County Extension Faculty Positions
Northwest District
Escambia County - Cantonment, FL - Extension Agent I - III - Agriculture and Natural Resources (538514)
Closing date: February 24, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern Time
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Details
Location
Cantonment, FLOpen Date
January 27, 2026
Deadline
February 24, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern TimeThe University of Florida (UF), the state's flagship institution, is a land-grant university comprised of teaching, research, and extension. The UF/IFAS Florida Cooperative Extension Service is committed to the core values of integrity, excellence, responsiveness, lifelong learning, and access.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. 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 .
You Belong at a University that is Leading the Way:
We hire the best. A range of perspectives and experiences makes us strong. We look for candidates with both academic and people skills who work well in teams, honor their commitments, innovate in a rapidly changing world, and value respect for all individuals. Working for Florida Extension will allow you to make a positive impact in your community as you help shape future generations, growing your career while earning a competitive salary and great benefits.
The Opportunity:
Join UF/IFAS Extension in Escambia County—where agriculture meets innovation. We’re looking for a driven professional to lead sustainable farming and natural resource programs that directly serve producers, landowners, and the broader community. If you thrive on creating practical solutions, building trusted relationships, and making a lasting difference in the field—you’ll find your purpose here.
What you will do:
- Design, deliver, and evaluate educational programs related to sustainable agriculture production, and natural resources conservation in Escambia County, by teaching about Best Management Practices (BMPs), production, harvesting, and sustainability issues and solutions.
- Conduct on-site consultations and provide timely diagnostics to assist producers with crop health, soil management, pest identification, and other production challenges using research-based recommendations.
- Build an advisory committee composed of Escambia County citizens and agricultural professionals to assist you in identifying and prioritizing educational programs to reach target clientele.
- Assist Escambia County and the Northwest District (NWD) as an “educational first responder” for county and university functions during natural disasters.
- Collaborate with the NWD Panhandle Agriculture Program Implementation Team (PIT) of peers to plan, teach, and evaluate virtual and face-to-face educational programs.
- Serve on a statewide team of Extension faculty to enhance the use of Autonomous Agricultural Production, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- Collaborate with agronomic Extension specialists to provide support and engage in applied research for commodity crop variety trials across the Northwest Extension
- Obtain external financial resources to support your programs.
- Manage all program components (e.g., policies, records, risk, communication, and accountability).
- Cooperate in interdisciplinary projects.
- Develop creative works (presentations, posters, website development, etc.)
- Write non-technical publications that are sufficient to the topic and relevant to the target audiences.
- Participate in professional societies related to your academic discipline.
- Collaborate with the County Extension Director and District Extension Director on other responsibilities that benefit the total county and district Extension program.
Minimum requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in agronomy, agriculture, or related field. If hired solely with a bachelor’s degree, we want you to continue to grow in your career. As such, we expect you to make at least 50% progress towards obtaining your master’s degree within the first 6 years of employment. Course work completed within the State University System of Florida comes with a tuition waiver.
- Strong oral and written interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to prioritize, multi-task, and balance a variety of responsibilities.
- A commitment to customer service.
- Ability to use computers, web delivery, and apply social media to your work.
- Ability to possess (or be able to obtain) a Florida driver’s license.
- Flexibility with working hours; willingness to work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and overnight travel.
- Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values .
Northeast District
Central District
Center for Land Use Efficiency (CLUE) - Apopka, FL - Regional Specialized Extension Agent II - IV – Sustainable Land Development (538496)
Closing date: February 13, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern Time
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Details
Location
Apopka, FLOpen Date
January 23, 2026
Deadline
February 13, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern TimeThe Florida Cooperative Extension Service is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments that provides quality, relevant education and research-based expertise to foster healthy people, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy. We are the resource that helps educate Floridians to address issues related to agriculture, natural resources, youth development, families and communities.
