Virginia Tech: Extension Specialist - Assistant/Associate Professor
Position Title:
Extension Specialist and Assistant or Associate Professor of Sustainable Biomaterial Marketing
Position Summary
The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials (SBIO) at Virginia Tech invites applications for an Extension Specialist in Sustainable Biomaterial Marketing. The department's program focuses on developing future leaders in the sustainable utilization of forest-based and other renewable natural materials. Virginia's forest-based industry is a key stakeholder group, generating over $23 billion annually and employing more than 109,000 people. SBIO faculty with extension appointments have continually supported the Commonwealth's forest products industry. We welcome applications from persons identifying with groups underrepresented within our discipline, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, people of color, first generation, and underrepresented genders.
The focus of the program may include the following areas:
• Analyze biobased materials and energy markets
• Assess the policy impact on market conditions
• Assist stakeholders with analyzing and developing potential markets
• Identify industry needs and advance knowledge as product markets develop
• Support renewable materials businesses
• Develop sustainable business strategies
• Support business plan development
• Assist with new product development
• Assist with analysis and development of export markets
• Program evaluation and impact
The position is a tenure-track, 9-month appointment with primary responsibilities in extension (70%) and research (30%). The successful candidate will develop an impactful extension program and will develop an applied research program that supports their extension program(s). Advising and mentoring of graduate students is required. Participation in departmental, college, and university affairs is expected.
Required Qualifications:
• Potential to attract funding to support an active research and extension program
• Potential to develop and sustain a nationally recognized extension program
• Excellent communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to publish and present scholarly work
• Potential for success in research design, grant development, and presentation of results at scientific meetings.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Ability to mentor and support graduate and undergraduate students.• Evidence of stakeholder engagement, situation analysis, creating and delivering content for educational outreach, training, or continuing education purposes via multiple delivery modes and evaluation.
• Demonstrated record of scholarship that complements existing sustainable biomaterials programs.
• Ability and interest to collaborate with state or federal agencies, foreign governments, NGOs, private industry, or some combination of these groups.
• Experience in leading and managing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and support diverse colleagues, clientele, and audiences located at on and off-campus locations to build cohesive programs across research and Extension missions.