Univ. Wisconsin-Madison: On-Farm Research Program Manager

The On-farm Research Program Manager is an exciting, new position meant to develop and implement an on-farm research program within Extension's Crops and Soils Program. The Research Manager would work with Extension faculty and staff and the state's agricultural producers to understand the production-related challenges on Wisconsin farms in order to develop an on-farm research program that helps evaluate solutions to those challenges. The manager will additionally create channels for farmers to share their discoveries with their peers.

The Research Program Manager will:
-Collaborate with Extension faculty and staff to identify research priorities, develop protocols, build a network of on-farm collaborators and collect data that supports important decision-making for producers
-Develop and implement a plan for sharing data collected in the program with Extension colleagues and clientele
-Mentor, support and/or supervise educators and outreach specialists in the Crops and Soils Program that will be participating in on-farm trial implementation.
-Build trust-based relationships with stakeholders to support the research program development and implementation

The ideal candidate will have experience with developing and evaluating educational programming and a track record of building positive relationships

responsibilities:

Plans and leads operational, outreach, and promotional activities of a research program and serves as a subject matter expert.

• 30% Plans and directs the day-to-day operational activities of one or multiple research programs or units according to established research objectives in alignment with strategic plans and initiatives
• 20% Assists in the development, coordination, and facilitation of trainings and workshops for internal and external audiences to disseminate research program developments and information
• 20% Plans, develops, and implements processes and protocols to support research aims
• 5% Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
• 10% Serves as a unit liaison and subject matter expert among internal and external stakeholder groups, collaborates across disciplines and functional areas, provides program information, and promotes the accomplishments and developments of scholars and research initiatives
• 5% Monitors program budget(s) and approves unit expenditures
• 10% Develops policies, procedures, and institutional agreements on behalf of the program

education: 

Required
Master's Degree

Preferred
PhD

qualifications:

Required:
-Five or more years of relevant professional experience
-Demonstrated skills in designing and implementing research trials
-Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, through a variety of technologies
-Demonstrated ability to effectively work with people from different cultural backgrounds, including those associated with race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity

Preferred:
-Strong interpersonal relationship and problem-solving skills in a team setting
-Demonstrated experience with building diverse, collaborative partnerships
-Demonstrated ability to communicate scientific materials in written and verbal forms for a variety of lay and other audiences
-Demonstrated ability to write grants and establish partnerships that pool or leverage public and private funds in support of the Institutional mission