Assistant/Associate Extension Specialist

The School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness and Cooperative Extension at the University of Arizona welcomes applicants for a twelve-month, continuing-track (tenure-track equivalent) Assistant or Associate Specialist (60% extension/30% research/10% Service FTE) to begin in Fall 2023. A start-up package is available to support Extension programs and research. The incumbent will be responsible for leadership and direction of Statewide nutrition programs focused on diet-sensitive disease prevention and nutrition security of all Arizonans. The University of Arizona (UArizona) in Tucson is the state's land-grant university and is ranked among the top 20 public research universities nationwide. Cooperative Extension serves as a statewide network of knowledgeable faculty and staff that provides lifelong educational programs and other public health approaches to improve the health and wellness of all Arizonans. The Family, Consumer, and Health Sciences (FCHS) program area focuses on strengthening individuals, families, and communities through education and systems work in Human Development, Health and Safety, Financial Literacy, Early Childhood and Family Development, Consumer Economics, and Nutrition and Food Safety.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; state and optional retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and information consistent with national nutrition research and policy in prevention of diet-sensitive diseases and promotion of nutrition security, in topics that expand the current reach of Cooperative Extension.
• Conduct original and applied research to shape the development, evaluation, and direction of nutrition security, diet-sensitive disease prevention, and related programs or research initiatives across the State of Arizona.
• Offer in-service training and professional development opportunities to Extension personnel statewide in the areas of diet-sensitive disease prevention and nutrition security.
• Establish and maintain extramural funding for Extension and other original and applied research programs.
• Participate in and provide effective and appropriate levels of service as a faculty member.
• Build, develop, and support reciprocal, beneficial relationships with Cooperative Extension and University colleagues, tribal partners, governmental agencies, state agencies, and stakeholders throughout Arizona to enact nutrition security and diet-sensitive disease programming.
• Identify and address stakeholder needs related to planning, developing, and executing program areas addressed through Cooperative Extension and the School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness.
• Represent UArizona nutrition security and diet-sensitive disease prevention programming at local, regional, state, and national programmatic workgroups, conferences, and committees.
• Collaborate with other universities (including land-grant universities) to leverage resources for current and future partnerships that enhance the capacity to deliver effective diet-sensitive disease prevention and nutrition security programming.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in the context of research and Extension activities.
• Travel throughout the state, as needed, to provide support for Extension program delivery and quality.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to create and maintain effective partnerships and working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Commitment to quality and collegiality.
• Commitment to promoting and fostering diversity.
• Willingness to travel statewide.

Minimum Qualifications

• An earned (not pending) doctorate in Nutritional Sciences or a related discipline.
• Experience with nutrition or related Family Consumer and Health Sciences Programming.
• Ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Broad experience in nutrition education or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential.
• Record of scholarly accomplishments.
• Record of obtaining and leveraging extramural funding.
• Experience supervising graduate students.
• Experience working across diverse cultures.
• Experience incorporating social determinants of health with development and delivery of nutrition and health education.
• Experience developing and delivering culturally responsive programs.
• Experience with Cooperative Extension.

Special Instructions to Applicant Confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled; parties who apply before or by April 3, 2023, will be given first consideration.

Diversity Statement At the University of Arizona, we value our inclusive climate because we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, solving complex problems, and creating an inclusive academic community. As a Hispanic-serving institution, we translate these values into action by seeking individuals who have experience and expertise working with diverse students, colleagues, and constituencies. Because we seek a workforce with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, we provide equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. As an Employer of National Service, we also welcome alumni of AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service programs and others who will help us advance our Inclusive Excellence initiative aimed at creating a university that values student, staff and faculty engagement in addressing issues of diversity and inclusiveness.