Regional Roots Program Specialist

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Travel opportunities

Professional development

Job summary

Cornell University invites applications for the Regional Roots Program Specialist to advance Regional Roots: Culinary Training to Enhance School Meals with Local Foods. The role drives planning, statewide rollout, training logistics, and evaluation to improve school meals with NY-grown foods.

The Specialist collaborates with culinary experts, develops materials, coordinates travel, and prepares sponsor reports while ensuring alignment with program goals and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Cover letter and resume outlining interest and fit are required for consideration.
• Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Food Studies, Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, or closely related field is required.
• Ability to initiate, plan, organize, implement, teach, and evaluate informal educational programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, implementation, delivery, assessment, and expansion of Regional Roots initiative.
• Manage program planning, statewide implementation, partner engagement, training logistics, budgets, and QA.
• Coordinate communications and outreach materials; represent Regional Roots at meetings and events.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Time management

Training coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Food Studies, Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, or closely related field

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

The Regional Roots Program Specialist will lead the continued development, implementation, delivery, assessment, and expansion of Regional Roots: Culinary Training to Enhance School Meals with Local Foods, a flagship initiative of the Cornell Farm to School team within Cornell Cooperative Extension's Harvest NY program.

The Specialist will manage program planning, statewide implementation, partner engagement, training logistics, budgets, and continuous quality improvement. They will work closely with contracted culinary subject matter experts and other technical partners who develop and deliver hands-on instruction, ensuring trainings are well coordinated, responsive to participant needs, and aligned with program goals.

The Specialist will assess community and partner needs through surveys, focus groups, and other engagement strategies. They will use process and outcome evaluation to improve program quality, measure impact, and guide future development, and prepare reports that communicate accomplishments and meet sponsor and organizational requirements.

Working with the Farm to School Support Specialist, the Specialist will coordinate communications and outreach by developing and editing program materials, success stories, research summaries, website and social media content, and other outreach materials that increase the program's visibility and share best practices. The Specialist will represent Regional Roots at meetings, conferences, and community events, building support for scratch cooking in school meals and increased procurement of New York-grown foods across the state.

About the College, School, Unit or Department

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University's second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world's complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) provides the educational outreach functions for Cornell University's role as New York State's Land Grant University. Programmatically, Cornell Cooperative Extension connects the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Human Ecology (CHE) with 55 off-campus Associations, Integrated Pest Management, New York State Sea Grant, Area Specialists, and CCE New York City.

Harvest New York is an innovative Cornell Cooperative Extension team that focuses on workforce development and business expansion projects that increase profitability and investment in key sectors of New York's agriculture industry throughout the State. Harvest New York Specialists respond to emerging issues and develop new opportunities using the research of Cornell University (both in Geneva at Cornell AgriTech and the Ithaca campus), the resources of Cornell Cooperative Extension and relationships with partnering organizations statewide. The four project areas covered by Harvest New York are: Food and Beverage Systems, Urban Agriculture, Climate Resiliency, and Emerging Crops.

Hours, Location, and Travel

This is a full-time, hybrid position based in New York State. The employee will typically work on-site two days per week at an agreed-upon location and may work remotely three days per week. The work location will be discussed with the selected candidate based on program needs and available space.

The usual schedule is Monday through Friday during business hours, with flexibility needed for school schedules, training events, and travel. Some early mornings, evenings, and occasional weekends may be required.

Regular travel throughout New York State is an essential part of the role

Travel will generally include day trips each week and overnight travel a couple of times per month, often for one night, with the frequency varying as the training schedule changes. The employee will help coordinate approximately 70 trainings annually but is not expected to attend every training. A fleet vehicle may be provided, or mileage will be reimbursed at the federal rate when a personal vehicle is used. Minimal out-of-state travel may also be required.

This is a full-time position. This is a one-year term appointment that is contingent upon available work, funding, and performance.

Success Factors

You'll thrive in this role if you:

• Build systems that support growth. Use pilot findings to improve workflows, resources, and training coordination as Regional Roots expands.
• Own the work and keep it moving. Take initiative, manage competing deadlines and logistics, and keep your supervisor informed while working independently with a team spread across New York State.
• Strengthen statewide partnerships. Build productive relationships with school food authorities, culinary partners, Extension colleagues, and other stakeholders to support participation and program delivery.
• Use evidence to improve and communicate results. Apply evaluation data and participant feedback to refine the program, document outcomes, and communicate its impact clearly.

What We Need

• A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.
• Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, Food Studies, Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, or closely related field and 3 to 5 years relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Ability to initiate, plan, organize, implement, teach, and evaluate informal educational programs.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to work with diverse audiences in group and one-on-one settings.
• Ability to work effectively with advisory boards and committees, community-based organizations, and funding partners.
• Strong leadership and teamwork skills.
• Proven organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and/or weekends, as appropriate.
• Proficiency with Windows-based software, including the internet and Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Must be able to meet the travel requirements of the position.
• Must have and maintain a valid and unrestricted NYS driver's license and be cleared to drive for university business.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it's ok if you don't.

• Master's Degree in Agriculture, Food Studies, Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, or closely related field
• Knowledge of Farm to School programs.
• Experience leading program development, coordination, implementation, and continuous improvement for complex, multi-partner initiatives.
• Appreciation of agriculture as a business and as a lifestyle.
• Ability to learn the philosophy, objectives, and operation of an informal education system such as Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 3 days per week and on-site 2 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25 – January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell.
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, visit hr.cornell.edu/eeo.

University Job Title

Extension Supp Spec II

Job Family

Academic Support

Level

F

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Range

$72,209.00 - $77,625.00

Remote Option Availability

Hybrid

Company

Contract College

Contact Name

Carolyn Chow

Contact Email

[e-mail]

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2026-09-30