlife health; zoos; and community organizations. Together, these programs create a collaborative environment that bridges disciplines, advancing both scientific discovery and practical applications in animal and human health.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln was chartered as a land-grant university on February 15, 1869, to create opportunity for the state of Nebraska. Today, the university is a proud member of the Big Ten Conference, the Big Ten Academic Alliance, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and welcomes almost 25,000 students to campus each academic year.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a research-extensive institution with an extraordinary focus on undergraduate education. UNL is the intellectual center for the state of Nebraska, providing leadership in education and research; doctoral degrees were first granted by the university in 1896. There are 10 colleges as well as additional programs offered at the university by the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) College of Public Affairs and Community Service, and University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) colleges of Dentistry and Nursing.

Lincoln is the capital of and second largest city in Nebraska. Home to governmental activities and the largest university in the state (UNL), the city is located midway between Chicago and Denver and serves 294,000 residents.

Required Qualifications

• DVM or equivalent.
• Advanced degree or certification in an AVMA-recognized specialty.
• Experience and qualifications commensurate with an appointment at the rank of full professor with tenure in SVMBS.
• Demonstrated ability to provide visionary leadership, including creating a shared vision and aligning resources to achieve strategic outcomes.
• A record of leadership and outcomes that demonstrate an abiding commitment to practices that enhance access and belongingness.
• Exceptional skills in communication and interpersonal relations.

Preferred Qualifications

• DVM or equivalent from an AVMA-accredited institution.
• Ph.D. in veterinary medicine/science, biomedical sciences, biological sciences, or a related field.
• A record of excellence in research and scholarly outputs.
• Teaching experience and scholarly outputs.
• Extension/outreach experience, programming development, and scholarly outputs.
• An ability to collaborate effectively with a broad range of constituencies (e.g. professional veterinary organizations, animal agriculture stakeholders, etc.).
• Evidence of navigating complex situations and making successful strategic decisions.
• Demonstrated encouragement and/or development of innovative leadership activities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Sensitivity to the perspectives and values of students, staff, faculty, and stakeholders.

Application Process

Academic Search is happy to be assisting the search advisory committee at UNL with this search. We welcome inquiries, nominations and applications to be submitted by emailing SVMBSDirector@academicsearch.org. Applications should include the following PDF document attachments:

1. A letter of interest that describes your qualifications for the position, anticipated contributions, and vision for the school.
2. A statement describing your experience working in teams or groups and your anticipated contributions to environments in which every person and every interaction matters (2 page maximum). See Tips for Writing About Contributions to Teams and Work and Learning Environments | Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources | Nebraska for guidance in writing this statement.
3. A detailed curriculum vitae.
4. The names and contact information for five (5) professional references.

The preferred date to submit applications is October 17, 2025. Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting senior consultant, Gabriel Esteban (Gabriel.esteban@academicsearch.org) or booking an appointment using this link.

UNL offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with the successful candidate's background and experience.

As an EO/AA employer, the University of Nebraska considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/.