Regional Livestock Educator

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

Benefits offered by this job

generous vacation

holidays

paid time off

competitive insurances

savings accounts

retirement benefits

Job summary

University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension seeks a Regional Livestock Educator to partner with dairy producers and agribusiness across Crawford, La Crosse, Richland, and Vernon Counties to solve production challenges and translate research into outreach materials. The role involves building expertise, collaborating with Extension colleagues, and delivering high-quality education programs.

Occasional evenings and weekends may be required; in-person work at a designated campus location with travel

Qualifications

• Three or more years relevant professional experience.
• Ability to interpret evidence-based information.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate curriculum and programs for outreach.
• Monitor outreach program budgets.
• Communicate plans and achievements to leadership and partners.
• Identify and maintain external partnerships.
• Lead program implementation and logistics.
• Deliver outreach content to community members.
• Research and facilitate outreach materials.

Skills

Three or more years relevant patient?

Education

Bachelor's degree in a field related to Extension/Livestock

Job description

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 Livestock Educator position is designed to work with livestock 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 dairy production.

The Regional Livestock 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 Crawford, La Crosse, Richland, and Vernon Counties.

The Regional Livestock 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 livestock management issues facing Wisconsin producers
• Develop and maintain a specific expertise related to livestock production and management to share with colleagues in similar positions across the state
• Build trust-based relationships with stakeholders

Key Job Responsibilities

• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
• Communicates plans, activities, and achievements to Area Extension Director, Program Managers, County Partners and relevant Stakeholders through the reporting portal and verbal updates.
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
• Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials

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 Crawford, La Crosse, Richland, and Vernon 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 driver's 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.

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

Dairy and Livestock Program is part of the Division of Extension's Agriculture Institute and provides timely resources and information to help Wisconsin producers and their consultants manage dairy more efficiently and profitably. Wisconsin's dairy industry contributes $45.6 Billion annually to the economy, making it the largest agricultural industry in the state.

Compensation

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

Benefits

• generous vacation
• holidays
• paid time off
• competitive insurances
• 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

Application Deadline is October 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (CDT).

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. UW-Madison is not an E‑Verify employer, and therefore, is not eligible to employ F1 STEM OPT Extension participants.

Contact Information

Michele Blakeman (Human Resources)

[e-mail]

[phone]

Adam Hady (Hiring Manager)

[e-mail]

[phone]

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

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 OpportunityEmployer.

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).

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