University of Florida/IFAS Extension seeks to fill a 12-month, permanent status-accruing Regional Specialized Agent (RSA) position in Sustainable Land Development in alignment with the goals of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping (FFL) program. As the RSA, you will work with a variety of Extension faculty including those within the Center for Land Use Efficiency (CLUE) and external stakeholders to work with large land development projects and other communities to implement practices that are less resource intensive, follow the FFL principles and result in quantifiable impacts. This position will cover the Central Extension District, based at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, FL. The regional focus of the position will encompass central Florida.
General programmatic areas
This position will lead an extension program focused on addressing regional land development issues, emphasizing responsible resource use as it relates to economic advancement and environmental protection. Core areas include promotion of sustainable low impact development strategies, and the use of nature-based solutions that enhance the ecological value of urban landscapes, water conservation, implementation of green stormwater infrastructure. The agent will work across sectors to deliver science-based education and outreach, guiding communities toward practices that support resilient ecosystems and responsible growth.
Your extension program will cover regional issues associated with land development, specifically related to resource use within large scale master planned developments that are critical to economic development and environmental protection. Potential areas you can build an extension program on include:
- Promotion of Low Impact Development Strategies: Partner with local governments and developers to create and implement conservation programs or similar that demonstrate measurable impacts. Collaborate with UF/IFAS faculty and programs such as the Sustainable Human Ecological Development (SHED) cohort and FFL within CLUE to create science-based educational materials. Focus on sustainable land use practices that balance growth with resource conservation, reduce reliance on irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides, and enhance and protect wildlife habitat in urban areas. Provide education on emerging trends and collaborate with community partners to support long-term ecological health and responsible development.
- Local government programs: Often local government staff lack training or resources to deliver effective education programs. Examples include utilities and planning departments. Building relationships with these entities is important to helping them develop programs such as successful conservation programs that have measurable positive impacts.
- Protecting and enhancing water quality as related to urban development: For example, working with stormwater systems design and management; pond management; urban land management; with the goal of improving water resources within urban landscapes and mitigating the impacts of urban stormwater runoff. Work closely with other faculty such as the Central District Water RSA to enhance programs and prevent programmatic duplication.
- Implementation of Green Stormwater Infrastructure:_ Urban landscapes need to provide services such as aesthetics and recreation that are critical to human well-being. But current trends do not emphasize nature-based solutions aimed at enhancing the ecological services that urban landscapes can provide, including decreasing the need for resources (e.g., irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides) and improving wildlife habitat within urban areas. Promote the use of nature-based solutions in urban landscapes to enhance ecological services while supporting aesthetics and recreational needs. Facilitate the adoption of green stormwater infrastructure to improve stormwater management and safeguard water quality. Deliver practical education to stakeholders, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed for successful implementation of these sustainable strategies in urban environments.
Specific programmatic areas
Your extension program should target large scale land development and encourage adoption of sustainable practices such as the nine FFL principles that mitigate these impacts both in the urban landscape and on nearby natural areas. In addition, educating and promoting the adoption of better development and landscaping practices by key stakeholders and decision makers such as utility staff, planners, local government staff, and those involved in the enterprise of land development will be essential to this position to affect change.
Duties and responsibilities
- General expectations
- Develop, implement, evaluate, and report on a comprehensive built environment extension program in cooperation with government, industry, water agencies, and extension colleagues.
- Address current and emerging issues pertaining to urban growth in central Florida.
- Contribute to the strengthening of the central Florida economy by providing educational support for long-term sustainable land development practices.
- Focus educational programs to target audiences to address issues, facilitate solutions, and promote positive behavior change associated with reducing the impacts of new land development projects on natural resources and natural areas.
- Tasks may include webinars and presentations, content development to be used by county agents, attending professional conferences, and working with state extension specialists to quantify and confirm the impacts of more sustainable land development and landscaping practices.
- Collaborations with industry, government, and public stakeholders
- Develop programs for large scale development that encourages use of new technologies and the proper long-term management of these technologies.
- Work with St. Johns River Water Management District, the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection and local governments to provide education on relevant land development and built environment topics.
- Work with the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI), representing UF/IFAS in collaboration with the Central District Water RSA.
- Deliver regional education that balances and reflects central Florida's population and to address the unique educational needs of regional stakeholders (like CFWI).
