Academic Coordinator II - DiCaprio Lab

University of California - Davis; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 147,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California - Davis is seeking an Academic Coordinator II to oversee statewide produce safety programs and PSA Grower Trainings in California. The role focuses on coordination, training delivery, contract and grant reporting, and developing new Extension programming based on needs assessments.

The position requires a Master’s in a relevant field, PSA Lead Trainer certification, strong communication skills, and ability to travel across the state to support growers and ranchers with

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field is required.
• Must have Produce Safety Alliance Lead Trainer certificate and experience coordinating Grower Training.
• Experience aiding growers with FSMA Produce Safety Rule implementation and outreach.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate statewide PSA Grower Trainings across California.
• Administer contracts and grant reporting for the program.
• Develop new extension programming based on needs assessment data.
• Prepare training curricula and materials for PSA trainings and outreach.
• Translate educational materials into multiple languages as needed.
• Document outreach activities and measure outcomes.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Coordination

Training delivery

Education

Master's degree in food science or related field

Produce Safety Alliance Lead Trainer certificate

Job description

Position overview

Salary range

A reasonable estimate for this position is $87,616.00 at Step 1 ranging to $147,312.00 at Step 12. "Off-scale salaries", i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.

Application Window

Open date: October 29, 2026

Next review date: Friday, Nov 13, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Produce Safety Academic Coordinator II

Academic Coordinators are appointees who administer academic programs that provide service closely related to the teaching or research mission of the University. This service may be provided to academic departments, to organized research units, to students, or to the general public. Determination of the appropriate level for an appointment for an Academic Coordinator shall take into consideration such factors as program scope and complexity. The duties of an Academic Coordinator are primarily administrative.

Individuals in an Academic Coordinator title who are assigned research or instructional duties are required to hold a dual title.

Major responsibilities: The Academic Coordinator II for the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Technical Assistance Program will be responsible for coordinating statewide efforts to provide Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training courses on a bi-monthly basis. This includes coordinating with PSA Trainers across the state of California from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Cal Poly Pomona. They will provide program oversight including administration of contract and grant reporting. They will also be responsible for developing new Extension programming in produce safety based on needs assessment data. They will develop proposals for sustaining program funding.

Coordination of Academic Programs (90%)

1. Liaison representation with other agencies and institutions in the public and private sectors.
2. Use knowledge of produce safety, Food Safety Modernization Act regulations and Good Agricultural Practices to identify research and extension needs for small farms in California
3. Support and coordinate statewide produce safety research projects, including project management and dissemination of results
4. Coordinate UC Cooperative Extension Food Safety Project team's one-on-one technical assistance to farmers in California to evaluate a farm's food safety risks and FSMA compliance requirements, and to support staff in providing diagnostics, reports, and recommendations to growers to minimize these risks and meet FSMA compliance requirements.
5. Prepare webinar training curriculum and training materials for PSA Grower Trainings, and other food safety outreach workshops.
6. Prepare in-person training curriculum and training materials for PSA Grower Trainings, and other food safety outreach workshops.
7. Prepare in-person training curriculum and training materials for annual professional development for Food Safety Contract staff.
8. Prepare educational materials (factsheets, tip sheets, presentations, videos, and other materials as need) on food safety topics.
9. Facilitate translation of educational materials on food safety into Spanish, Korean, Portuguese, and Mandarin.
10. Work with Food Safety Project Team and lead efforts to develop content, and post resources on to the UC Small Farm Food Safety website.
11. Prepare high quality written and attractive materials including: proposals and grant reports; program and project impact statements; peer-reviewed publications, blog posts, reports, briefings, executive summaries, and brochures; and posters and presentations.
12. Measure and evaluate outreach outcomes and impacts.
13. Maintain documentation of outreach activities including agendas, minutes, reports, and other documents.

Professional Competence and Activity (5%)

The candidate will provide intellectual leadership and scholarship to their programs. The candidate will participate in professional societies and conferences appropriate to their specific field. The candidate may give oral presentations to public and professional interest groups, or at seminars, meetings or educational functions.

University and Public Service (5%)

The candidate will participate in the administration of their units and the University through appropriate roles in governance and policy formulation. In addition, they may represent the University in their special capacity as scholars during the discharge of their responsibilities.

The candidate may engage in University service activities such as guest lecturing and committee service. Teaching classroom courses is not an expectation of this position.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Minimum Master's degree in food science, microbiology, plant science, or related field. Required to have Produce Safety Alliance Lead Trainer certificate and experience coordinating and delivering Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. Previous experience interfacing with and supporting growers/ranchers with Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule implementation. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Evidence of ability to contribute to Extension and peer-reviewed publications. Ability to travel within the state as needed to facilitate training and technical assistance for growers/ranchers.

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

In addition to the basic qualifications, a Ph.D. in food science, microbiology, plant science or related field is preferred as well as additional experience in food safety training or experience beyond the Produce Safety Alliance Grower training (Good Agricultural Practices, Leafy Green Marketing Agreement, USDA AMS audit programs, etc.). Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance Preventive Controls Qualified Individual Lead Instructor certificate and experience delivering FSPCA PCQI training preferred. General knowledge of the Food Safety Modernization Act Preventive Controls Rule, Foreign Supplier Verification Program, and Traceability Rule preferred. Experience writing proposals and managing extramural awards would be preferred at the time of hire, but can be learned once in the position.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Reference requirements

• 5-7 letters of reference required

Letters do not need to be arm's-length however, letters cannot be intramural.

About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affi…?

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check.

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan: "To Boldly Go," our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs' Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400.

UC Davis is also a national leader in inclusive practice. There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

The University of California and UC Davis are committed to offering a wide variety of benefits for employees. The University of California Employee benefits and UC Davis New Employee benefits webpages have additional information.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

California