Extension Specialist - Animal Production

Provides educational leadership in the development, implementation, management, and evaluation of research based, integrative statewide Extension programs that meet the needs of limited-resource and socially-disadvantaged audiences. Delivers training and educational support materials for field staff and their clientele/customers in animal science, consistent with the philosophy, policy and overall mission, goals and educational objectives of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Program. Specifically, the Extension Specialist in Animal Production leads a collaborative team of researchers, Extension associates, Extension agents, technicians, and key stakeholders to determine the educational needs of small, part-time, and limited resource livestock producers and develop curricula in response to those needs. This position 1) provides innovative leadership in planning, implementing, and evaluating statewide educational programs that address needs of small, part-time, and limited resource farm audience related to pasture swine and/or small ruminant production; 2) provides leadership in identifying and conducting staff development opportunities, training and technical assistance (for Extension professionals, paraprofessionals and non-extension persons) in pasture swine and/or small ruminant production and related areas; 3) serves as the coordinator for the Swine Unit at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) at Cherry Farm in Goldsboro; 4) prepares program accomplishment reports to share with internal and external audiences and assist with marketing the organization and its impacts; 5) collaborates with Animal Production faculty, other Extension specialists and research scientists to develop relevant research-based animal production program initiatives; and 6) actively promotes diversity within extension programs and audience. The Animal Production Specialist reports to the Assistant Extension Administrator - Agriculture and Natural Resources of Cooperative Extension.