Careers at Virginia Tech

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AAEC) invites applications for an open rank, tenure-track position in Agribusiness, with concentration in various subfields, such as finance, risk management, agri-food markets, supply chain management, and/or entrepreneurship. The position is a 9-month, academic-year appointment with expectations for funding summer activities through external grants or other mechanisms. External funding is also expected to support student research and experiential learning opportunities. The specific appointment split will be determined based on the candidate’s strengths and will include a teaching component and either research or Extension component. In addition to teaching and curricular contributions to the department’s largest undergraduate major, the successful candidate is expected to be involved and collaborate with other faculty in the department's innovative Bridge Experience Program (https://xl.vt.edu/programs-and-opportunities/bridge-experience.html), which is expected to launch in the Fall of 2026 and will provide experiential learning opportunities that help students bridge their undergraduate experiences to their ultimate career. This person will have the opportunity to collaborate with high profile centers and programs in the Department, including the Kohl Centre, the Center for Agricultural Trade (https://aaec.vt.edu/centers/index.html), and the COINS program (https://coins.aaec.vt.edu/).

Teaching: The Agribusiness major is the most popular undergraduate program in AAEC, attracting the highest number of students. The successful candidate will enhance this program by teaching both traditional and experiential learning classes. Additionally, they are expected to contribute to the department in recruiting and retaining students majoring in agribusiness, the continuous improvement in teaching methods and curriculum within undergraduate and graduate programs, the building of relationships with employers of agribusiness management alumni, and collaborating with student clubs. Areas of instructional emphasis may include risk management, entrepreneurship, agribusiness strategy, data-driven decision-making, human resource management, supply chain logistics, consumer and client survey design and implementation, financial management, and food and agriproduct marketing and sales. The successful candidate will complement their teaching appointment with either a research or Extension appointment.

Research Appointment: The successful candidate will maintain a visible, nationally recognized, externally funded applied research program in agribusiness management that supports and reinforces the teaching and outreach missions of the Department. Research responsibilities should focus on issues important to the agribusiness sector in Virginia and nationally, and may include, but are not limited to, financial decision making and risk analysis, market channels and supply chains, agribusiness institutions (cooperatives, producer organizations), domestic and trade policy, and consumer demand and preferences. The successful candidate is expected to collaborate with other faculty in the department, other departments within the college, and faculty located at one or more of Virginia Tech’s Agricultural Research and Extension Centers. There is an expectation of excellence in grantsmanship, timely communication of research findings through publication in peer-reviewed journal articles, and mentoring students.

Extension: The successful candidate will develop a nationally recognized and externally supported Extension program with emphasis on agricultural, food, and international trade policies that are important to producers, policymakers, and agricultural business managers and industries in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic States. The successful candidate is expected to develop programs that provide timely economic analysis of relevant food and agricultural policies, which will, in turn, support agents in Virginia Cooperative Extension, as well as state and federal agencies. The successful candidate’s contribution will build on their strengths in analyzing the problems and issues confronting agribusiness firms and industries and effectively communicating recommendations and results to internal and external audiences, including Extension agents, agribusiness managers, association and industry representatives, and public agency personnel.

This position requires occasional travel.

PhD in Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, Agribusiness, or a closely related discipline by appointment start date; Demonstrated ability (or potential) to teach agribusiness courses, and provide leadership to curriculum design and experiential learning; Demonstrated ability (or potential) for publishing peer-reviewed research, Extension, and teaching materials

Minimum of 3 years in a post-PhD role that includes instructional experience (post-secondary teaching or industry training); Experience in curriculum design, course development, or program coordination in agribusiness, finance, or risk management. Ability to design new courses or enhance existing courses, especially those with experiential learning components; Experience developing and delivering economic-based educational programs to extension agents, business managers, industry groups, and public agency personnel, and stakeholders; Experience applying for grants or other funding for programmatic support, including running fee-based workshops, and/or establishing novel sources of external funding to support integrated research or Extension programs; Experience working with clientele such as industry partners, commodity groups, and government agencies

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Regular

Commensurate with Experience

40

02/20/2026 (Open Until Filled)

Application packets must include:
a. A formal cover letter summarizing their qualifications,
b. a statement describing their Research & Extension plan (2-pg max),
c. a statement of Teaching philosophy (1-pg max),
d. a current curriculum vitae, and
e. the names and contact information of three professional references who can assess the applicant’s qualifications for this position.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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