Extension Agent I - III – Agriculture and Natural Resources (67238)

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is committed to creating an environment that affirms diversity across a variety of dimensions, including ability, class, ethnicity/race, gender identity and expression. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. We strongly encourage historically underrepresented groups to apply.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF .

The Univ. of Florida (UF) is a Land Grant institution with core values of unique purpose, excellence, integrity, collaboration and partnership, lifelong learning, diversity, responsiveness, innovation, communication, and global reach. IFAS employs more than 2,000 faculty and staff statewide. IFAS Extension employs 375 Extension Agents and has an office in each of Florida’s 67 counties.

Our mission in the Florida Cooperative Extension Service is to partner with communities to provide quality, relevant education and research-based expertise to foster healthy people, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy. We are the resource that helps educate Floridians to address issues related to agriculture, horticulture, natural resources, youth development, families and communities.

We are looking for candidates with both academic and people skills who work well in teams, honor their commitments, and innovate in a rapidly changing world. As an Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent, you will work jointly for UF/IFAS Extension and Lafayette County. You will develop, deliver, evaluate, and report on science-based education programs with an emphasis on agriculture (55%; including pasture, livestock, crop production, small farms and alternative agricultural enterprises), and natural resource conservation (20%). In addition, you will provide educational support for 4-H youth development in agriculture and natural resources project areas (25%).

What you will do:

• Use your working knowledge of livestock, crops, and diagnostics combined with traditional and innovative teaching methods to educate your clientele about new practices, procedures, techniques, and skills related to agricultural Best Management Practices, pest identification, and pest management that will result in documentable positive behavioral and/or practice change with time.
• Apply knowledge to address educational needs pertaining to the use, management, and sustainability of natural resources such as forests, rangeland, wildlife, invasive species, water, and soil.
• Develop an advisory committee to assist with identifying community needs, planning and reviewing programs, and promoting programs and accomplishments.
• Provide excellent client service for the agricultural industry through various communication modes including online, telephone, email, social media, and face-to-face contact.
• Develop and sustain partnerships with community agencies and leaders, businesses, county government, media, and the general public.
• Collaborate and provide support to local agricultural groups including Farm Bureau and the Soil & Water Conservation Board.
• Develop and deliver age-appropriate subject matter in support of 4-H Youth Development.
• Attend and contribute to professional meetings, in-service trainings, and actively seek out professional development opportunities.
• Create and follow a professional development plan.
• Offer residential horticulture services to county residents.
• Acquire grants, contracts, gifts, monetary funds and in-kind support.
• Participate in fee-based programs for revenue enhancement.
• Lead interdisciplinary efforts with extension faculty colleagues.
• Develop creative works and write extension educational materials.
• Create an annual plan of work (POW) and a report of accomplishment (ROA).
• Assume other responsibilities as assigned by the County Extension Director or District Extension Director.

Further information:

Establishing residency in Lafayette County is preferred as it is expected that you will become part of community life.

Employment is contingent on the results of a substance screening test and a national background check.

Lafayette County is a rural, agricultural county in North Florida with a population of approximately 8,000. The Extension office is located in the county seat of Mayo. The east border of the county is the famous Suwannee River. Lafayette School District has two schools, Lafayette High School and Lafayette Elementary, both located in Mayo. Geographically, Lafayette County is South of I-10 and West of I-75, in the Big Bend area of Florida. Mayo is 80 miles from Tallahassee, Florida’s capital, and 65 miles from the UF main campus in Gainesville. The primary agricultural production in the county includes forage products, row crops, and beef cattle with some dairy and swine production.

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.

What you will bring (required):

• A bachelor’s degree in agriculture, animal science, agronomy, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. We will accept applicants without a bachelor’s degree if the degree will be earned by December, 2020. If hired solely with a bachelor’s degree, we want you to advance your career by making at least 50% progress towards obtaining your master’s degree within the first 6 years of employment.

• Strong written and verbal interpersonal and communication skills.
• A commitment to customer service.
• Ability to possess (or be able to obtain) a Florida driver’s license.
• Flexibility with working hours; willingness to work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends and overnight travel.

What you will bring (preferred):

• A master’s degree.
• Knowledge and experience in agriculture and natural resource management.

• A track record of successfully producing project deliverables.
• Strong relationship-building and people skills.
• The ability to work effectively in teams and with volunteers.
• The ability to create and maintain resource networks.
• A responsive, creative, energetic and team-oriented attitude that is used to solve local problems.
• Proficiency with social media, Microsoft Office applications, web research, and navigation.
• Familiarity with, or willingness to learn, webpage design software and online tools in educational technology.

Apply at http://apply.interfolio.com/81312 by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) of the posting end date, and attach:

• Cover letter that describes how your experience and qualifications have prepared you for this position
• Résumé or Curriculum vitae

The following documents are required and may either be submitted through the above link at the time of application, or sent separately to our office (below).

• Current and Previous Employment Form (located at https://hr.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/form-index/current-and-previous-employment-form/ ).

• Unofficial copies of all transcripts and/or coursework of your academic degrees

• A minimum of 3 reference rating forms (located at http://hr.ifas.ufl.edu/assets/pdf/forms/ref_form.pdf ) from your professional/academic references. Reference forms will be kept on file for 1 year and will be automatically used with any of our extension agent positions you apply for during that time.

Reference rating forms and unofficial transcripts not submitted at the time of application should be submitted/postmarked by the next business day after the position’s closing date. They may 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

Selected candidate will be required to provide an 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) .

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida’s Sunshine Law.

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a diversity of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

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The University of Florida is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.