- UF/IFAS expectations
- Work closely with CLUE faculty, programs such as FFL, H2OSAV, SHED and Flood Resilient Communities, and faculty across campus engaged in work focused on the design, construction, and management of land development. In particular work with the FFL program should capture new efforts such as training agents to help implement education for local governments to maintain compliance with state water quality standards.
- Support, train, and mentor Central District county faculty in land development education programs, aligning with the UF/IFAS Extension Pathway.
- Seek funding for your extension program and for applied research projects in collaboration with state extension specialists, including social scientists interested in understanding and overcoming barriers to adopting better land development.
- Meet regularly with Extension faculty and Program leaders, in the built environment such as Extension Initiatives 2 and 4 in the Extension Pathway to plan effective and collaborative statewide education programs and efforts.
- Extension expectations
- Establish and maintain a system to measure program accountability and effectiveness.
- Develop metrics that can be used by other faculty and stakeholders to effectively quantify the impacts of sustainable development efforts.
- Lead in managing all program components including program policies, record keeping, risk management, communications, and educational materials.
- Seek programmatic guidance from the State Specialized Agent coordinating the statewide FFL program to align with programmatic direction, support FFL Community Landscape audiences and develop material suitable for agents to implement statewide.
- Assume other assignments and responsibilities in support of the total extension program as assigned by the Central District Extension Director and the Mid- Florida Research and Education Center Director.
- Follow all university policies and procedures.
Minimum requirements:
The successful candidate will have an earned bachelor’s degree and at least half of the credits toward a master’s degree from an accredited college or university focused on sustainable development or related field. (For example, urban ecology/forestry, urban/environmental planning, soil and water science, agroecology, landscape design/management, or a similar area.) To be hired as an Extension Agent III or IV, you must have a master’s degree. A flexible schedule that allows for irregular hours is necessary. The candidate must be able to obtain a Florida driver’s license. Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values.
Southwest District
Manatee County - Palmetto, FL - (Manatee) County Extension Director and Extension Agent II-IV OR Program Extension Agent II-IV (538368)
Closing date: February 20, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern Time
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Details
Location
Palmetto, FLOpen Date
January 23, 2026
Deadline
February 20, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern TimeYou Belong at a University that’s Leading the Way
The University of Florida (UF), the state's flagship institution, is a land-grant university comprised of teaching, research, and Extension. The UF/IFAS Florida Cooperative Extension Service is committed to the core values of integrity, excellence, responsiveness, lifelong learning, and accessibility.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. 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 .
We are looking for candidates with both academic and people skills who work well in teams, honor their commitments, and innovate in a rapidly changing world. As a County Extension Director (CED) and Extension Agent, you will work jointly for UF/IFAS Extension and Manatee County. As the CED, (about 75% of your time), you will provide leadership and support for the total Manatee County Extension program, with an emphasis on integrating emerging technologies to enhance program delivery, data management, and the decision-making process. The preferred academic program focus of this Extension Agent position is Natural Resources. Other program area specialties may be considered if they represent an identified gap in current Manatee County Extension education outreach efforts. This role provides the opportunity to make a positive impact on the Manatee County community as you work with Extension faculty, staff, Manatee County government, and stakeholders.
Please note The Extension Agent track is a permanent status accruing position within the Florida Cooperative Extension Service (FCES), while the Program Extension Agent track does not confer permanent status. The track followed by a successful candidate who does not currently hold permanent status in the FCES will be agreed upon by UF and the candidate and will depend on their current position and experience. A successful candidate who currently holds permanent status in the Florida Cooperative Extension Service will follow the Extension Agent track. The programmatic focus of this position is Natural Resources and Conservation.
What you will do as County Extension Director:
- Recruit, hire, lead, supervise, mentor, and evaluate county faculty and staff.
- Foster positive staff relationships and morale.
- Analyze fiscal needs and prepare and present annual, budgets for the county department and University funds appropriated to Manatee County Extension.
- Ensure implementation of annual professional development plans for each county Extension personnel.
