Area Specialized Agent for Farm Innovation and Agribusiness Management - Central District

Virginia Tech; Danville (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech is seeking an Area Specialized Extension Agent for Farm Innovation and Agribusiness Management in the Central District. You will lead educational programs, develop budgets, and analyze farm economics to support producers and Extension staff across 20 counties and independent cities.

You will collaborate with VT specialists on field trials, communicate impacts to stakeholders, and help advance sustainable profitability for farming operations while adhering to program goals and

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of applied agricultural economics, production and technology.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience collaborating with a wide variety of stakeholders, including businesses and Extension staff.
• Ability to plan, implement, facilitate, teach, and evaluate educational programs.
• Knowledge and use of computer technology in educational programming and management; strong presentation skills.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong desire to help clients succeed.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver educational programs, workshops, and resources for Extension agents and agricultural producers.
• Assist with enterprise budgets, cost-benefit analyses, farm labor, financial planning, ROI of on-farm innovations.
• Conduct economic assessments to help local farmers maximize profits.
• Collaborate with Virginia Tech specialists on field trials to assess economic impact of farming practices.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Communicate program impacts with stakeholders.

Job description

Job Description

The Area Specialized Extension Agent (ASA) for Farm Innovation and Agribusiness Management is responsible for providing leadership, guidance, and expertise to producers, Extension agents, and the agricultural community in Virginia Cooperative Extension’s (VCE) Central District. The position’s home office location is flexible within the district and will provide services throughout the 20 counties and independent cities within the district.
As producers face increasingly complex decisions about land use, technology adoption, innovative research based practices in crop and animal production, nutrients/nutrition, and soil health, many find they need tools and access to faculty to support quality decision-making. The position will further economic and business decision-making (i.e., enterprise budgets, profit/loss analysis, financial crisis management, farm labor, economics of improvements, etc.). The ASA will be expected to evaluate the economic efficacy of new technologies and the technology’s ability to contribute to the profitability and sustainability of producer operations in their unique contexts.
This position will play a key role in enhancing agricultural sustainability, economic viability, and community well-being to the area farming communities. The ASA will work closely with Extension agents and specialists in delivering educational programming that enhances the agricultural productivity and sustainability of producer operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Develop and deliver educational programs, workshops, and resources for Extension agents and agricultural producers that promote innovative agricultural practices to increase farm productivity and efficiency.
Assist Extension agents and agricultural producers with enterprise budgets, cost-benefit analyses, farm labor, financial planning, return on investment of on-farm innovations, and other farm business management topics.
Conduct economic assessments of agricultural practices, projects, and business decisions to help local farmers maximize their profits.
Collaborate with Virginia Tech specialists to conduct field trials and research programs to assess the economic impact of innovative farming practices.
Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Develop external resources to support programs.
Communicate program impacts with stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• A master’s degree in agricultural economics or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of applied agricultural economics, production, and technology.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience working collaboratively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including businesses, community organizations, and/or Extension agents and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, implement, facilitate, teach, and evaluate educational programs.
• Knowledge and use of computer technology in educational programming and management. Strong presentation skills.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong desire to help clients succeed

Virginia Tech is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for this vacancy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of agricultural production systems.
• Prior experience as an Extension agent

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$70,000 - $90,000

Hours per week

40

Close Date

November 11, 2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a driver's license check with an acceptable and safe driving record.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Sonya Furgursonat [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.