State home and community food gardening expert. Develop and teach new research-based food gardening and IPM knowledge and practices. Create and communicate content on web pages and social media.
Conduct surveys to assess the training and information needs of internal and external clientele in the area of urban/community food production.
Lead for two statewide Master Gardener food gardening programs: Grow It Eat It and Seed to Supper. Support UME's Ask Extension team.
Provide leadership for the HGIC program including program coordination and fiscal and
operations oversight.
Train and support field faculty, Master Gardeners, non-profits, and other partners on community and school/youth gardening and teach topics such as climate change adaptation, soil health, IPM, seed saving, and growing climate-adapted food plants popular in immigrant communities.
Educate using web pages, webinars, online modules, videos, applied research, demonstrations, social media, and classes, with an emphasis on experiential learning.
Discover and share new knowledge. Work with partners to identify and address emerging issues and challenges.
Develop creative and scholarly activities that are validated by peers and communicated, such as educational materials published and adopted by others, Extension publications, applied research results, conference posters, and professional presentations.
Secure extra-mural funding to develop an applied research program. Develop grant-funded projects to enhance and expand educational programs.
Develop internal and external partnerships and collaborations with campus and field faculty, non-profits, businesses, state and local government, and commu
Benefits
Health insurance
Additional Information
Job Description Summary
Organization's Summary Statement:
University of Maryland Extension (UME) invites applications for a 12-month tenure-track
position at the Agent or Senior Agent level to conduct applied research, provide educational
programming, and offer home and community food production and integrated pest management
(IPM) expertise throughout Maryland. Specifically, the Extension Specialist will provide
leadership in delivering educational programming to UME field faculty, Master Gardeners,
community and school gardens, public agencies, nonprofits, and businesses. The Extension
Specialist will be expected to respond to a broad set of needs and issues, such as soil health and
fertility, plant and pest diagnostics and organic pest management, water quality and
conservation, intensive production techniques, climate resilient crops and practices, and
increasing food gardening access and production. The incumbent will also serve as Director of
the Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC), a statewide unit that delivers digital
horticulture and IPM resources and services. The HGIC Director role will involve approximately
25% of the Specialist's time commitment and oversee the support staff of the Center.
The Extension Specialist will facilitate partnerships with campus and field faculty, local and state
agencies, non-profits, elected officials, communities, and residents to implement best practices
related to home and community food production and IPM. The incumbent will serve as the UME
leader for home and community food gardening programming and training efforts, leader of
HGIC program, and will be involved in planning and conducting educational events for the
public, UME faculty, Master Gardeners, and partners. The position will be based at the Central
Maryland Research and Education Center in Clarksville, MD, and the applicant will have access
to the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station's research and education facilities throughout
the state.
The Extension Specialist will provide leadership for relevant horticulture and IPM programming
within the Environment & Natural Resources Program (ENR), one of four UME programs. In carrying out their duties, the individual reports to the Assistant Director and Program Leader,
Environment & Natural Resources Program.
The Extension Specialist will also be responsible for working collaboratively to increase the
visibility and reach of UME programs through educational programming designed to meet the
needs of diverse audiences. Innovative strategies and cutting-edge teaching and research methods
will be used to design, develop, deliver, and evaluate programs for a robust Extension education
program that engages participants in a collaborative learning environment and encourages
adoption of research-based information in decision-making.
The Extension Specialist represents UME and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD).
The position ensures that educational programming aligns with UME's current strategic plan and
plan of work, particularly as it relates to the United States Department of Agriculture. The
faculty member will be on track for tenure and promotion to a higher rank in accordance with
UMD policy and UME tenure guidelines within the timeframe defined.
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