County Extension Faculty Positions
For information on how to apply to a County Extension Faculty position, please visit this page.
Northwest District
Northeast District
Central District
Southwest District
Sarasota County - Sarasota, FL - Extension Agent I - IV - Sustainable Agriculture (534585)
Closing date: February 13, 2025 at 11:55 PM Eastern Time
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Details
Location
Sarasota, FLOpen Date
January 23, 2024
Deadline
February 13, 2025 at 11:55 PM Eastern TimeThe Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. 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.
What you will bring (required)
- 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 or above, a master’s degree is required
- 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.
Southeast District
Miami-Dade County - Homestead, FL - Extension Agent I or II - 4-H Youth Development (533805)
Closing date: March 11, 2025 at 11:55 PM Eastern Time
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Details
Location
Homestead, FLOpen Date
November 18, 2024
Deadline
March 11, 2025 at 11:55 PM Eastern TimeYou 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, responsiveness, innovation, communication, and global reach.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. 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 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent will work jointly for UF/IFAS Extension and Miami-Dade County. The successful candidate will lead through designing, implementing, evaluating, promoting, and reporting on positive youth development programs for youth and adult volunteers. The 4-H agent’s 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.
Duties and Responsibilities
This position will oversee all aspects of the Miami-Dade County 4-H Youth Development program with the other 4-H Youth Development Agent. The agent must develop effective working relationships with adult volunteers, youth, families, and other community partners. Along with developing these working relationships, the extension agent will form and work closely with an advisory committee. The successful candidate will be innovative, creative, and adaptable to a dynamic work environment. The agent will be expected to work with other county extension faculty in the Southeast District, other 4-H agents, extension specialists, and University of Florida faculty across the state.
What you will do:
- Develop, conduct, coordinate, evaluate, and report on educational programs for youth ages 5-18 and volunteers.
- Develop, train, sustain, and recognize and effective volunteers base.
- Develop a comprehensive volunteer management strategy to ensure program polices, enrollment, record keeping, risk management, and experiential learning procedures are updated and effective.
- Establish and maintain an effective and varied advisory committee to assist with extension program design, direction, and operation.
- Develop community partnerships and work as a team with local volunteers, organizations, agencies, and UF/IFAS colleagues to promote positive youth development.
- Obtain financial resources to support programs and manage all fiscal components of the 4-H program (e.g., policies, accounting records, risk, communication, and accountability).
- 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 visits, consultations, and deliberately focused virtual platforms such as webinars, videos, and social media.
- Produce creative, scholarly works, and audience-friendly publications.
- Actively participate in professional associations.
- Write an annual plan of work and report of accomplishment.
- Assume other responsibilities that benefit the total county extension program as assigned by the County Extension Director and District Extension Director.
What you will bring (required)
- A bachelor’s degree and a strong academic background in youth development, education, community development, sociology, agriculture education or a related field from an accredited college or university.
- Self-starting, proactive, and team-oriented with strong interpersonal, communication, organization, customer service, and leadership skills.
- Adaptability and managing competing priorities are essential to success in this position.
- Resourcefulness, creativity, enthusiasm, and innovativeness.
- Ability to use information technology and apply social media to extension work.
- 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 core values.
This position requires regular evening and weekend work and occasional overnight travel. Applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License.