State Program Leader & Extension Agent III-IV or Program Extension Agent III-IV or Associate Professor or Professor

University of Florida; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) seeks a statewide State Program Leader for Initiatives 2, 3 and 4. This leadership role provides strategic vision, administrative direction, faculty coordination, and program oversight to advance statewide priorities and maximize impact.

The successful candidate will collaborate with Extension administration, county faculty, state specialists, and external partners to strengthen Extension alignment with UF/IFAS

Qualifications

• A master’s degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4 is required.
• For the Associate Professor or Professor rank: A Ph.D. degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to Initiatives 2, 3 and 4 is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary statewide leadership for Initiatives 2, 3 and 4 and develop long-term strategic priorities.
• Lead development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of statewide plans of work.
• Identify emerging statewide needs and opportunities for Extension engagement.
• Ensure program alignment with UF/IFAS Extension priorities and organizational goals.
• Promote interdisciplinary approaches integrating research, Extension, and stakeholder needs.
• Coordinate among county faculty, state specialists, and initiative teams.
• Support faculty excellence in program development, delivery, evaluation, and impact reporting.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration across faculty within assigned initiatives.
• Conduct annual evaluations of faculty within the identified program areas.
• Develop partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead strategic initiatives with measurable statewide impacts.
• Manage financial resources and program portfolios and assist with budgeting and governance.
• Contribute to statewide reporting and accountability for program outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Coordination

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Data-driven decisions

Project management

Education

Master’s degree in relevant field

Ph.D. in relevant field

Job description

Classification Title

• The Extension and Program Extension ranks: Applicants must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4.
• The Associate Professor or Professor ranks: Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4.

Classification Minimum Requirements

• The Extension and Program Extension ranks: Applicants must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4.
• The Associate Professor or Professor ranks: Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4.

Job Description

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.

You Belong at a University that’s Leading the Way

The Opportunity

This 12-month, statewide, faculty leadership position serves as the State Program Leader for UF/IFAS Extension Initiatives 2, 3 and 4, providing strategic vision, administrative leadership, faculty coordination, and programmatic oversight to advance organizational priorities and maximize statewide impact. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with Extension administration, county faculty, state specialists, research and education center faculty, initiative leadership teams, and external stakeholders to strengthen Extension's ability to address emerging issues affecting Florida's communities, economy, natural resources, and quality of life. These priorities are outlined in the Strategic Pathway Document.

Initiative 2: Enhancing and Protecting Water Quality, Quantity and Supply

Initiative 3: Enhancing and Conserving Florida’s Natural Resources and Environmental Quality

Initiative 4: Creating Sustainable Urban and Suburban Communities

The State Program Leader serves as the statewide programmatic leader for assigned initiatives and is responsible for fostering collaboration, enhancing accountability, and ensuring alignment between Extension programming and institutional goals. This position may be filled at the rank of Extension Agent III or IV, Program Extension Agent III or IV, Associate Professor, or Full Professor, depending upon qualifications and experience.

Please note: The Extension Agent track is permanent status‑accruing, and the Program Extension Agent track is non‑permanent status‑accruing in the Florida Cooperative Extension Service (FCES). The track followed by a successful candidate who does not currently hold permanent status in FCES will be agreed upon by UF and the candidate. It will depend on the current position and experience. A successful candidate who currently holds permanent status in FCES will follow the Extension Agent track. The Associate Professor or Professor track is tenure‑accruing.

Statewide Programmatic Leadership

• Provide visionary leadership for Initiatives 2, 3 and 4 and support the development of long‑term strategic priorities.
• Lead development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of statewide plans of work.
• Identify emerging statewide needs and opportunities for Extension engagement.
• Ensure programmatic alignment with UF/IFAS Extension strategic priorities and organizational objectives.
• Promote interdisciplinary approaches that integrate research, Extension, and stakeholder needs.

Faculty Leadership and Coordination

• Coordinate efforts among county faculty, state specialists, research and education center faculty, and initiative leadership teams.
• Support faculty excellence in program development, delivery, evaluation, scholarship, and impact reporting.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration among faculty working within assigned initiatives.
• Conduct annual evaluations of faculty assigned within the program areas identified in Initiatives 2, 3 and 4.
• Promote professional development, mentoring, and leadership growth among Extension personnel.

Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with government agencies, industry organizations, nonprofit groups, commodity associations, and community partners.
• Facilitate statewide collaborative initiatives and strategic partnerships.
• Review and coordinate partnership opportunities, proposals, and collaborative activities within assigned initiatives.
• Engage stakeholders in identifying priorities and evaluating program effectiveness.

Administrative Leadership and Organizational Alignment

• Meet regularly with Extension administration to ensure programmatic and administrative alignment.
• Lead implementation of strategic initiatives and organizational priorities.
• Coordinate statewide meetings, retreats, and planning activities that promote collaboration and accountability.
• Work collaboratively across organizational units to strengthen Extension effectiveness and efficiency.

Financial Management, Evaluation, and Accountability

• Manage financial resources and programmatic portfolios as assigned.
• Assist with budget development, fiscal planning, and resource allocation.
• Support grant development and external funding efforts.
• Ensure measurable outcomes through effective program evaluation and accountability systems.
• Contribute to statewide reporting processes and documentation of program impacts.

Expected Salary

Commensurate with education and experience.

Required Qualifications

• For the Extension Agent III or IV rank: A master’s degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4 is required. A record of outstanding scholarly achievement and professional activities related to Extension and/or industry that will qualify the individual to have earned permanent status in the Extension system is required.
• For the Program Extension Agent III or IV rank: A master’s degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4 is required.
• For the Associate Professor or Professor rank: A Ph.D. degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4 is required. A record of outstanding scholarly achievement and professional activities related to teaching, research, Extension, and/or industry that will qualify the individual to be a tenured associate or full professor in an IFAS Department .
• Current or eligible to be appointed as an Extension Agent III or IV, Program Extension Agent III or IV, Associate Professor or Full Professor.
• Demonstrated record of successful Extension programming and statewide impact.
• Evidence of effective leadership and coordination of multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience developing, implementing, and evaluating educational or outreach programs.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience supporting accountability, impact reporting, and data‑informed decision‑making.
• Ability to work effectively across organizational units and geographic boundaries.
• Evidence of administrative, supervisory, or organizational leadership responsibilities.
• Commitment to the University of Florida’s core values.

Preferred

• An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4.
• A distinguished record of leadership and program accomplishments within Extension, outreach, education, research or related organization.
• Demonstrated success providing statewide programmatic leadership within the Cooperative Extension System.
• Evidence of significant scholarship and scholarly productivity related to Extension, outreach, teaching, or applied research.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives with measurable statewide impacts.
• Record of securing competitive grants, contracts, or substantial external funding.
• Experience supervising faculty and conducting performance evaluations.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change, strategic planning, and multidisciplinary collaborations.
• Evidence of professional recognition at the state, regional, national, or international level.
• Experience working effectively with university administration, governmental agencies, industry partners, and stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate organizational vision and translate strategic priorities into actionable programming.

Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) .

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year‑round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

Health Assessment Required: No