Conservation Cropping Outreach Specialist

About the role

Are you passionate about bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world farming? As the Conservation Cropping Outreach Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the sustainability and profitability of Wisconsin's diverse agricultural landscape. The Conservation Cropping Outreach Specialist will address high priority issues related to implementation and adoption of conservation cropping systems through collaborative, on-farm research and outreach programming. The position is intended to extend research findings related to practices that improve the sustainability of Wisconsin cropping systems via outreach and educational programming to producers and agribusiness professionals across Wisconsin. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to develop a focus area based on individual expertise and needs of the target audience. Desired areas of expertise include: conservation agronomy, cover cropping, reduced tillage, soil health, manure management, or other related disciplines. The Outreach Specialist is expected to utilize excellent collaboration, problem solving, prioritization, and communication skills to work closely with farmers, technical advisors, and colleagues to develop and implement collaborative on-farm research and other outreach activities to increase adoption and implementation of conservation practices on Wisconsin farms. Extension Outreach Specialists collaborate with a team that includes UW-Madison Extension and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) colleagues, industry partners, farmers, and other collaborators to develop robust, high-quality educational programs that deliver research-based solutions towards more efficient and sustainable cropping systems.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with farmers and colleagues to develop and implement on-farm research, demonstrations, and outreach activities that engage the community in exploring innovative practices.
• Design and maintain high-quality outreach programs that translate research findings into actionable solutions for the field.
• Develop and maintain expertise related to conservation cropping.
• Build trust-based relationships with stakeholders, technical advisors, and Extension colleagues to inform priorities and increase program impact.
• Work with the Program Manager to facilitate programmatic efforts, maintain strategic direction, and build partnerships and seek a diverse funding portfolio to support the work.
• Develops and supports on-farm research including building collaboration with growers and industry partners, implementing on-farm trials, data collection and sharing results.
• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement.
• Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers.
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program.
• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program.
• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials.
• Communicates plans, activities, and achievements to Program Managers and relevant Stakeholders through the reporting portal and verbal updates.
• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members.
• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending.

Qualifications

Required:

• Three or more years relevant professional experience.
• Education or experience with conservation cropping systems.
• Strong interpersonal relationship and problem-solving skills in a team setting.
• Demonstrated skills in interpreting, utilizing, and applying evidence-based information and research findings.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, through a variety of technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.

Preferred:

• Demonstrated educational program development skills which include planning and implementing programs; evaluating learning experiences; and communicating program impact and value, in both written and verbal formats, for a variety of lay and other audiences as well as stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in understanding experimental design, statistical analysis and interpreting research data.
• Experience collaborating with growers in on-farm research.
• Demonstrated experience with building diverse, collaborative partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate scientific materials in written and verbal forms for a variety of lay and other audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to write and manage grants and establish partnerships that pool or leverage public and private funds in support of the Institutional mission.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

Education

Required: Master's degree in a field related to this position's focus.

Preferred: PhD in a field related to this position's focus.

Compensation & Benefits

The starting salary for the position is $70,000. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

Schedule & Location

Division of Extension headquarters are located within Madison, WI but the position location is flexible and will be determined based on programmatic needs, successful candidate's preferences, and availability of suitable space. This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement (RWA). A RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee. This position has the possibility of working up to 2 days remote per Extension's Remote Work Policy. This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served. It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Applicants are required to have a valid drivers license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in-state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk on uneven ground in the course of farm visits or field work.
• Ability to lift 25 pounds.
• Ability work outside in inclement weather.

About the Division, Institute & Program

Division of Extension: Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea by developing and connecting the research and educational resources of UW–Madison with residents and communities to address local, statewide, and national issues. We teach, learn, lead and serve, transforming lives and communities.

Agriculture Institute: The UW-Madison Division of Extension Agriculture Institute addresses emerging issues related to Wisconsin's agriculture and horticulture systems with research-based outreach to advance economically sustainable, socially responsible, and environmentally sound practices.

Crops and Soils Program: The Agriculture Institute's Crops and Soils Program works hand-in-hand with row crop, forage, fruit and vegetable producers to implement best practices for every aspect of the growing phase. The Crops and Soils program provides timely resources and information to help crop producers and their agricultural consultants manage crops efficiently and profitably.