- Conduct performance evaluations as required by County and UF
- Build effective relationships with stakeholders, county government, community leaders, private sector clientele, media, government agencies, county residents, and UF/IFAS faculty, staff, and Extension administration.
- Leverage data to identify opportunities for Extension program expansion and improvement.
- Promote the use of relevant data collection software and tools, enhancing the impact and efficiency of programs.
- Foster a culture of data-driven decision-making across Extension initiatives.
- Establish and maintain an advisory committee representative of the county's demographics and stakeholders to ensure Extension programs meet community needs and remain relevant.
- Provide support to each county faculty member maintaining an Extension program advisory committee.
- Lead faculty in developing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs using Extension-based logic models and measurable objectives.
- Oversee efforts to ensure residents have equitable access to programs and services provided by Extension, including required annual documentation.
- Manage the Manatee County Extension office facilities in accordance with county management guidance and expectations.
Minimum requirements:
- A master’s degree in an academic field, including Natural or Water Resources; Public Policy; Agricultural or Extension Education; Community Resource Development; Wildlife Conservation; or a related field.
- At least three years of administrative, managerial, or supervisory experience.
- Professional written and verbal interpersonal and communication skills (as indicated by submitted materials and interview).
- Technological literacy and proficiency with cloud-based applications, including Microsoft 365 and artificial intelligence-powered tools
- Ability to establish solid partnerships and to find innovative ways to attract new audiences and volunteers, as indicated by previous experience.
- Ability to possess (or be able to obtain) a valid Florida driver’s license.
- Flexibility with working hours; willingness to work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and overnight travel.
- Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values.
Sarasota County - Sarasota, FL - Extension Agent I - IV – Sustainable Agriculture (538492)
Closing date: February 13, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern Time
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Details
Location
Sarasota, FLOpen Date
January 23, 2026
Deadline
February 13, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern TimeThe Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. 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 Florida Cooperative Extension Service is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public. The University of Florida (UF), together with Florida A&M University (FAMU), administers the Florida Cooperative Extension Service.
At UF, Extension is located in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and UF/IFAS Extension.
UF/IFAS Extension is a federal, state, and county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences and to making that knowledge accessible to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. Our mission of engaging individuals, families and partnering with communities to provide quality relevant education and research-based expertise to foster healthy people, a resilient environment, and a strong economy is accomplished through extension faculty members, scientists, educators, administrative staff, and volunteers working cohesively throughout Florida’s 67 counties.
University of Florida/IFAS Extension and Sarasota County seek to fill a Sustainable Agriculture Extension Agent position with an individual possessing both academic and people skills who works well in teams, honors commitments, and innovates in a rapidly changing world. Your educational responsibilities will emphasize strong leadership in both small and large-scale agricultural production with a focus on sustainable food systems and agricultural practices, best management practices (irrigation/fertilization/integrated pest management/water quality, pasture management), labor (laws/relations/shortage/productivity), basic agricultural economics/farm management, and other related topics. You will also contribute 5% of your time to our 4-H Youth Development program in your area of expertise. Your office will be located at the Sarasota County Extension Office in Sarasota.
What you will do:
- Plan, develop, teach, evaluate, and report on sustainable agriculture educational programs.
- Coordinate and establish appropriate partnerships, perform site visits, and teach clientele (e.g., landowners, farmers and ranchers, schools, agricultural entrepreneurs, community organizations, citizens, industry groups and local and state government agencies) how to create urban-rural community economic opportunities that support and strengthen Sarasota County’s agricultural industries and local food systems.
- Create educational materials and opportunities for Sarasota County.
- Collaborate with other Extension Agents in Sarasota County to develop and deliver innovative programming across fields to meet cross-disciplinary needs.
- Collaborate with other local and regional organizations to access and utilize funds to accomplish multi-year strategic projects.
- Collaborate with other Extension Agents in the Southwest Extension District on multi-county projects.
- Be familiar with county, state, and federal regulations and statutes governing agriculture and food systems including, but not limited to, food safety, food processing, food storage, and product development.
