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Extension Agent I or II (multicounty) - Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

Employer
The University of Florida
Location
Florida, United States
Salary
Not Specified
Date posted
Apr 25, 2017
Classification Title:

Ext Agent I - II

Job Description:

University of Florida/IFAS Extension and Sumter County seek to fill a 12-month, permanent status-accruing Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Extension Agent position (multicounty). The area served encompasses Sumter, Pasco, and other west central Florida counties. Sumter County serves as the home office.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will plan, organize, develop, implement, teach, evaluate, and report on science-based extension educational programs. The agent in this position will provide education to local agricultural producers and associated businesses that will facilitate economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable improvements in agricultural management practices. Target areas include ornamental nurseries, vegetable crops, blueberries, citrus, and peaches. Programs will emphasize sustainable crop management, profitability, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. The scope of this position includes regular farm and grove visits, timely responses to requests for information, and diagnosis of problems.

Specifically, the agent will:

  • Develop a multicounty advisory committee to assist with program design, identification of client needs and priority issues, analysis of county situations, and establishment of program budgets.
  • Provide leadership and delivery of educational programming related to sustainable agriculture and food systems, including production, harvesting, packaging, and marketing.
  • Work with community leaders to facilitate and coordinate partnerships with local and state agencies, elected officials, communities, land owners, citizens, and industry in developing urban/rural and community economic opportunities to create local and regional food systems.
  • Assist in community food initiatives, community supported agriculture, farm to consumer efforts, farmers markets, agri-tourism opportunities, and other marketing efforts.
  • Establish and maintain good working relationships with UF/IFAS Extension's Florida Friendly Landscaping, 4-H Youth Development, Master Gardener, and Family and Consumer Science programs, and volunteers on cooperative educational efforts designed to produce positive practice changes with significant and locally relevant impact.
  • Teach latest IPM options including use of new bio-rational materials.
  • Improve pesticide applicator knowledge of pesticide use and environmental impact, and provide pesticide license training, testing, and continuing education units for pesticide license renewal.
  • Have a working knowledge of horticulture and experience with diagnostic skills, agricultural Best Management Practices, soils, fertilizers, pest identification, and pest management.
  • Closely monitor agricultural crop market conditions at both the national and regional level to identify a product mix that fills market gaps and provides the greatest return possible for producers.
  • Use traditional and innovative educational methods to teach target audiences new practices, procedures, techniques, and skills that will ultimately result in documentable positive behavioral and/or practice change with time. These methods will include the use of web-based teaching technology to enhance sustainable agriculture and local food systems.
  • Seek grant, contract, or other funding and partnership opportunities to support extension programs.
  • Work closely with the Central District and County Extension Directors, and will assume other duties as assigned by them to meet the responsibilities of the total county extension effort.
  • Write articles, develop multi-media presentations, compose county fact sheets, and create posters and exhibits.
  • Participate in professional organizations appropriate for this position, including but not limited to the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association’s Coastal Springs Chapter and the Sumter County Agriculture Alliance.

FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY: Extension is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public. As such, all partners are involved in the supervision of the office and contribute to the salary and support resources. The primary goal of Extension is to disseminate the latest knowledge and applicable technologies in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences in order to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. The UF/IFAS mission is accomplished through Extension faculty members, scientists, educators, administrative staff, and volunteers working cohesively throughout Florida’s 67 counties.

Candidates will be reviewed as applications are received, but please be aware that interviews might not be scheduled until 4 to 6 weeks after the position closing date.

Advertised Salary:

Commensurate with Education and Experience

Minimum Requirements:

A bachelor’s degree is required. Degrees may be in agriculture, horticulture, plant sciences, or a closely related field. Candidates must have excellent communication, teaching, and facilitation skills and must be able to create and maintain resource networks. Candidates must show demonstrated skills using the internet and various web-based tools in education programs. Candidates must have experience working with diverse audiences at all socioeconomic levels.

The selected candidate must possess or be able to obtain a Florida driver's license, and must possess a Florida Restricted Use Pesticide License or be able to obtain one within the first 6 months of employment. The agent must have the ability to become certified as a trainer in related industry certifications, and must be flexible and willing to work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends and travel overnight.

Preferred Qualifications:

A master’s degree and/or minor in agricultural business/marketing are preferred.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Apply through the online UF application system at http://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/cw/en-us/job/502127 , and attach your Resume or CV, as well as a cover letter that describes how your experience and qualifications have prepared you for this position. Applications must be submitted by 11:55 PM (Eastern) on the position end date.

TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION, PLEASE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING:

You must submit unofficial copies of all transcripts and/or coursework of your academic degrees. You may attach these as an "other" document, or you may submit to our office as directed below. An unofficial copy is acceptable for the application process, but before you can be hired, IFAS Human Resources must have the official transcript for your highest degree on file.


Also, all applicants must have at least three reference rating forms on file. Reference forms must be less than one year old. If you have not already done so, please contact your professional/academic references and ask that they complete a reference rating form on your behalf. The form is located at http://personnel.ifas.ufl.edu/ref_form.pdf .

Please also complete and submit the Previous Employment Form (located at http://personnel.ifas.ufl.edu/prev_employment.pdf ).


With the exception of official transcripts, all items submitted by mail must be postmarked no later than the next business day after the position closing date. All documents submitted by fax or email must be received no later than the next business day. If your official transcripts will arrive after the closing date, you must also submit unofficial transcripts by the deadline.

Requested reference forms and transcripts should be submitted to:

Ms. Dana LeCuyer
UF IFAS Human Resources
Faculty Recruitment and Hiring
P O Box 110281
Gainesville, FL 32611-0281

dlecuyer@ufl.edu

Fax: (352) 392-3226

Final candidate will be required to provide official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/ .

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff. The selection process will be conducted in accord with the provisions of Florida’s ‘Government in the Sunshine’ and Public Records Laws. Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.

Health Assessment Required: No

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