"School Director-Management"

Position Summary

The Director of the School of Packaging provides facilitative leadership to the School in all teaching, research, and outreach programs and is expected to maintain and enhance a creative and productive environment for faculty, staff, and students. The Director serves as the principal representative of the School with authority and responsibility for administrative decisions. The Director reports directly to the Associate Provost and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and interacts with the leadership of other disciplinary units on campus.

Key responsibilities of the Director include:

• Provide transformational leadership while sustaining an environment of high performance, scholarship, and innovation to meet societal, scientific, and industry needs, and promote national and international prominence of the School;
• Collaborate with faculty, academic partners, industry and alumni to identify existing and emerging global opportunities and develop strategic short- and long-term plans for school’s enhancement;
• Recruit outstanding diverse faculty, staff, and students, assign responsibilities, evaluate performance, and promote faculty, student, and staff development;
• Execute exemplary leadership philosophy to instill a sense of community wherein each member will thrive by fostering a culture of inclusion, creativity, collaboration, achievement, and mentoring;
• Manage and enhance fiscal, physical, and human resources to meet unit goals and objectives;
• The Director will leverage their career experiences to enhance the ongoing capital campaign to create funding opportunities for new faculty to join the School and update the School’s teaching and research facilities under the Packaging 2.0 expansion initiative;
• Create, foster, and enhance current and new stakeholder relationships, including alumni, industry, governmental agencies, NGOs around the world, as well as disciplinary and interdisciplinary groups, to continue to advance the mission and vision of the school;
• Effectively communicate with media about issues relevant to the packaging industry and market the importance of packaging education and research programs to stakeholders.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Packaging, Engineering, Food Science, Business

Minimum Requirements

A doctorate in packaging or a closely related discipline (e.g., engineering, material science, natural sciences, food science, business, or education)

Desired Qualifications

• A documented record of scholarship, leadership, team building, and organizational management;
• Experience in or strong connection to the packaging industry;
• An appreciation for the interdisciplinary nature of packaging and its core missions of teaching, research, innovation, and outreach;
• Proven experience in strategic planning and execution to advance organizational goals and institutional reputation;
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills;
• A demonstrated ability to promote the MSU SoP and increase its national and international prominence.

Required Application Materials

Applicants for the position of Director are requested to submit:

1. a cover letter outlining your interest in the position and your motivation to lead the SoP, highlighting your relevant experience, leadership philosophy, and commitment to inclusive decision-making
2. an up-to-date CV
3. a one-page statement that describes of how you will contribute to CANR’s positive culture, fair access to resources, and creating a sense of belonging
4. a one-page statement that describes your strategic approach to leading the SoP for the next five years including your leadership philosophy
5. names and contact information of three references who are familiar with your work, experience and leadership skills.

Special Instructions

Review of the applications will begin October 20, 2025, and the search will remain open until the position is filled. The position is a full-time, 12-month appointment. The expected start date is March 2026 or as negotiated.

For more information on this position, please contact the Search Committee Co-Chairs:
Rafael Auras, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
Professor, Amcor Endowed Chair in Packaging Sustainability
School of Packaging
Michigan State University
448 Wilson Rd. Room 157, East Lansing, MI, USA, 48824
O: (517) 432-3254 | aurasraf@msu.edu

Jun-Hyun Kim, Ph.D., ASLA (he/him/his)
Professor and Director
School of Planning, Design & Construction
Michigan State University
552 W Circle Dr., Rm 101B, East Lansing, MI 48824
O: (517) 432-0704 | junhkim@msu.edu

Review of Applications Begins On 10/20/2025

Website www.packaging.msu.edu