RSA & Ext Agent II - IV

Candidates shall hold a master’s degree or 50% of hours completed towards a master’s degree along with qualifying experience or accomplishments.

The Univ. of Florida (UF) is a Land Grant institution with core values of unique purpose, excellence, integrity, collaboration and partnership, lifelong learning, responsiveness, innovation, communication, and global reach. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) employs more than 2,000 faculty and staff statewide. IFAS Extension employs 375 Extension Agents and has an office in each of Florida’s 67 counties.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. 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.

Extension is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public. As such, all partners are involved in the supervision of the office and contribute to the salary and support resources. The primary goal of Extension is to disseminate the latest knowledge and applicable technologies in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences in order to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. The UF/IFAS mission is accomplished through Extension faculty members, scientists, educators, administrative staff, and volunteers working cohesively throughout Florida’s 67 counties.

Our mission in the Florida Cooperative Extension Service is to partner with communities to provide quality, relevant education and research-based expertise to foster healthy people, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy. We are the resource that helps educate Floridians to address issues related to agriculture, horticulture, natural resources, youth development, families, and communities.

As an Agriculture (Row Crops) Regional Specialized Extension Agent (RSA), you will work 100% for University of Florida/IFAS Extension. You will be co-supervised by the Directors of the Northeast Extension District and North Florida Research and Education Center. The regional focus of the position will encompass primarily the row crop-producing counties of Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, and Suwannee plus the other counties of the Northeast Extension District that also produce row crops. The position will be based at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center – Suwannee Valley near Live Oak, in Suwannee County. This Center currently has several active research and extension programs pertinent to this position. In north Florida, row crops of economic importance include grain and silage corn, soybean, and peanut, and to a lesser extent small grain cereals, cotton, tobacco, sorghum, carinata, and other emerging crops.

What you will do as an RSA:

• Plan, develop, implement, teach, evaluate, and report on educational programs beneficial to row-crop producers and district agents with row-crop responsibilities.
• Provide education on topics such as crop and variety selection, fertilization, irrigation, integrated pest and weed management, cropping systems, and agricultural Best Management Practices.
• Educate clientele about regulatory issues, particularly water quality improvement plans for impaired watersheds that have significant impacts on nutrient management practices row-crop producers use.
• Spend ample time on farm visits, facilitating regularly scheduled row crop producer peer discussion meetings to hear and understand client needs.
• Work with state agencies involved with water resource protection to help producers interpret rules and with water resource experts to help provide solutions.
• Contribute to statewide row-crop education programs by collaborating with county faculty members in the Northeast Extension District and state specialists (row crops, agronomy, soil, and water) at various UF facilities.
• Develop an applied research program in collaboration with other faculty to support the extension needs of producers and county faculty in the region.
• Maintain an effective advisory committee to guide your extension program and you will establish a system for accountability and public information for all relevant individuals, groups, organizations, and agencies.

As an RSA, you will have expectations beyond those of a county extension agent. For example, you will:

• Support, train, and mentor county extension agents in row-crop production education.
• Provide regional educational workshops and programs to meet the needs of north Florida's population and to address the unique educational needs of regional stakeholders.
• Collaborate with state extension specialists and other extension colleagues to conduct practical and applied research projects and on-farm trials, and engage social scientists when appropriate.
• Serve as project leader for extramural funding that supports and enhances the extension program.
• Work with other RSA positions (water, vegetables, rural and agribusiness development, 4-H youth development, and coastal ecosystems) in a functional, complementary, and effective working group.

Further information:

Information about the North Florida Research and Education Center – Suwannee Valley can be found here.

Information about the Suwannee River Water Management District and the Suwannee River Watershed can be found here.

Candidates will be reviewed as applications are received, but please be aware that interviews might not be scheduled until 4 to 6 weeks after the position closing date. Are you a good match? Apply today!

Commensurate with Education and Experience

• Earned bachelor’s degree and at least half of the credits toward a master’s degrees from accredited colleges or universities in agronomy, plant science, soil and water sciences, or a closely related field are required. To be hired as an Extension Agent III or IV, you must have a master’s degree.
• Strong oral and written interpersonal and communication skills.
• A flexible schedule that allows for irregular hours including evening and weekend work plus overnight travel.
• Ability to obtain a Florida driver’s license.
• Ability to pass a background check prior to employment.
• Candidates must have a commitment to UF core values. 

• A Ph.D. degree.
• Experience working in the agriculture industry.
• Expertise in getting groups to work together for a higher goal, managing competing priorities, and adaptability to handle unexpected situations.
• Comfortable ability to present in front of small and large crowds.
• Ability to establish partnerships.

Apply at Careers at UF by 11:55 p.m. (Eastern) of the posting end date, and attach:

• Cover letter that describes how your experience and qualifications have prepared you for this position
• Résumé or Curriculum vitae
• Unofficial copies of all transcripts (showing coursework) of your academic degrees

The following documents are also required and may either be submitted through the above link at the time of application or sent separately to our office (below).   

• Current and Previous Employment Form
• A minimum of 3 reference rating forms from your professional/academic references. Applicants are responsible for sending the rating form link to their references.
  • Reference forms will be kept on file for 1 year and will be automatically used with any of our extension agent positions you apply for during that time.

Reference rating forms and unofficial transcripts not submitted at the time of application should be submitted/postmarked by the next business day after the position’s closing date. They may be submitted to:

UF IFAS Human Resources
Faculty Recruitment and Hiring
P O Box 110281
Gainesville, FL 32611-0281

ifas-hr@ifas.ufl.edu

Fax:  (352) 392-3226

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 of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

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.