Job no: 521139
Work type: Permanent Status Faculty
Location: Putnam
Categories: Agriculture/Life Science/Vet Medicine, Education/Instructional, Executive/Director/Management
Department:60352054 - AG-PUTNAM

Classification Title:

Cty Ext Dir & Ext Agent II - IV

Job Description:

You Belong at a University that’s Leading the Way

The University of Florida (UF), the flagship university for the state of Florida, is a land grant institution with core values of unique purpose, excellence, integrity, collaboration and partnership, lifelong learning, diversity, responsiveness, innovation, communication, and global reach.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is committed to creating an environment that affirms diversity across a variety of dimensions, including ability, class, ethnicity/race, gender identity and expression. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. We strongly encourage historically underrepresented groups to apply.

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 .

The Opportunity

This full-time permanent status accruing Extension Agent and County Extension Director (CED) will work jointly for UF/IFAS Extension and Putnam County. We are looking for an individual with education and professional expertise in human nutrition and health, or agriculture. As human nutrition and healthy living or agriculture are important in Putnam County, you will develop and implement well-defined and integrated extension programs to meet community needs.

As the CED, the candidate will lead, manage, supervise, coordinate, and report on the total Putnam County extension program. A focus on strategic planning and critical thinking is important as UF/IFAS Extension and Putnam County government evolve in response to future economic, social, and environmental trends. The candidate will demonstrate excellent customer service and will respond to client needs in a timely and professional manner.

The candidate will be able to:

• Effectively work with county government partners and external clientele.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate county faculty, program assistants, and county staff.
• Manage Extension Office business services.
• Maintain an overall advisory committee that reflects county demographics.
• Use virtual technology and social media for communication, teaching, and program management.
• Submit and defend a budget from Putnam County government to support the extension office.
• Acquire external financial resources to support office extension programs.
• Provide civil rights and equal employment opportunity leadership in the office.

Further Information:

UF/IFAS employs more than 2,000 faculty and staff statewide. UF/IFAS Extension is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments with a mission of providing quality, relevant education, and research-based expertise to foster healthy people, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy. We employ 375 Extension Agents, and we have an office in each of Florida’s 67 counties. We attribute our success to a workforce that embraces the contributions of people of all backgrounds and ability levels. The Extension Agent will be a contributor to a community that provides space for innovation, creativity, collaboration, growth, and development for all.

Putnam County is in northeast Florida. It includes natural resources and a strong agricultural industry. More info at https://main.putnam-fl.com/. The Extension Office team consists of four Extension Agents including this position.

The CED serves as the Putnam County UF/IFAS Extension Services Director within Putnam County government, with other duties as assigned. Putnam County government believes its leaders are critical to their team and that full leadership capacity and community involvement is essential.

In the event of an emergency, all employees considered essential personnel and may be required to perform alternate duties at county or district level.

Employment is contingent on the results of a national background screening.

Candidates must have the ability to possess (or be able to obtain) a Florida driver’s license, be able to work flexible hours, and the willingness to occasionally work long and irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and overnight travel.

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!

Expected Salary:

Commensurate with Education and Experience

Minimum Requirements:

• A master’s degree in human nutrition, public health, agriculture, animal sciences, or plant sciences from an accredited college or university.
• At least 5 years of professional extension experience or equivalent.
• Self-starting, energetic, and team oriented.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience in office operations, budgeting, and grant management.
• A strong commitment to education and leadership in county-level initiatives.
• Familiarity working in political settings.
• Experience creating a vision and getting buy-in from others.
• Evidence of collaborations, partnerships, and marketing with diverse audiences including minority groups, community leaders, agencies, media, and the public.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 7 years of professional extension experience or equivalent.
• Previous leadership and experience in team and project management.
• Experience working in multicultural settings and with underserved audiences.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

This search has been extended. Previous applicants are under consideration and need not re-apply.

Apply at https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/521139 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 (located at https://hr.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/form-index/current-and-previous-employment-form/ ).

A minimum of 3 reference rating forms (located at http://hr.ifas.ufl.edu/assets/pdf/forms/ref_form.pdf ) from your professional/academic 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. Applicants are responsible for sending the rating form link to their references.

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

ifasrecruitment@ifas.ufl.edu

Fax: (352) 392-3226

Final candidate will be required to provide 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), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff.

The University of Florida is An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution. 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). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.

Health Assessment Required:No

Advertised: 28 Mar 2022 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 27 Aug 2022 Eastern Daylight Time