Area Assistant / Associate Agent Commercial Horticulture (Willcox, AZ)

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Program Development

• Conducts
  a systematic analysis of national, Arizona, and county data, local
  resources, and historical information to identify community assets,
  program needs, and teaching opportunities.
• Identifies
  resources (grants, contracts, in-kind contributions, etc.) to enhance
  agriculture and natural resource programs.
• Work
  in cooperation with community groups, local leaders, Extension advisory
  groups, and other Extension professionals to develop and implement an
  annual Plan of Work.
• Consults
  with Extension faculty, Experiment Station researchers, and other experts
  in the development of educational programs, applied research, and
  scholarly works.

Program Implementation

• Conducts
  creative programming and utilizes new technology that may include
  problem-solving research to address priority needs of the target
  audiences.
• Participates
  in statewide working groups to develop new and creative programming
  efforts.
• Prepares
  educational material, evaluation instruments, teaching materials, and
  publicity information in support of state, county, and community
  initiatives.
• Functions
  as a resource for other agencies and organizations. Promotes interaction
  and cooperation among various groups.
• Disseminates
  educational materials through county-wide and/or multi-county events,
  workshops, websites, newsletters, and other mass media methods, use of
  volunteers, and other methods.
• Provides
  recruitment, training, and recognition of volunteers and assists them in
  the conduct of educational programs as appropriate.
• Promotes
  communication and teamwork with county and state Extension, other faculty,
  and youth professionals.
• Promotes
  Cooperative Extension as the outreach arm of the state land-grant
  university.

Program Results

• Evaluate
  and document results and impacts of educational programs.
• Communicates
  program results to both professional peers and clientele through periodic
  reports, scholarly works, and various types of publications (e.g.,
  bulletins/fact sheets, popular articles, state publications, scientific
  articles, social media, video, and computer programs).
• Consults
  with the County Extension Director(s) to evaluate program effectiveness
  and personal achievements as an Extension faculty member.

Professionalism

• Maintains
  professional competence through study, participation in professional
  activities, and the application of knowledge and skills on the job.
• Maintains
  high ethical and professional standards and is loyal to Cooperative
  Extension and the University of Arizona.
• Promotes
  public understanding and support for Extension and University programs.
• Performs
  as a collegial member of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Excellent
  verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-confidence and self-efficacy, good time
  management, good judgment, and sensitivity while working with peers and
  community members alike.

• Master's
  degree in plant sciences, horticulture, agriculture systems, food systems,
  or related fields.
• Two
  years of applicable professional experience.
• Experience
  in working with diverse stakeholders and volunteers.
• Must be able to travel regionally and
  nationally.

• Demonstrated experience in production systems including fruit & nut trees (preferably Pecan and Pistachio) and wine grapes, horticulture and home gardening, and other sustainable agricultural practices.