Field Specialist in Agricultural Business and Urban Agriculture – Jefferson County, MO

Location: Hillsboro, Missouri, primarily serving Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Louis Counties, and the City of St. Louis in the Urban East Region, with additional service across the state as needed.

About the Role

This position focuses on Agricultural Business and Urban Agriculture, planning, teaching, and evaluating educational programs to help farm and food businesses start, grow, and succeed in the St. Louis area. The specialist will work with urban farms, small farms, market gardeners, beginning farmers, nonprofit agriculture groups, community farms, food entrepreneurs, local food businesses, value-added food producers, and other agricultural businesses serving city and metro-area markets.

MU Extension Agricultural Business programs help people make better business decisions, covering topics such as farm and business financial management, business plans, budgets, marketing plans, feasibility studies, pricing, recordkeeping, taxes, regulations, risk management, access to loans or grants, land access, leases, farm transition, value-added agriculture, and tools for business growth and profitability.

The specialist will also assist clients in adopting new technologies relevant to urban agriculture, including controlled-environment agriculture, high tunnels, small-scale irrigation systems, hydroponics, aquaponics, sensors, farm management software, online marketing tools, digital recordkeeping, and food safety technology.

This is a 12-month, ranked, non-tenure track appointment at the rank of assistant, associate, or full Extension Professional, with a workload distribution of 90% Extension Teaching and 10% Traditional Service. The position is renewable annually at the discretion of the University.

Responsibilities

• Plan, teach, and evaluate educational programs supporting farm and food businesses in urban and nearby agricultural settings.
• Provide technical assistance in business planning, marketing, risk management, feasibility studies, enterprise analysis, grant or loan readiness, and related tools for producers and entrepreneurs.
• Connect clients with regional and statewide partners for new business or economic development opportunities.
• Develop and deliver educational programs, including in-person workshops, urban farm tours, field demonstrations, one-on-one visits, short courses, online programs, publications, decision tools, and media.
• Engage with the agricultural and food systems community, including producers, farm families, urban growers, entrepreneurs, community organizations, industry representatives, local food system partners, municipalities, economic development organizations, and elected officials.
• Collaborate with campus-based specialists on research projects and deliver findings through demonstrations, field days, courses, workshops, consultations, publications, and media.
• Create an annual plan-of-work reflecting local needs and align with statewide program efforts.
• Provide monthly reports to county extension councils, supervisors, and other stakeholders.
• Attend at least one county extension council meeting per month and provide program reviews with feedback.
• Demonstrate competency in communication, educational programming, subject matter knowledge, volunteer management, grant acquisition, teamwork, and leadership.
• Offer timely, research-based information during natural disasters or catastrophic events.
• Represent the University on boards and committees related to the program area.
• Participate in professional development to improve technical and leadership skills.
• Travel regularly throughout Missouri and occasionally out-of-state for program-related activities.

Qualifications

• Earned master’s degree, MBA, Ph.D., or other applicable terminal degree in agricultural economics, agricultural business, agricultural marketing, business administration, business management, finance, urban agriculture, food systems, community development, or a closely related field at the time of appointment.
• Knowledge of agricultural business, farm financial management, enterprise development, marketing, risk management, and/or local food systems.
• Experience working with diverse audiences, including producers, entrepreneurs, community organizations, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and agricultural or food-based businesses.
• Understanding of urban agriculture, small-scale farming, local food systems, direct marketing, and the opportunities and constraints facing agricultural enterprises in metropolitan areas.
• Ability to provide practical technical assistance in business plans, marketing plans, feasibility studies, enterprise budgets, pricing strategies, recordkeeping, grant or financing readiness, and related decision-making tools.
• Effective and innovative teaching strategies, including strong listening, written, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with Extension colleagues, community partners, local governments, economic development organizations, and agricultural support entities.

Benefits

• Reimbursement for approved travel expenses per University of Missouri policy.

Pay

Minimum starting salary of $58,000, with the final salary determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.