Hundley Whaley Director and Field Specialist in Agronomy

About the role

MU TITLE: Assistant/Associate/Full Extension Professional
LOCATION: Albany, Missouri and primarily serves DeKalb, Gentry, Harrison and Worth Counties in the Northwest Region with additional service across the state as needed.

Responsibilities

• Serves as Director of the Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center and is responsible for the daily operation, management, visibility, and long-term success of the Center.

• Serves as a Field Specialist in Agronomy for an assigned four-county region in northwest Missouri.

• Plans, delivers, and evaluates educational programs that help farmers, landowners, agricultural businesses, and community partners make sound crop and forage management decisions.

• Works closely with the farming community, including producers, farm families, agronomic commodity groups, agricultural businesses, industry representatives, university colleagues, Extension specialists, local partners, and local and statewide elected officials.

• Helps MU faculty, Extension specialists, field specialists, industry partners, and producers use Hundley-Whaley as a place to conduct applied work, host field days, demonstrate new practices, and connect research-based information with farm-level decisions.

• Hires or recommends staff for hire, trains employees, assigns work, evaluates performance, addresses personnel issues, sets work schedules, ensures safety equipment and procedures are used properly.

• Oversees equipment maintenance, recommends equipment replacement when needed, coordinates research projects and plot locations, supports tours and educational events, manages farm and Center data needs, and works with researchers, clientele, administrators, and partners.

• Secures external resources to support Center operations, research, demonstrations, technology needs, and facility improvements, and prepares the Hundley-Whaley operations budget for approval.

Qualifications

• An earned master’s or Ph.D. with appropriate coursework demonstrating knowledge of Agronomy, Plant Sciences, Crop Sciences, Soil Sciences at the time of appointment.

• Candidates will be evaluated on oral and written communication skills.

Skills

• Excellent communication skills.

• Ability to manage and supervise staff.

• Experience in agronomy and crop management.

• Strong organizational and project management skills.

• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Benefits

As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses.

Pay

Minimum starting salary: $70,000, with the final salary determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Schedule

The position is a 12-month, ranked, non-tenure track appointment at the rank of assistant, associate, or full Extension Professional. Rank will be determined at the time of appointment based on qualifications and experience in accordance with MU Extension faculty standards.