- Develop and maintain an effective program advisory committee with appropriate community representation.
- Use resourcefulness, creativity, enthusiasm, and innovation to strengthen current educational programs.
- Review and implement new policies, maintain records, assess risks, communicate, and market effectively across social media platforms.
- Manage financial resources.
- Participate in appropriate professional development activities to stay abreast of industry and community needs.
- Assume other responsibilities that benefit the total county extension program as assigned by the District Extension Director and County Extension Director.
Minimum requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in agriculture, sustainable food systems, horticulture, agronomy, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. If hired solely with a bachelor’s degree, you will be expected to advance your degree by making 50% progress towards obtaining your master’s degree within the first 6 years of employment.
- If hired as Extension Agent II, a master’s degree or at least 50% of the course work for a master’s degree is required. A master’s degree is required if hired as Extension Agent III or IV.
- Demonstrated organizational skills.
- Strong written and verbal interpersonal and communication skills.
- Experience with digital communication.
- A commitment to customer service.
- Possess (or be able to obtain) a Florida driver’s license.
- Flexibility with working hours; willingness to work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends and overnight travel.
- Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values.
Multi-County (Polk-Hillsborough) - Bartow, FL - Extension Agent I - IV – Commercial Citrus, Multi-County (538521)
Closing date: February 24, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern Time
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Details
Location
Bartow, FLOpen Date
January 27, 2026
Deadline
February 24, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern TimeYou Belong at a University that’s Leading the Way
The University of Florida (UF), the state's flagship institution, is a land-grant university comprised of teaching, research, and extension. The UF/IFAS Florida Cooperative Extension Service is committed to the core values of integrity, excellence, responsiveness, lifelong learning, and access. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. 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 .
University of Florida IFAS Extension and Polk County seek to fill a 12-month, permanent status-accruing Commercial Citrus Extension Agent position serving Polk and Hillsborough counties. As the agent you will develop, implement, evaluate, and report on a comprehensive Citrus Extension program. The focus areas include teaching the most effective strategies of citrus production by interpreting and applying current science and technology in the field. Areas of expertise include the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies; Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water quality and conservation; environmental stewardship in agricultural production; supporting sustainability of economic viability of citrus production; and other related topics.
There are more than 3.8 million boxes of citrus in production in Polk County, with a total of approximately 59,229 acres of citrus in Polk and Hillsborough counties—98% of which is in Polk County. As the citrus Extension agent, you will cultivate effective working relationships with citrus growers, citrus industry organizations, related state and local agencies, local and regional media, and regulatory agencies. The successful candidate will collaborate with state and county Extension faculty throughout the Southwest District and statewide, including Extension specialists, researchers, and other county Extension agents focused on citrus and other fruit crops. This includes faculty located at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, FL, and other research and education centers involved in citrus-related research, and associated department faculty at the main University of Florida campus in Gainesville.
Your office will be located at the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Office in Bartow, FL.
As the Commercial Citrus Agent, you will:
- Develop, conduct, coordinate and evaluate educational programs for citrus.
- Provide training in agricultural and horticultural best management practices for water resources protection.
- Provide guidance and educational programming on citrus pest management, including insect, mite, disease, and weed management.
- Deliver educational programs using a variety of approaches based on stakeholder needs, including but not limited to in-person consultations, workshops, seminars, field clinics, live-stream media, and virtual platforms.
- Develop creative and scholarly materials in support of programming, including multi-media presentations, fact sheets, blog posts, webpages, videos, abstracts, trade journal articles, and other categories of professional writing and production.
- Pursue extramural funding and in-kind program support in the form of grants, monetary awards, sponsorships, and revenue enhancement through program fees.
- Provide agriculture worker safety training for citrus growers and their employees.
- Provide continuing education units (CEUs) for certified crop advisors and other clientele.
- Utilize up-to-date technology in everyday work and in support of stakeholder needs in the field.
- Maintain an effective stakeholder advisory committee to assist with program development and implementation, including identification of priority issues.
- Provide support for citrus growers on other fruit and alternative crops grown in the area.
