Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice – Produce Safety and Value-Added Specialist

North Carolina A&T State University; Greensboro (NC); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice specializing in Produce Safety and Value-Added processes. This role is pivotal in developing and managing educational programs that enhance the capabilities of small farms. The position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to sustainable agriculture by delivering training and securing funding for impactful programs. Join a dynamic team at a leading institution recognized for its excellence in research and education. If you are passionate about advancing agricultural practices and supporting limited-resource audiences, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave

Community Service Leave

Health Benefits

Vision and Dental Insurance

Paid Holidays

Retirement Plans

Employee Assistance Program

Campus Recreation Center Discount

University Bookstore Discount

Qualifications

• Earned Doctorate in relevant field and 3-4 years of experience in Food Safety.
• Strong communication skills and ability to manage multiple demands.

Responsibilities

• Provide educational leadership and develop Extension programs for Produce Safety.
• Deliver training and support for Agriculture and Natural Resources agents.

Skills

Food Safety training

Value-Added processing

HACCP

Strong oral and written communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Computer literacy

Education

Doctorate in Produce Safety or related field

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

MS PowerPoint

MS Office

Job description

Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice – Produce Safety and Value-Added Specialist

You must complete and submit an electronic application for employment to be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an electronic application. Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD 214 form during the process of applying to the job posting. Final candidates are subject to criminal and sex offender background checks. North Carolina A&T State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. North Carolina A&T State University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. No one who applies or seeks employment will be denied admission to or employment at North Carolina A&T State University on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disabling condition, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or sexual orientation and sexual identity.

Employee Benefits available to NC A & T permanent employees include the following:

• Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave for Eligible Employees
• Community Service Leave
• Aetna – State Health Benefits of North Carolina
• NCFlex - Vision, Dental, Flexible Spending Account, Life Insurance and more
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Teachers and State Employees Retirement System (TSERS)
• Optional Supplemental Plans - 401k, 403b, 457b and 457
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Campus Recreation Center Discount
• University Bookstore Discount

This position may be eligible for a remote or hybrid work arrangement, consistent with university and state policies. N.C. A&T employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a 2-hour commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

Position Overview

Primary Purpose of Position: Provides educational leadership in the development, implementation, management, and evaluation of research-based, integrative statewide Extension programs that meet the needs of limited-resource and socially disadvantaged audiences. Delivers training and educational support materials for Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) agents, technicians and their clientele/customers in Produce Safety and Value-Added processes (Good Agricultural Practices, Produce Safety Rules, Value-Added Processing: Shelf-Life Extension, Flavor Enhancement, Infusion, Fermentation, etc.) consistent with the philosophy, policy and overall mission, goals and educational objectives of Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Works both individually and collaboratively to plan, deliver, and assess the effectiveness of Extension programs relating to Produce Safety issues and Value-Added processes with a primary focus on opportunities for small farms to utilize these rules and processes to enhance Sustainable Farm Enterprises. Secures external research funding for programs to engage limited-resource audiences in the revitalization, growth, and profitability of small farms.

This is a non-tenured track faculty (NTTF), twelve-month position at the rank of “Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice – Produce Safety and Value-Added Specialist” in North Carolina A&T Cooperative Extension. Position’s incumbent is eligible for title promotion and academically housed in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design.

Primary Function of Organizational Unit: N.C. A&T is a public, land-grant, doctoral research institution and has been the largest historically Black university in the country for the past decade. With an enrollment of 14,311 students in Fall 2024, the university offers 59 undergraduate degree programs, 36 master’s programs, and 12 doctoral programs. It is America’s top producer of Black graduates in Engineering and Agricultural Science bachelor’s programs, as well as a top five producer in numerous additional disciplines, including Liberal Arts and Communications/Journalism. It also ranks no. 3 in master’s degrees awarded to Black graduates in Engineering Technologies and Related Fields, no. 4 in master’s degrees in Engineering, and no. 11 best business school for women in the nation.

Nationally recognized for its leadership and excellence in STEM education and research, N.C. A&T is classified as “R2-High Research Activity” in the Carnegie Classifications and is poised to achieve “R1-Very High Research Activity” status. It also holds Carnegie’s earned credential in Community Engagement and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation. With an annual economic impact of $2.4 billion, N.C. A&T plays a vital role as a higher-education economic driver in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region and across a state that is ranked No. 1 in the nation for the second straight year as “best for business” by the CNBC financial network.

The Cooperative Extension Program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is an educational outreach organization within the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Cooperative Extension at A&T provides researched-based educational information, programming and technical assistance to limited-resource audiences that address a diverse range of issues in four programmatic areas – Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences, Community and Rural Development, and 4-H Youth Development.

• Earned Doctorate from an accredited university in Produce Safety, Post-Harvest Handling, Food Processing, Food Science, or a closely related field.
• 3-4 years of experience in Food Safety training, Food Safety plan development, Value-Added processing, Food Science, HACCP (Hazard analysis Critical Control Point) or closely related topics.

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education:

• In-depth knowledge of state and national trends and relevant data supporting Extension program development for Produce Safety, Food Safety, and Value-Added Processing.
• Strong oral and written communication skills as well as strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to handle multiple demands and set priorities.
• Ability to interact and gain support from constituencies outside the university such as business and industry, state and federal agencies and non-profit and private foundations.
• Computer literacy (proficiency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Office).

Position Information:

• Working Title: Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice – Produce Safety and Value-Added Specialist
• Position Number: 008968
• Recruitment Salary Range: Commensurate with education and experience
• FLSA: Exempt
• Appointment Type: Permanent - Full-time
• Tenure Track: No
• FTE: 40 hours/week, 12 months
• Organizational Division: Cooperative Extension
• Organizational Location: College of Ag & Environ Sciences
• Organizational Unit: Cooperative Extension
• Posting Number: EPA2627
• Open Date: 04/12/2025
• Open Until Filled: Yes
• Date Position Available: 06/02/2025

Contact Division of Human Resources

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]