Tegucigalpa, Honduras, August 2020

WHAT IS ZAMORANO
Zamorano is a private, international, agricultural university, located in Honduras near the capital, Tegucigalpa. The campus includes a 5,000-hectare working farm that produces and processes a wide variety of agricultural products. The farm provides Zamorano’s 1,250 students with practical experience and research opportunities in preparation for careers in diverse sectors of the food system including farming, processing, finance and agricultural business. To ensure that the university’s teaching and research programs are world class, Zamorano maintains strong partnerships with leading universities, research centers and development organizations around the globe.

Zamorano students have the opportunity to learn, grow and develop leadership skills by working and studying with members of Zamorano’s diverse community that includes students from more than 20 Latin American countries and faculty trained in the Americas, Europe and Asia. A Zamorano education is designed to provide graduates with technical competencies, strong values and problem-solving skills that will enable them to address the current food system challenges facing Latin America and the world.

Founded in 1942, Zamorano has played an important role throughout its history in agricultural and rural development in the tropics and beyond. The sustainable use and conservation of natural resources, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, August 2020 rural transformation and development of competitive agribusinesses and agroindustry are key areas of research, learning and value creation. Zamorano's mix of theoretical knowledge, practical experience and research for undergraduates is one of the main strengths of this unique university. Zamorano’s model is ably implemented by hard-working and committed faculty members who base their work on evidence-based approaches, theoretical knowledge and field implementation.

Zamorano is preparing to address current economic, health and social challenges through assessment of areas in need of reform, and exploration of promising innovations using an iterative process of making and evaluating internal adjustments. This approach toinnovation will ensure that graduates have the technical knowledge, analytical skills and leadership ability necessary to address difficult problems. The “new” Zamorano education likely will significantly differ from today’s in terms of content and how students are taught.

We are looking for an outstanding leader whose motivation, values, energy and skills can meet the challenges of this future, and at the same time, understand and respect the history, culture and educational innovations of this institution.

A VISIONARY LEADER

The new President should be enthusiastic about leading educational systems and/or socio-economic development projects. Zamorano’s new leader must be an inspirational, visionary multicultural leader, whose experience will guide the University to secure funding from key donors around the world to ensure the university’s sustainability.

The President must have broad comprehension of today’s global challenges including environmental issues, climate change, a new digitalized world, and the implications of the biotech and info-tech revolutions. The successful candidate should be able to initiate inspiring strategies that will ensure that Zamorano through its educational, research and development programs will have positive impacts on rural communities, food production systems and value chains through its graduates and project beneficiaries.

Zamorano’s new President must initiate and lead processes to develop and consolidate Zamorano's new approaches to education and development, which will ensure that Zamorano is well funded and appealing to highly talented students and faculty. Zamorano must ensure that it embraces technological innovations, such as Information Technology and biotechnology in ways that contribute to fulfillment of the university’s mission.

As an internationally known university in the tropics, Zamorano is placed uniquely to address issues facing tropical agriculture and food processing and to ensure that the emerging ideas and solutions effectively reach the people who need them. During trying times, a contemporary version of the two cornerstones of Zamorano’s tradition in education - “learning by doing” and “labor omnia vincit” – are needed more than ever.

The institution needs a leader with the following characteristics:

1. Core values including integrity, fairness, inclusiveness, transparency and motivation.
2. A global vision.
3. Understanding of Zamorano in a worldwide agricultural context.
4. Ability to think strategically.
5. A proven record of success leading complex institutions in the public or private sector that involve education and/or development.
6. Formal education and/or professional experience in agriculture or the food system.
7. The ability to engage Zamorano’s stakeholders (faculty, students, staff, trustees, alumni/ae, government and private sector partners, and national and international donors) so that they understand the university’smission and become involved in university projects.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Inspirational & empathetic – Persuasive and capable of inspiring others to work towards a shared vision and common objectives.
• Team builder & agent of change.
• Strong active listening skills and ability to form diverse teams capable of collaborating.
• Emotional intelligence – Open minded, willing to learn about new ideas and not afraid to be challenged with different points of views.
• Determined.
• Intellectually curious and fast-learner, and an innovative thinker.
• Ability to acknowledge areas where the candidate lacks necessary information and the willingness to learn and listen.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

The person selected must:

• Have experience in education and/or socioeconomic development.
• Have formal education and/or professional experience in agriculture or the food system.
• Be fluent in Spanish and English.
• Have a postgraduate degree. A doctorate is desirable, but not essential.
• Demonstrate success in working with small and large private and governmental donors and/or funding agencies.
• Be willing to travel frequently.