UF IFAS Extension- County Director, Santa Rosa County

Extension Agent II, III, or IV and County Extension Director

Position # 0001-4043
Requisition # 37487
Application deadline: 11 April 2019
Job Description:
The Florida Cooperative Extension Service is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments that provides 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.
University of Florida/IFAS Extension and Santa Rosa County seek to fill a permanent-status accruing, full-time Extension Agent position with a self-starting, energetic, team-oriented individual who will also serve as County Extension Director (CED). The educational responsibilities of this agent encompass strong leadership with respect to the agent’s academic specialty and educational programming in food systems with emphasis on economics. “Food systems” in the context of this position includes sustainable production, integrated pest management, harvesting, processing, packaging, and marketing. Food systems encompasses international marketing, community food initiatives, community supported agriculture, farm to consumer efforts, consumer education of agricultural operations, farmers markets, and agri-tourism.
As an educator, you will lead through the design, implementation, and evaluation of educational programming that meets the needs of the county’s diverse population in the selected programmatic area. You will use resourcefulness, creativity, enthusiasm, and innovation to strengthen current educational programs. As the CED, you will lead, manage, supervise, coordinate and report on the total county extension program while maintaining, fostering and building effective working relationships with advisory committees, stakeholders, county government, community leaders, media, residents, and UF/IFAS faculty, staff, and administration.
The Santa Rosa CED supervises, mentors, and evaluates county faculty (agricultural, commercial and residential horticulture, family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, and community development and sustainability) and staff members. Other CED responsibilities include total business management of the Extension office, developing and following a strategic plan focused on marketing Extension’s successes, strengthening external relationships, successfully addressing compliance issues, personnel mentoring and leadership, and revenue enhancement.
This role provides the opportunity to make a positive impact in the Santa Rosa County community as you work with extension faculty, staff and stakeholders. You will also collaborate with the District
Extension Director and other Northwest CEDs on multi-county projects and serve as a role model to the community.
Minimum requirements:
A successful candidate will have earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in one or more of the following fields: agriculture, agriculture extension, agriculture economics, or a closely related field. Candidates also must have at least 3 years of professional extension experience. A flexible schedule that allows for irregular hours and work time beyond 40 hours per week is necessary. A valid driver’s license as well as national background screening is a requirement of this position.

Preferred qualifications:
Previous CED experience or equivalent is preferred. Experience in creating lesson plans, developing instructional materials, and applying teaching methods appropriate for the audience is highly desirable. Expertise in getting groups to work together for a higher goal, managing competing priorities, and adaptability to handle unexpected situations is a plus for this role. You must be an effective written, verbal, and listening communicator, feel comfortable presenting in front of small and large crowds, be able to establish solid stakeholder partnerships, and find innovative ways to attract new audiences.
Additional preferred qualifications include experience in office operations, budgeting and grant management, personnel management, computer and social media competency, educational program delivery, program evaluation methodology, ability to organize and motivate people, and good teamwork skills. Experience working in multicultural settings is highly desirable. The agent must have the ability to work effectively with a diverse audience including minority groups, community leaders, media and the general public. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the land-grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to UF/IFAS core values of excellence, diversity, global involvement, and accountability.
Further information:
Extension Faculty currently located in Santa Rosa County meeting the minimum requirements for CED are eligible to apply.
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.
Application Instructions
Apply at http://apply.interfolio.com/54325 by 11:55 p.m. (Eastern) of the posting end date, and attach:
o Cover letter that describes how your experience and qualifications have prepared you for this position
o 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).
o Previous Employment Form (located at http://personnel.ifas.ufl.edu/prev_employment.pdf ).
o Unofficial copies of all transcripts and/or coursework of your academic degrees
o A minimum of 3 reference rating forms (located at http://personnel.ifas.ufl.edu/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).
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). 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 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. 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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Posted: April 1, 2019


Category: UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Jobs, Undergraduate


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