"Special Purpose faculty - Biology"

Job Description

The Department of Biology at Radford University seeks a Special Purpose faculty member to serve as the Program Director for our Applied Biotechnology Program, housed at our Roanoke site. Students in our program complete the Applied Biotechnology aspect of the major at the junior/senior level in Roanoke, once they have finished their General Education and pre-requisite courses in Radford, at a community college, or at another institute of higher education. Our students will be required to complete an internship with a biotechnology company or a related experiential learning opportunity! Therefore, we seek candidates who have experience in the biotechnology field and are able to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, and industry professionals.

We are looking for candidates who can:
• lead, grow, and manage the Applied Biotechnology program,
• recruit and coordinate teaching faculty to support the program’s curricular needs,
• recruit and support students’ progression toward a successful graduation,
• coordinate student internships to connect students to the biotechnology enterprise,
• assist students with job placement or graduate/professional school in biotechnology or a related field,
• manage the budget (e.g., purchase of equipment, software, and supplies, special projects, course needs, etc.),
• manage the onsite facilities and associated equipment,
• assess the programs’ success and sustainability, and
• supervise the laboratory manager and student employees.

This 12-month position will begin August 2026. The Program Director will be required to teach 6 contact hours per semester that align best with their interests and program’s curricular needs. We actively support our faculty with access to professional development opportunities through Radford’s Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, funding for conference and professional development opportunities, and encourage participation in departmental, college, and university-wide events.

Required Qualifications

Master’s degree in relevant field.
Minimum three years of experience in the biotech industry.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated management experience.
Knowledge of the higher education learning environment.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Letter of Application: Interested candidates should submit a letter of application introducing who you are and your experiences, including an explanation:
• for why you are interested in this position at Radford University,
• of how you will lead the faculty, staff, and students as the program director,
• on how you plan to engage and collaborate with individuals in the biotechnology industry, and
• on your vision of success for our undergraduates in the Applied Biotechnology Program.
Your letter of application must be single-spaced, 2-pages maximum, no less than 11-point font, 1-inch margins, and use Times New Roman, Aptos, Arial, or Calibri font.
CV and References: Candidates must also submit their curriculum vitae and the names and contact information for three professional references (not part of your letter of application page limit).
Transcripts: Applicants must submit an unofficial copy of transcripts of post-secondary course work with the application. If the applicant’s official transcripts are on file in the Office of the Provost, a statement indicating such, must be submitted in lieu of the documents with the application. Official transcripts of all post-secondary course work will be required upon selection for hire.