Extension Assistant or Extension Associate

Employer: Kentucky State University
Location: Frankfort, KY, US

Employment Type: Full Time
Institution Type: Four-Year Institution

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Organization

Job Details

TITLE: Extension Assistant or Extension Associate

DEPARTMENT: School of Agriculture and Natural Resources

REPORTS TO: Associate Research Director

CLASSIFICATION: Staff-12 months

EFFECTIVE DATE: TBD

STANDARD WORK HOURS: 37.5 hours per week

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time 

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Exempt or Non-Exempt

JOB SUMMARY:

The Extension Assistant OR Extension Associate will serve as a lead support person to assist the PI, staff, and students to perform Land-Grant related work in Agriculture, Aquaculture, beginning farmer development, production, marketing, and economics at the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHN).

This employee will support the supervisor in beginning farmer education efforts, Evans-Allen research efforts, and other funded research and extension efforts.

When assisting with Beginning Farmer development, the employee is expected to have the knowledge in horticulture production and/or hydroponics production and or aquaponics production. The employee will have the ability to teach others on topics such as how to start seeds, grow vegetables, and manage pests and diseases. The employee will help the supervisor in collecting and recording data, scheduling meetings, organizing teaching events, assisting in supervising other participants, conducting surveys, and other related duties of beginning farmer training. The employee may be asked to assist with planning and managing agricultural demonstrations at KSU and other associated demonstrations in Kentucky.

When assisting with other Land-Grant activities, the employee will help the supervisor in performing surveys, entering data, assisting with other data collection efforts such as scheduling meetings, assisting with supervising student workers and graduate students, etc.

If the employee holds the position of Extension Associate, he/she will contribute towards writing various papers/fact sheets or other extension media. The Extension Associate could be a co/lead author academic papers and fact sheets.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Assist the PI and other supporting staff in designing farming activities, mentor, supervise and lead undergraduate and graduate students involved in research.

Assist the PI and implement Extension and Evans Allen projects, and externally funded projects.

The candidate will help manage farm spaces in a professional manner.

Other duties include beginning farmer demonstrations such as in managing ground farms, managing high tunnels and greenhouses, mentoring participants, assisting with harvest, etc.

To record and maintain data in proper spreadsheet layout.

Help develop proposals for external funding.

Track applications and correspondence of potential graduate students and student progress.

Other related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Practical experience in horticulture, or aquaponics, or hydroponics or aeroponics.

Experience vegetable production.

Applicant should have the ability to work independently and as part of a team with excellent written and oral communication skills.

Analytical ability to include computer skills, statistics and analysis of databases.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills along with problem-solving expertise

Must be able to interview people in a survey and obtain information from them.

Ability to maintain concise and accurate records.

Ability to work independently with minimum supervision, but cooperatively with others.

Must be able to manage multiple projects/priorities.

Good organizational skills

Exhibit professional and personable demeanor.

Ability to perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Demonstrated expertise in agricultural and food systems, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines.

Must be currently eligible to work in the U.S. (will require travel and some fieldwork (interviews, site visits, meetings, conferences, and/or in-person workshops) within the continental US.

Demonstrated strong community-engagement skills with ability to interview people and survey them for data collection.

Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaborate effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Prior practical or research experience in horticulture topics OR farming experience related to horticultural crops including vegetable/small fruit production.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

This position does have limited supervisory responsibility.

OTHER DUTIES:

As assigned by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Assistant: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture or a closely related field. Degree in Aquaculture or Poultry Science or Agribusiness or Agricultural Economics is also acceptable provided the candidate can show significant knowledge and experience in vegetable production/horticulture too.

Associate: Minimum of Master’s degree in Horticulture or a closely related field. Master’s Degree in Aquaculture or Poultry Science or Agribusiness or Agricultural Economics is also acceptable provided the candidate can show significant knowledge and experience in vegetable production/horticulture too.

