Penn State Seeks Extension Educator (Urban Agriculture)

The Penn State Extension Horticulture Unit is looking for an Extension Educator, an urban agriculture professional with a passion for education and outreach to join their Vegetable and Small Fruit Team. The successful candidate for this position will develop and lead an Extension, and applied research program in Philadelphia addressing the needs of urban farmers, community organizations, and decision makers in the city’s well-established urban agriculture community.

 

The successful candidate for this position will provide research-based education and outreach to Philadelphia growers through a variety of methods, including:

• Leading the development, implementation, management, and evaluation of research-based, culturally relevant programs to support and enhance urban agriculture in Philadelphia

• Developing training, outreach, and educational materials for urban growers, including small, beginning, limited resource, and not-for-profit farms and community gardens

• Visiting Philadelphia farms and community gardens as needed to help farmers troubleshoot pest, disease, and site problems

• Building and maintaining collaborative relationships between Penn State Extension and Philadelphia’s urban agriculture community, including underserved audiences

• Collaborating with Philadelphia-based Penn State Extension colleagues to develop programming addressing food production, nutrition, community and youth development, integrated pest management, watershed protection, and soil testing

 

 

A strong candidate for this position will have demonstrated experience in these areas:

• Growing vegetables and small fruit in urban environments

• Writing, presenting, and teaching horticultural science for diverse and non-academic audiences in urban settings

• Working with urban farm communities

• Collaborating with various stakeholders including local governments, food policy councils, non-profits, and fellow Extension professionals to meet the needs of urban growers

 

• This job will be filled at the  Extension Educator level 3 or 4, depending upon the successful candidate's competencies, education, and experience. Extension Educator level 3 typically requires a Master's degree plus two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Additional experience and/or education and competencies are required for higher level jobs. A degree with coursework in plant science, plant pathology, entomology, soils, and plant nutrition is preferred

• Preference will be given to candidates bilingual in Spanish

• Ability to travel, and a valid driver's license and use of a private automobile. This position requires operating a motor vehicle as part of the job duties. Successful completion of a motor vehicle records check is required in addition to standard background checks

 

• Outstanding benefits package, with health, dental, and vision insurance

retirement

and paid leave (holiday, vacation, sick, and parental leave)

• Reduced tuition for employees and their dependents at Penn State campuses

 

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.