Diversified Vegetable Educator

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Job Category:Academic Staff
Employment Type:Regular
Job Profile:Outreach Specialist
Job Summary:
Extension has been working with farmers for more than 100 years, and we’re diversifying our staffing portfolio to meet the evolving needs of our clientele. The Diversified Vegetable Educator position is designed to work with vegetable producers and agribusiness professionals to solve production challenges and incorporate new research findings into outreach and educational materials that improve the efficiency and profitability of crop production.
As the Dane County Diversified Vegetable Educator, you will work with diversified vegetable producers to solve production challenges and improve sustainability and resilience of vegetable production through research-based outreach and educational programming. The Diversified Vegetable Educator is expected to utilize excellent collaboration, problem solving, prioritization, and communication skills to work closely with producers, technical advisors, and colleagues to respond to timely management questions, implement collaborative outreach and grower education, and facilitate two-way communication between producers and University researchers that will shape future research to respond to emerging needs. Extension Educators collaborate with a team that includes UW-Madison Extension and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) colleagues, producers, and other stakeholders to develop robust, high-quality educational programs that support efficient, sustainable cropping systems.
The Diversified Vegetable Educator will:
Collaborate with Extension colleagues to identify needs and develop and maintain robust, high-quality outreach education programs to find solutions to the most critical crop management issues facing Wisconsin producers.
Develop and maintain a specific expertise related to vegetable crop production and management to share with colleagues in similar positions across the state.
Build trust-based relationships with stakeholders.
The ideal candidate will have experience with developing and evaluating educational programming and a track record of building positive relationships.
County Location
The main office for this position is located in Madison, WI and the primary programming focus is Dane County; however, some programming may also be conducted over a broader geographical area.
Partially Remote
This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement (RWA). A RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.
This position has the possibility of working up to 2 days remote per week.
Evening/Weekend Work
This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served.
Travel Expectations
It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Read more about UW-Madison Driver Authorization.
Applicants are required to: Have a valid drivers license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in-state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization.
Physical Requirements
Ability to lift 25 pounds without assistance
Ability to navigate uneven ground in the course of farm visits or field work
Ability work outside in inclement weather
Key Job Responsibilities:
Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
Communicates plans, activities, and achievements to Area Extension Director, Program Managers, County Partners and relevant Stakeholders through the reporting portal and verbal updates.
Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
Department:
About Extension
Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea by developing and connecting the research and educational resources of UW–Madison with residents and communities to address local, statewide, and national issues. We teach, learn, lead and serve, transforming lives and communities.
About the Institute
The UW-Madison Division of Extension Agriculture Institute addresses emerging issues related to Wisconsin’s agriculture and horticulture systems with research-based outreach to advance economically sustainable, socially responsible, and environmentally sound practices.
About the Program
The Agriculture Institute’s Crops and Soils Program works hand-in-hand with row crop, forage, fruit and vegetable producers to implement best practices for every aspect of the growing phase. The Crops and Soils program provides timely resources and information to help crop producers and their agricultural consultants manage crops efficiently and profitably.
Crops & Soils
Compensation:
The minimum annual (12 months) starting salary for the position is $62,000 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
Benefits
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/)
Additional Compensation Details
This position will begin as an 80% FTE (full-time equivalency) appointment, with salary and certain benefits, like paid time off, prorated at 80% time. While the Extension team is exploring additional funding opportunities that could support an increase in FTE, any future adjustment would be contingent upon funding availability and operational needs.
Required Qualifications:
Three or more years relevant professional experience in vegetable and/or annual specialty crop production systems.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, through a variety of technologies.
Demonstrated ability to effectively work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.
Demonstrated skills in interpreting, utilizing, and applying evidence-based information and research findings.
Preferred Qualifications:
Demonstrated experience with building diverse, collaborative partnerships to accomplish goals.
Strong interpersonal relationship and problem-solving skills in a team setting.
Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
Demonstrated educational program development skills which include planning and implementing programs; evaluating learning experiences; and communicating program impact and value, in both wr