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Small Farms Integrated Pest Management Lead AC 2 (23-26)

Location: UC ANR - Davis

Date Posted: November 17, 2023
Closing Date: January 15, 2024

Job Description: Download

Position Overview

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) offers a unique recruitment opportunity for a Small Farms Integrated Pest Management Lead, Academic Coordinator II.  UC ANR operates a statewide network of researchers, educators and support staff dedicated to the development and application of knowledge to address local agricultural, environmental and community health issues. Research, outreach and education from locally based Cooperative Extension offices serves all 58 counties from 70+ locations throughout the state. Our mission is to bring the University of California directly to Californians through research, extension and education programs that support:

  • Sustainable, safe, and nutritious food production and delivery
  • Economic success in a global economy
  • A sustainable, healthy, and productive environment
  • Science literacy and youth development

By working and living among those we serve, UC ANR expands the University of California’s reach to engage all people and communities in California, ensuring equal access to the UC system.

Location Headquarters. UCCE Sacramento County, Sacramento, CA or UC ANR, Davis, CA

Purpose. The Academic Coordinator (AC) will lead content identification and development, and coordinate translation, reformatting, and web production of integrated pest management (IPM) information from the UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines into culturally appropriate IPM content for the small farms. The AC will coordinate with small farms advisors and community education specialists (CES) to produce IPM educational resources that are appropriately developed for the target audiences.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Programmatic competence includes: Ability to review and synthesize IPM resources and literature for application on small farms. Coordinates with the small farms advisors network to identify program needs, prioritize training and resources in IPM and languages for content development; project management of conversion of UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines information into culturally appropriate resources for small farms; provide training to small farms CES staff on the technical content in a given resource (as needed), coordination of activities of multiple small farms CES staff contributing to this effort; and production oversight of web content, card sets, or other educational materials.

The position includes:

  • Extension Content Development. The AC will lead the development of extension education resources based on IPM information from reliable sources that is specific to small farms. This will include the assessment of clientele pest management information needs, tailoring of IPM resources to small farms, and coordinating the translation, reformatting, and web production of integrated pest management (IPM) information from the UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines into culturally appropriate IPM content for the small farms. Translation will involve coordinating the efforts of small farms community education specialists who are native speakers of the primary languages of the clientele. Some technical training of staff may be needed to improve translation accuracy. As needed, the AC will coordinate live simultaneous interpretation services for workshops and field days. The AC will work with staff and academics to tailor presentations, publications, and activities to reach a non-technical audience and may supervise staff, volunteers, and students assisting with extension efforts. The AC will coordinate with Small Farms Advisors on trainings to support limited-English proficiency small farmers to prepare for the state required retesting for the Private Applicator Certificate.
  • Evaluation of Extension Efforts. The AC will evaluate educational extension efforts and educational materials to assess their efficacy and impacts in addressing the challenges facing small-scale, diversified, and socially disadvantaged specialty crop farmers. Evaluation will include tracking attendance and participation for events and ongoing research and extension projects, contributing to both internal and external required reporting, and conducting formal and informal evaluations of educational methods.
  • Technical Support and Logistics. The AC will coordinate technical assistance to advisors as needed. They will serve as technical lead for the materials developed under the program.

Reporting Relationship: The Academic Coordinator reports to the UC ANR Cooperative Extension Small Farms Advisor in Yolo County and with secondary reporting to the UC IPM Director.

Qualifications and Skills Required

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

Required Qualifications:

Education: A minimum of a Master’s degree in an IPM related field such as entomology, plant pathology, weed science, or vertebrate pest management, or closely related field is required at the time of appointment. 

Additional Requirements

  • Prior IPM experience in an agricultural setting.
  • Strong background and experience in extension education, including development of educational material.
  • Experience communicating technical information to culturally diverse audiences and non-technical audiences.
  • Experience content management.
  • Experience in project management and coordinating activities of multiple team members.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • This is not a remote position. The candidate must be available to be onsite.
  • Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability and property damage insurance on vehicle used is required. Must possess valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University vehicle.

Desired Experience

  • Passion and desire to pursue a career in Cooperative Extension.
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively plan projects and assist in implementing an applied research and outreach program, including setting timelines, measurable goals and objectives.
  • Coursework or other training in program evaluation and assessment.
  • Experience working with multidisciplinary teams.
  • California Qualified Applicator’s Certificate or Qualified Applicator’s License.

Skills Required:  To be successful, Academic Coordinators require skills in the following:

Technical Competence and Impact

The candidate should have a strong understanding of the science of pest management and have proficiency in at least one pest management field. Ideally, the candidate has insight into the needs and challenges of pest management in small-scale and diversified agricultural production systems and be able to design extension content that leads to positive changes and impact within the community and beyond.

Demonstrated ability to deliver educational materials in multiple formats.

Strong experience in one or more fields relevant to production and/or regulatory challenges such as pest management, food safety, irrigation, nutrient management, or soil conservation.

Communication

Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication skill.  Interpersonal and coordination skills to project manage contributions from geographically dispersed team. A non-English language proficiency is desired.

Demonstrated ability to share complex information in a manner tailored to a non-technical audience. Prior experience communicating with culturally diverse audiences is desired.

Collaboration, Teamwork and Flexibility

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a team member with colleagues, partner organizations, and other stakeholders.  Able to adapt as circumstances warranted.  

Aware and willing to actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Lifelong Learning

Demonstrated commitment to ongoing self-improvement.  Ability to shift program focus as times and organizational needs change.

Learn more about Skills and Areas of Programmatic Review (including Professional Competence, University and Public Service and Affirmative Action and DEI) at: https://ucanr.edu/sites/Professional_Development/files/355229.pdf

About UC ANR

The University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) consists of a network of scientists and educators working in partnership across the state of California.  We are committed to developing and supporting healthy food systems, healthy environments, healthy communities, and healthy Californians.  UC ANR administers Statewide Programs and Initiatives (SWP/I’s) that focus research and extension on solving priority problems that engage ANR academics and UC faculty in integrated teams to work on complex issues requiring trans-disciplinary approaches; as well as UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), which is responsible for program development and delivery in counties throughout the state.

Learn more about

  • The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ+ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

Salary & Benefits

The beginning salary will be in the Academic Coordinator II series.  The beginning salary range is from Step 1 -$78,342 to Step 6 - $99,253 annually.  Step placement in this series is based on experience.   For information regarding the Academic Coordinator series salary scales, please refer to:  https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2023-24/july-2023-acad-salary-scales/t36-ii.pdf

This appointment is a limited term appointment.  The merit cycle is every two years. The performance in the position will be evaluated annually.  The position will be extended based on the continued need for the position, performance and availability of funding.

Benefits: The University of California offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance, retirement plans, two days per month paid vacation, one day per month paid sick leave, and approximately thirteen paid holidays per year. For more information, refer to the UC Benefits website at: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

How to Apply

If interested in this position, please visit: https://recruit.ucanr.edu/ and choose “applicants” (refer to position # 23-26)

 

Closing Date:  To assure full consideration, application packets must be received by January 15, 2024 (open until filled)

Questions ?

Contact  - Recruitment process questions : Tatiana Avoce – tavoce@ucanr.edu; Job specifics : Contact - Jim Farrar at jjfarrar@ucanr.edu

 

Applicants may wish to explore the UC Davis Services for International Students and Scholars web page at https://siss.ucdavis.edu/ as a resource.

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time.  Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.  

 

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy. 

 

As of January 1, 2014, ANR is a smoke- and tobacco-free environment in which smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes), is strictly prohibited.