Assistant Extension Specialist in Farm Viability (Agricultural Economics)

Rutgers University; New Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks an Assistant Extension Specialist in Farm Viability to enhance the sustainability of New Jersey's agricultural landscape. This tenure-track position emphasizes research and community engagement, addressing critical needs such as farm financial management and climate resilience. The successful candidate will collaborate with diverse stakeholders, contribute to teaching, and ensure the long-term viability of farms through innovative outreach and educational programs. Join a dynamic team committed to fostering economic opportunities and supporting underserved farming communities.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics or related field required.
• Experience in faculty, industry, or postdoctoral roles preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead research programs supporting New Jersey's agricultural sector.
• Engage with marginalized farming communities for equitable outcomes.

Skills

Farm Business Management

Economic Development

Research Methodology

Community Engagement

Education

Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics

Job description

Position Details

Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title	Assistant Extension Specialist in Farm Viability (Agricultural Economics)
Department	SEBS-Agricultural Econ & Mktg
Salary	Commensurate With Experience
Benefits
Posting Summary	Rutgers University invites qualified candidates to apply for a tenure-track faculty position as an Assistant Extension Specialist (equivalent to Assistant Professor) in Farm Viability. This is a 12-month, tenure track position in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics and Rutgers Cooperative Extension. The successful candidate is expected to develop and lead externally funded research and extension programs that support and strengthen the viability of the New Jersey agricultural sector and individual farms. Through active agricultural community engagement, the Specialist will identify existing and emerging opportunities and needs, conduct applied research to assess what technical assistance and policy changes would help farmers take advantage of these opportunities, and provide educational outreach within the agricultural community across different scales of operation, commodities, and production systems. The Farm Viability Specialist will give special attention to identifying and engaging with the needs of marginalized and historically underserved farming communities (defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as "socially disadvantaged, beginning, limited resource, and veteran farmers and ranchers") to ensure the long-term viability of farms and equitable economic outcomes. Programmatic emphases could include sustainable agricultural production, diversified farming systems, agritourism, climate resilience, feasibility analysis, farm management and business decision-making, state and local agricultural policy, business succession, "next gen" farming, and the development of marketing strategies. In addition, the Specialist is expected to participate in undergraduate and/or graduate teaching and leading independent teaching and research projects in their field of expertise. Achieving tenure will require scholarship as shown by publications as well as excellence in service to our constituents and teaching. MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: * Identify critical needs and areas of concern impacting New Jersey farm viability, including farm financial management, alternative agricultural enterprises, agricultural policy, farm risk management, climate resilience, new/beginning and "next gen" farmer support, and business succession. * Help to fund, lead, and participate in appropriate agricultural research, including programs based at New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station research and extension farms. * Utilize appropriate educational outreach delivery methods to reach a broad base of program beneficiaries, including field visits, newsletters, fact sheets, educational meetings, workshops, short courses, train-the-trainer programs, web-based tools. * Collaborate with county-based Extension faculty staff and Extension Specialists, at Rutgers and throughout the national land grant university system, to build impactful programs to further farm viability objectives. * Contribute to undergraduate and graduate student success through experiential learning opportunities, internships, directed research, and community engagement activities. * Develop working relationships with various external agencies and industry partners. * Document and track program impact based on stated objectives, develop effective evaluation techniques, and provide timely impact reporting to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension state office.
Position Status	Full Time
Posting Number	24FA1106
Posting Open Date	11/01/2024
Posting Close Date

Qualifications

A Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics or a related discipline is required. Previous faculty, industry, or postdoctoral experience is preferred, along with a knowledge of the Cooperative Extension program cycle.

Candidate should be conversant with principles of both farm business management and economic development. Knowledge of the discipline's analytical toolkit is expected. The candidate will be required to guide and advise professional staff (such as postdoctoral associates and graduate students) in planning, conducting, and disseminating research-based results. The candidate will also be required to work collaboratively with faculty and staff within and across departments and centers at Rutgers and other universities and organizations.

Rutgers is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion; our priority to diversify our faculty ranks is outlined in the Rutgers DEI strategic plan. The Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics and Rutgers University is working to ensure our faculty composition reflects the diversity of our student population. We especially encourage applications from backgrounds underrepresented in agricultural economics including Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ scientists.

Minimum Education and Experience
Certifications/Licenses
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Equipment Utilized
Physical Demands and Work Environment
Overview	The Department: The Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, a research and teaching unit of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, is located on the scenic G. H. Cook Campus of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The department is housed in the Cook Office Building. The department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, with some curricula offered jointly with sister departments such as Food Science and Human Ecology. Its tenure-track faculty conduct applied research in agricultural economics or related fields, regularly employing post-doctoral researchers and interacting with stakeholders at the state, national, or international levels. The School and Experiment Station: The School of Environmental and Biological Sciences is deeply committed to the three land-grant missions of teaching, research, and extension. Our faculty integrate teaching, research, and outreach to address real-world problems and encourage students to adopt the same approach to their educational experience at Rutgers. The School has 15 academic departments, 3400 undergraduate students, and 300 graduate students. The School's current strategic plan can be accessed at https://sebs.rutgers.edu/strategic-plan/. The School is closely affiliated with Rutgers' New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, which contains three cooperative extension departments and manages research and community outreach programs across New Jersey and around the world.
Statement

Posting Details

Candidates should submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, concise statement of extension, teaching and research foci and objectives, diversity statement, and the names of three professional references.

Special Instructions to Applicants
Quick Link to Posting	https://jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/238324
Campus	Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Home Location Campus	Cook (RU-New Brunswick)
City	New Brunswick
State	NJ
Location Details

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate's offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement