Regional Crops Educator

University of Wisconsin; Port Washington (WI); On-site; USD 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation and holidays

Paid time off

Insurance/Benefits

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension is seeking an Outreach Specialist to work with crop producers and agribusiness in a multi-county area across Washington, Ozaukee and Sheboygan counties. The role focuses on delivering research-based outreach, creating education programs, and building trusted relationships with stakeholders.

Based in a flexible regional location, this in-person position may require occasional evenings and weekends and travel within the region.

Qualifications

• Three or more years relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply evidence-based information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Identify, promote, and maintain external partnerships to support outreach.
• Schedule resources and coordinate logistics for outreach activities.
• Communicate plans and outcomes to stakeholders and managers.
• Deliver outreach content and materials to community members.
• Develop and evaluate curriculum and programs, recommending improvements.
• Support on-farm research and collaboration with growers and partners.

Skills

Experience in extension/outreach

Written and verbal communication

Diversity and collaboration

Partnership development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Outreach Specialist

Job Summary:

Extension has been working with farmers for more than 100 years, and we’re diversifying our staffing portfolio to meet the evolving needs of our clientele. The Regional Crops Educator position is designed to work with crop producers and agribusiness professionals across a multi-county service area to solve production challenges and incorporate new research findings into outreach and educational materials that improve the efficiency and profitability of crop production.

The Regional Crops Educator will work with producers in their service area to identify needs and deliver research-based solutions to help them meet their goals. This position will cover Washington, Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties.

The Regional Crops Educator will:

• Collaborate with Extension colleagues to identify needs and develop and maintain robust, high-quality outreach education programs to find solutions to the most critical crop management issues facing Wisconsin producers.
• Develop and maintain a specific expertise related to crop production and management.
• Build trust-based relationships with stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will have experience with developing and evaluating educational programming and a track record of building positive relationships.

Regional Location

The primary programming focus is Washington, Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties; however, programming may be conducted over a broader geographical area. The position location is flexible within the region and will be determined based on programmatic needs, successful candidate’s preferences, and availability of suitable space.

In Person

It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.

Evening/Weekend Work

This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served.

Travel Expectations

It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Read more about UW-Madison Driver Authorization.

Applicants are required to: Have a valid drivers license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in‑state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk on uneven ground in the course of farm visits or field work.
• Ability to lift 25 pounds
• Ability work outside in inclement weather

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program

• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program

Communicates plans, activities, and achievements to Area Extension Director, Program Managers, County Partners and relevant Stakeholders through the reporting portal and verbal updates.

• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members

• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials

• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement

Develops and supports on‑farm research including building collaboration with growers and industry partners, implementing on‑farm trials, data collection and sharing results

• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending

• Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day‑to‑day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers

Department:

About Extension

Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea by developing and connecting the research and educational resources of UW–Madison with residents and communities to address local, statewide, and national issues. We teach, learn, lead and serve, transforming lives and communities.

About the Institute

The UW-Madison Division of Extension Agriculture Institute addresses emerging issues related to Wisconsin’s agriculture and horticulture systems with research-based outreach to advance economically sustainable, socially responsible, and environmentally sound practices.

About the Program

The Agriculture Institute’s Crops and Soils Program works hand‑in‑hand with row crop, forage, fruit and vegetable producers to implement best practices for every aspect of the growing phase. The Crops and Soils program provides timely resources and information to help crop producers and their agricultural consultants manage crops efficiently and profitably.

Crops & Soils

Compensation:

The minimum annual (12 months) starting salary for the position is $62,000 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications

Benefits

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/

Required Qualifications:

• Three or more years relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated skills in interpreting, utilizing, and applying evidence-based information and research findings.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, using a variety of methods and technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience with building diverse, collaborative partnerships to accomplish goals.
• Strong interpersonal relationship and problem‑solving skills in a team setting.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Demonstrated educational program development skills which include planning and implementing programs; evaluating learning experiences; and communicating program impact and value, in both written and verbal formats, for a variety of lay and other audiences as well as stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in understanding experimental design, statistical analysis and interpreting research data.
• Demonstrated ability to write grants and establish partnerships that pool or leverage public and private funds in support of the Institutional mission.
• Demonstrated fiscal management skills.

Education:

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree in a field of study related to this position's focus

Preferred Education

Master’s degree in a field of study related to this position’s focus.

Contact Information:

Michele Blakeman (Human Resources)

[e-mail]

[phone]

Patricia Carroll (Hiring Manager)

[e-mail]

[phone]

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.