Level of position offered will be determined based on selected candidate’s qualifications

Licensing and Certifications: NA

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Occasionally requires heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling of objects over 50 pounds.

Work environment involves some exposure to inclement weather, hot or cold conditions, hazards or physical risks, which require some basic safety precautions.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. At this time, Kentucky State University is unable to sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa

Internal Candidates are Encouraged to Apply

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The functions, qualifications, knowledge/skills, and physical requirements listed in this job description represent the essential duties of the job, which the incumbent must be able to perform either with or without reasonable accommodation. The Job Functions listed do not necessarily include all activities that the individual may perform.

Organization

Our Mission

Kentucky State University is the state's unique, small, liberal studies institution with the lowest student-faculty ratio in the state system. The University shall serve as a residential institution with a range of traditional collegiate programs appropriate to its unique role.

Geographic Region
Kentucky State University's geographic region shall be state-wide for its liberal studies mission, its land grant functions, and its service to state government. In addition, Kentucky State University's primary service area for commuting students shall be for Franklin and contiguous counties.

Institutional Admission Standards
Kentucky State University shall admit students to the institution under selective admission standards to which exceed the minimum guidelines established by the Council on Higher Education, with only limited exceptions. Institutional policy for admitting under-prepared students, including the removal of academic deficiencies within a specified time frame. Through this approach, the University seeks to provide broad access and high-quality programs.

Degree Levels
Selected associate and baccalaureate degree programs shall be oriented toward liberal studies and selected career opportunities related to state government services. Kentucky State University shall offer selected master's degree programs based on demonstrated need, with priority given to a public administration curriculum to meet the needs of state government.

Strategic Directions/Program Priorities
The University shall focus on liberal studies programming. Drawing upon its African-American heritage, the University will promote the values and methods of interdisciplinary and multicultural education in its liberal studies offerings. All students shall participate in common curricula that explore the liberal studies. Drawing upon the multicultural strengths of the University, emphasis shall be placed on preparing minority students for careers in education and in other selected professions including business, computer science, nursing, human services, and public services. These strategic priorities translate into a core of liberal arts baccalaureate degree programs, in addition to degree programs at the associate [A], baccalaureate [B], and master's [M] levels that may include the following: education [B]; business [B]; computer science [A,B]; nursing [A]; home economics [B]; human services [B]; and public administration [B,M].

Enhancement of Instruction
The University shall emphasize teaching. Meeting student needs shall be paramount. The University shall focus on the needs of its students, which include, but are not limited to, full-time and part-time residential students, commuting students from its primary service area, and state governmental employees.

Service and Research Functions
Kentucky State University, as the 1890 land grant institution in the system, shall carry out its responsibilities under federal law and participate fully in appropriate U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, in accord with the mission of the University.

Kentucky State University shall be the major repository for the collection of books, records, and artifacts relative to the history and status of African-American citizens of the Commonwealth and elsewhere. The University shall make such materials available for casual and scholarly study.

Kentucky State University shall focus on meeting the applied research and service needs of state government.

Collaborative Ventures
The priority master's degree program offered by Kentucky State University shall be carefully articulated with related doctoral programs offered by the doctoral-granting institutions in the system. The University shall develop and employ telecommunication resources to communicate with other institutions in the fulfillment of its mission. Curriculum development shall emphasize the transfer of credits form other institutions toward degree completion.

Kentucky State University shall promote cost effectiveness in academic programming and institutional management. Strategic planning resulting in the elimination of duplicative or non-productive programs is essential while the development of carefully selected new programs compatible with the mission is appropriate. Measures of quality and performance shall be the foundation of the University's accountability system which promotes the continuous improvement of programs and services.

Efficiency and Effectiveness
Kentucky State University shall promote cost effectiveness in academic programming and institutional management. Strategic planning resulting in the elimination of duplicative or non-productive programs is essential while the development of carefully selected new programs compatible with the mission is appropriate. Measures of quality and performance shall be the foundation of the University's accountability system which promotes the continuous improvement of programs and services.

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