Extension Agent I - IV – Commercial Citrus, Multi-County

About the role

The University of Florida (UF), the state's flagship institution, seeks to fill a 12-month, permanent status-accruing Commercial Citrus Extension Agent position serving Polk and Hillsborough counties. The successful candidate will develop, implement, evaluate, and report on a comprehensive Citrus Extension program focusing on citrus production, IPM strategies, BMPs for water quality and conservation, environmental stewardship, and other related topics.

Responsibilities

• 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 in-person consultations, workshops, seminars, field clinics, live-stream media, and virtual platforms.
• Create 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.
• Collaborate with other Polk and Hillsborough Extension agents to implement interdisciplinary programs for agricultural awareness and local Extension program marketing and awareness.

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.
• 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 excellent command of English grammar and vocabulary as evidenced in writing and oral communication skills, responsiveness in a timely and professional manner, self-direction with minimal daily supervision, flexibility with work hours, willingness to commit to the UF core values, and willingness to commit to overnight travel for professional development and industry events.

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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 excellent command of English grammar and vocabulary as evidenced in writing and oral communication skills, responsiveness in a timely and professional manner, self-direction with minimal daily supervision, flexibility with work hours, willingness to commit to the UF core values, and willingness to commit to overnight travel for professional development and industry events.

Skills

• Excellent command of English grammar and vocabulary as evidenced in writing and oral communication skills.
• Responsiveness in a timely and professional manner.
• 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.
• Willingness to commit to the UF core values.
• Willingness to commit to overnight travel for professional development and industry events.

Benefits

Not specified.

Pay

Commensurate with Education and Experience.

Schedule

Not specified.