Univ. Wisconsin-Madison: Diversified Vegetable and Emerging Crops Educator

The Diversified Vegetable and Emerging Crops Educator is an exciting position in the UW-Madison Division of Extension, designed to incorporate research findings into outreach to diversified vegetable and emerging crops producers. Smaller-scale, direct market vegetable farms make up the fastest growing sector within the state's agriculture industry. Despite this growth, these farms often lack access to the community and critical support services they need locally. This Educator positions will work with internal and external partners to create connections, identify needs, and develop and maintain robust, high-quality outreach education programs for diversified vegetable growers and support emerging crop industries including small grains and perennial crops.

Specific roles of the position will include:
-Collaborate with internal and external partners and clientele to identify educational opportunities and needs related to the success of diversified vegetable farms such as crop production, climate resilience, farm management, and business and marketing support.
-Develop and maintain expertise related to diversified vegetable farm operations, including aspects of crop production, organic practices, farm business management, and/or market access.
-Develop and deliver timely and relevant research-based resources and training to farmers, service providers, and other stakeholders through in-person and virtual events, written and video materials, and other innovative approaches.
-Connect direct market vegetable growers through the robust network of farmers and service providers.

responsibilities:

Delivers and assists with planning outreach program activities, strengthens partnerships, ensures adherence to policy, and assists with program administration to promote stable and productive relationships between the university and local community. Strives to expand and ensure access to programs, facilities, and educational services to diverse audiences. May assist with tracking and managing the outreach program budget.

• 25% Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
• 10% Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• 20% Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
• 10% Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
• 20% Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• 5% May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
• 10% Communicates plans, activities and achievements to Area Extension Director, Program Managers, partners and relevant stakeholders

education: 

Required
Bachelor's Degree
Preferred in a field related to this position's focus

Preferred
Master's Degree
Preferred in a field related to this position's focus

qualifications:

Required:
-Three or more years relevant professional experience
-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:
-Demonstrated skills in interpreting, utilizing and applying evidence-based information and research findings
-Strong interpersonal relationship and problem-solving skills in a team setting
-Demonstrated experience with building diverse, collaborative partnerships
-Demonstrated ability to write grants and establish partnerships that pool or leverage public and private funds in support of the Institutional mission