- Provide leadership for and assist with 4-H youth development citrus and fruit crop educational programs (5% assignment).
- Provide technical citrus support for Master Gardener Volunteer training.
- Actively collaborate with other Polk and Hillsborough Extension agents to implement interdisciplinary programs for agricultural awareness and local Extension program marketing and awareness.
Minimum requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in citriculture, horticultural science, plant science, perennial crop science, or a closely related field. A master’s degree is desired but not required if hired at Extension Agent I level. To be hired as an Extension Agent II, at least 50% of a master’s degree is required. Extension Agent III or IV must have an earned master’s degree.
- Minimum of five years of field experience in citrus, horticulture, or other fruit crops production, Extension, research, or teaching, including experience working with HLB-endemic citrus crops.
- Ability to acquire a restricted-use pesticide license for agricultural tree crops.
Demonstrated skills and abilities in the following:- Excellent command of English grammar and vocabulary as evidenced in writing and oral communication skills
- Responsiveness in a timely and professional manner
- Being self-directed with minimal daily supervision, setting own calendar and prioritizing projects and tasks
- Flexibility with work hours, with expectation of working evenings, occasional weekends, and overnight travel for professional development and industry events
- Possess a valid and active State of Florida driver's license by the time of hire
- Be willing to commit to the UF core values.
Southeast District
Brevard County - Cocoa, FL - Extension Agent I - III - Commercial Horticulture (538513)
Closing date: February 24, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern Time
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Details
Location
Cocoa, FLOpen Date
January 27, 2026
Deadline
February 24, 2026 at 11:55 PM Eastern TimeYou Belong at a University that’s Leading the Way
The University of Florida (UF), the state's flagship institution, is a land-grant university comprised of teaching, research, and extension. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. 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 Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent will work jointly for UF/IFAS Extension and Brevard County. The successful candidate will lead in designing, implementing, and evaluating horticulture education programs to assist green industry professionals more effectively in interpreting and using current science and technology. Brevard County is facing continuing challenges associated with a highly urbanized environment adjacent to economically and environmentally important coastal ecosystems. Brevard County is also facing growing challenges associated with stormwater runoff. The programmatic vision for the agent in this position is to work cooperatively with researchers and community stakeholders in Brevard County to promote responsible horticultural practices, while also addressing community resiliency (about 95% of the agent’s time). At least 5% of the candidate's time will be devoted to 4-H Youth Development. Your extension education program will be guided by an advisory committee that incorporates the various needs of the county’s population. We are looking for candidates with academic and people skills who work well in teams, honor their commitments, and innovate in a rapidly changing world.
The candidate will be able to:
- Provide training for green industry professionals to include professional landscapers, lawn care operators, and retail/wholesale horticulture professionals.
- Teach water conservation and efficient irrigation practices.
- Teach horticultural Best Management Practices for water resource protection.
- Teach pest management, including insect, mite, disease, and weed management.
- Target programs to reflect the area’s population and unique educational needs using a variety of program marketing and delivery methods, including in-person, site visit consultations, and deliberately focused virtual platforms such as webinars, videos, and social media.
- Develop, conduct, coordinate, evaluate, and report on educational programs for commercial horticulture audiences.
- Build an effective and varied advisory committee to assist with the design, direction, and operation of the extension program.
- Obtain financial resources to support programs and manage all components (e.g., policies, records, risk, communication, and accountability).
- Develop community partnerships to include local municipalities and producer groups.
- Produce creative, scholarly works and audience-friendly publications.
Minimum requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in plant science, horticultural science, or a closely related field with an emphasis on turfgrass and/or ornamentals from an accredited college or university.
- Technical expertise in horticultural science.
- Self-starting, energetic, and team-oriented.
- Strong written and verbal interpersonal and communication skills.
- Resourcefulness, creativity, enthusiasm, and innovativeness.
- Ability to establish solid partnerships and work in teams.
- A commitment to positive and proactive customer service.
- Expertise in managing competing priorities and adaptability to handle unexpected situations.
- Candidates must also have a commitment to UF's core values.