PROGRAM FAMILY Position Description
Working
Title: Agriculture Production & Management Educator
Classification
Title: Association Senior Resource Educator
Supervisor's
Classification Title: Association Issue Leader
This Senior
Resource Educator provides leadership in planning, implementing, and evaluating
innovative and complex educational programs in commercial
field crop/vegetable production and business management for the agricultural
industry in Dutchess, including:
·
Providing
direct program delivery and education utilizing existing program and resources.
·
Providing
species/variety selection, tillage, fertilization, pest management, harvest,
quality and storage production education for farmers.
·
Collaborating
with other agencies and councils to provide education on environmentally
responsible agriculture production practices to protect our water resources.
Other roles include:
·
Serving
as the primary certified pesticide applicator education contact for CCEDC in
cooperation with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).
·
Assisting
and providing input in program development for complex, specific program initiatives
and efforts and the connection to Cornell Faculty, program teams and work
teams.
This position is part of the CCEDC
Agriculture/Horticulture Program team.
As a team member, the incumbent provides in-depth disciplinary support
and input into program, evaluation, grants/contracts, marketing research, and program supervision.
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT and Priority Setting Accountabilities
(15%)
·
Ensure
delivery of planned short and long range programs, within the areas of vegetable/field crop production and
business management, are
coordinated within the overall plan-of-work and are within the mission of the
Association and Cornell.
·
Identify
local program needs with program committee, advisory groups, and program
participants. Involve, utilize, inform and advise volunteers serving on
program committees.
·
Be
responsible for commercial and private pesticide applicator education in
accordance with NYSDEC regulations.
·
Develop
and enhance relationships with appropriate agencies, organizations, industries,
and community leaders.
·
Develop
new and innovative strategies for implementing programs that utilize a variety
of proven educational methodologies and that consider the diversity of the
community.
·
Develop
educational strategies, maintaining direct linkage with Cornell faculty and
program units as well as coordinating with CCEDC agriculture/horticulture
staff. This may include conducting
applied research in conjunction with faculty and developing written materials
for publication.
Program Management and Evaluation Accountabilities (20%)
·
Assist
the Agriculture/Horticulture Program Leader in administrative and program
management activities, as assigned.
·
Prepare
reports on program progress and accomplishments of programming for local,
state, and federal use.
·
Seek
out, prepare, and submit proposals to secure additional program funding,
actively involving the Association Director, Issue Leader, program committee,
and Cornell faculty.
·
Analyze
and evaluate programs and make recommendations for change in emphasis and/or
improvement to Issue Leader, program committees, Cornell faculty and others as
necessary.
·
Communicate
evaluation results, findings, and recommendations to Issue Leader and others as
identified.
·
Monitor
assigned programs to ensure that educational content conforms to the policies
and objectives of CCEDC and
Subject Matter Resource and PROGRAM DELIVERY
Accountabilities (60%)
·
Consult
with association staff and Cornell faculty and program units to obtain
specialized assistance in developing/delivering programs and educational
materials related to vegetable/field crop production and business management.
·
Deliver
pesticide education to commercial and private certified pesticide applicators
in conjunction with NYSDEC.
·
Provide
educational programming to target audiences in vegetable/field crop production,
agricultural environmental management and financial management.
·
Conduct
educational programs to impact audiences through a variety of delivery methods.
·
Participate
in mass media efforts related to program including newsletters, magazine
articles, press releases and web-based communications.
·
Serve as
a subject-matter resource to staff and clientele, including schools, agencies,
media, and other groups, as they are identified.
·
Be
visible and available as “go to” person in
Professional Improvement (5%)
·
Participate
in required orientation programs offered by the Association and Cornell.
·
Attend
relevant in-service education programs as appropriate to the vegetable/field
crops, business management and pesticide education subject matter.
·
Jointly
develop and pursue a professional improvement plan, in cooperation with the
direct supervisor, to increase competency in vegetable/field crop production
and business management responsibilities.
·
All
Association employees have accountability in this area including appreciating
and embracing diversity in all interactions with clientele, staff, volunteers
and the public and ensuring all program outreach will include diverse
audiences.
Contacts (level of interaction and
outcomes)
·
Attend
program committee and agriculture industry meetings to stay abreast and
ascertain changes and needs relevant to association program. Participate in program committee and
agriculture industry meetings to convey resources and capabilities of the
association in light of their priority issues.
·
Serve on
Association committees as needed.
Actively represent the association on statewide Program Work Teams to
ensure connections that will enable increased capabilities to address local and
regional efforts and priorities.
·
Interact
directly with, and seek the resource expertise of, faculty and other subject
matter experts to address identified needs and to address complex issues.
·
Performs
accountabilities under direct supervision of Agriculture/Horticulture Issue
Leader, deferring and seeking input in non-routine or complex subject matter
situations as a developmental process.
·
As a
subject matter expert, independently identify clientele and select appropriate
subject matter relative to analyzed needs, alerting supervisor of issues and
concerns as well as actual or potential areas of risk or conflict.
·
May
coordinate the work of support staff. (i.e. volunteers, paraprofessionals, and
clerical staff)
·
Provide
quarterly impact reports per Association guidelines.
·
Masters degree
with a focus on vegetable and/or field crop production, soils, business
management or agricultural environmental management.
·
Two years
of relevant experience.
Necessary:
·
Knowledge
of the principles, theory, research, and application of subject-matter
appropriate to area of specialization.
·
Demonstrated
ability to initiate, plan, organize, teach, conduct, and evaluate informal
adult educational programs to diverse audiences.
·
Demonstrated
ability to relate and work effectively with diverse people and groups e.g.
coworkers, private and public community and professional leaders, groups, and
volunteers.
·
Demonstrated
ability to communicate effectively through oral, written, and visual channels
as well as innovative applications of electronic technology (e.g. video, audio,
computers, etc.)
·
Computer
proficiency with programs such as Microsoft Office.
·
Ability
to work independently, make decisions, delegate tasks, attend to details,
handle multiple tasks and work under pressure.
·
Demonstrated
ability to lead and effectively participate in team efforts.
·
Must
demonstrate a high degree of integrity, sound professional judgment, and the
ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.
·
NYS Pesticide
Certification in private applicator categories 21 (Field and Forage) and 23
(vegetables). If not, certification
must be acquired within one year of hiring.
Desirable:
·
Knowledge
of the organization, operation, philosophy, and objective of Cooperative
Extension and its programs at County, State, and Federal levels.
·
Radio,
Television, and telecommunications and other media skills.
·
Course
work or demonstrated skills in management and educational methods.
·
Bi-lingual
Spanish speaking ability.
Special Requirements:
·
Must
learn, know and abide by association personnel policies.
·
Ability
to meet travel demands of the position.
·
Must be
willing to travel and work flexible schedule requiring some evenings and
weekends.
APPLICATIONS will be
reviewed beginning on 7/18/09, or until an acceptable pool of applicants
has been identified.
Send letter of
intent, resume, and transcripts to PA
**Individuals
who bring a diverse perspective and are supportive of diversity are strongly
encouraged to apply. EOE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.cce.cornell.edu
Cornell Cooperative
Extension in
The