Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department Head

The Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU-SVM) seeks a distinguished leader for the position of Head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS). The Head of the VCS Department oversees a vibrant and successful group of faculty and staff focused on clinical and didactic training of veterinary students, interns, fellows and residents in the art and science of veterinary medicine, undertake clinical research for the benefit of both animals and humans, and provide specialized care for animal patients from Louisiana and surrounding states. The Department currently has 47 faculty members, 22 residents, 12 interns and 1 fellow who support state-of-the-art patient care in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The VCS Department supports graduate programs at the MS and PhD levels and currently has eleven graduate students. The Head is responsible for the administration of the curriculum taught by the department faculty in the professional and graduate programs. The Head will work to assure the success of his/her faculty, staff and students within the department, SVM, University, and the veterinary medical profession. Administrative duties include budgetary and personnel management related to the department’s faculty, staff, and students. The VCS Department head is the Executive Officer of the Academic Department. As leader of the Department he/she reports to the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine in accord with University and School Policies.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Department Head, as the Executive Officer of the Academic Department, leads and inspires a vibrant group of faculty and staff focused on clinical training, teaching, and biomedical research teaching of veterinary and graduate students, interns, and residents. The Head administers the teaching, research and service programs of the department in addition to managing the fiscal, human, and physical resources of the department. The Head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine shall in accord with the University and School policies:

• Lead the departmental faculty to excellence in the teaching, research, continuing education and service activities of the Department and School.
• Assume responsibility for the quality, effectiveness, and progress of the Department.
• Promote and facilitate faculty professional development thereby enabling each faculty member to realize full potential in teaching, research and service.
• Develop and execute, with counsel from the faculty, long range departmental goals.
• Serve as a team-builder to encourage interactions among faculty within the department and between departments to achieve individual and departmental goals.
• Coordinate development and improvement of post graduate academic and professional programs, including programs in specialty areas of veterinary medicine.
• Formulate and execute departmental policies and execute University and School policies as these affect the Department, with due regard for the prerogatives and responsibilities of the faculty.
• Recommend, after appropriate faculty consultation, appointment, reappointment, salary increases and adjustments, tenure, dismissal and other personnel actions relating to faculty and staff members of the department.
• Promote acquisition of resources needed to support scholarly activity and motivate faculty toward research productivity.
• Coordinate faculty effort in concert with the Hospital Director of the VTH. Communication and regular interaction with the VTH Hospital Director are essential to build a trust and understanding toward a concerted effort to elevate both the clinical and academic programs and faculty accomplishments within the VCS Department.
• Plan and manage departmental functions, seek the counsel of the departmental faculty, and delegate duties where appropriate.
• Participate in the teaching, research, continuing education and service programs of the School of Veterinary Medicine in the areas of recognized expertise. This would include hospital service within the scope and expertise of VCS Department Head when time and demands are deemed appropriate.
• Facilitate and improve the efficiency of the organizational units within the department.
• Develop and supervise an effective support staff and structure.
• Allocate funds from departmental income streams and the School to augment the department’s mission.
• Provide for the control, maintenance and general supervision of movable and fixed property, and all official records assigned or delegated to the department.
• Coordinate the recruitment of new faculty members and associates in consultation with departmental faculty. Take efforts to retain valuable faculty.
• Advertise vacancies appropriately, consistent with the University’s policies on equal employment opportunity and affirmative action.
• Call and preside over meetings of the departmental faculty and staff.
• Serve as a member of the Administrator’s Council of the School and the Dean’s Cabinet.
• Prepare five-year departmental evaluation and annual reports on academic personnel.
• Implement policies for the safety and protection of employees and students in the Department.
• The Department Head has the authority to take 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.
• Serve as communication officer for all official business within the Department and with the Dean of the School.
• Promote the public image of the Department, School, and the University.
• Provide annual evaluations of faculty members and ensure staff member evaluations are completed by their direct supervisors.