Unit Manager - Texas Produced Water Consortium Program

Lubbock

43730BR

Plant and Soil Science

Position Description

Manages a unit within a department. Plans, organizes and develops goals and procedures for the unit. Represents the unit to administrators, outside agencies and others on relevant matters. Supervises subordinate staff.

About the University

Founded in 1923, Texas Tech University began with a mission to serve the needs of West Texas, but its impact has always reached far beyond. Today, Texas Tech, located in Lubbock (pop. 300,000+), is home to a vibrant community of more than 42,000 students.Texas Tech's 1,800-acre campus showcases Spanish Renaissance architecture and is home to one of the country's largest public art collections. Its 13 colleges include a prestigious School of Law and a distinguished School of Veterinary Medicine. These programs equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their respective fields. Built on the values of West Texas - hard work, grit and authenticity - the university graduates students who are deeply engaged in service to their communities and well-positioned to succeed in the world. Texas Tech is committed to achieving research and scholarly accomplishments that compare favorably to the member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU). For more than 100 years, Texas Tech has been a premier destination for those seeking a world-class education and a unique, personalized experience as a member of the Red Raider family.

About the Department and/or College

Davis College includes the departments of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Agricultural Education and Communications, Animal and Food Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Natural Resources Management, Plant and Soil Science, and Veterinary Sciences along with multiple research centers and institutes. The College has over 100 tenure-track faculty, 2747 undergraduate and 519 graduate students, numerous other staff employees, and generated approximately $16 million in extramural research funding.

The Plant and Soil Science (PSS) Department is a comprehensive academic unit conducting research and offering coursework and programs in several areas of plant and soil sciences. There are 36 full-time faculty members and a student body consisting of approximately 180 undergraduate and 140 graduate students. B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. level degrees are offered in Plant and Soil Science. Additionally, distance education courses and four certificate programs are offered. The department is research-intensive, while fostering strong teaching expectations and commitments. Students in the department are educated to meet the challenge of using soil, water, and plant resources for sustainable production and environmental quality.

Major/Essential Functions

Primary responsibility will be to manage the Texas Produced Water Consortium programmatic unit at the Plant and Soil Science Department level. Plan, organize, and implement operating procedures for conducting multi-unit collaborative research at the BASF greenhouse and collaborative research planning, organizing and execution for PSS faculty and gas and oil industry around Midland and other locations in Texas as required. Supervise researchers and students on safety while operating in the BASF greenhouse and on Polished Desalinated Producer Water experimental sites. Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all employees.

• Plan, organize, execute operational procedures across multiple units at the Plant and Soil Science Department level, and manage collaborative research at BASF greenhouse, Midland and other locations in Texas as needed.
• Develop safety protocols and supervise undergraduate students and researchers across different programmatic units to implement experiments/trials with treated produced water, along with runoff capture and disposal as per regulations.
• Engage and organize research, sample, and data collection as required for Tx Produced Water Consortium objectives, working alongside students, post docs and visiting scholars.
• Supervise undergraduate student workers and other staff/researchers on organizing short- and long-term work plan for greenhouse and field trials.
• Manage, organize and lead all field operations related to repairs, maintenance, fertilizer, chemical applications, irrigation, and harvesting.
• Represent the Plant and Soil Science departmental units research using Treated Produced Water with Texas Tech administrators and also collaborating gas and oil industry representatives on progress made and long term goals
• This position requires the individual to work outside in inclement weather including hot summer days and cold winter days.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree plus three years supervisory experience; OR a combination of education and/or supervisory experience to equal seven years.

This position is designated as involving access to critical infrastructure systems and/or research, as defined by Texas Executive Order GA-48. As such, candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background check prior to employment. Employees are required to comply with all applicable state and federal regulations related to the protection of critical infrastructure. Ongoing employment is dependent upon maintaining eligibility for access and successfully passing periodic security and compliance reviews.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with previous farming experience dealing with equipment, irrigation, planting harvesting crops including sorghum and cotton, peanuts and native grass mix. Manage, plan and execute to independently move agricultural equipment to different locations and ability to operate and supervise minor fixes to equipment to ensure successful implementation of consortium objectives.

Safety Information

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

Does this position work in a research laboratory?

No

Special Instructions to Applicants

This position has an anticipated start date of April 1, 2026; however, the start date can be flexible. Applicants must utilize the Texas Tech University job portal to apply. Inquiries can be sent to Dr. Krishna Jagadish (kjagadish.sv@ttu.edu). Please use "Unit Manager" in the subject line.

Required Attachments

Cover Letter, Resume / CV

Job Type

Full Time

Pay Basis

Monthly

Job Family

Agriculture

Job Sub Family

Farm Operations

Annualized Pay Range

$48,000 - $63,000 - $78,400

Pay Statement

Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan.

Travel Required

Up to 25%

Shift

Day

Grant Funded?

Yes

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.