Statewide Fruit Outreach Specialist

Job Summary: About Extension: UW-Madison's Division of Extension serves the people and communities of Wisconsin by addressing local, statewide, and national issues, improving lives through research-based education, fostering partnerships and action, and facilitating positive impacts. About the Horticulture Program: The Horticulture Program, a part of the Division of Extension's Agriculture Institute, provides evidence-based education, information and resources to consumer horticulture audiences for more positive outcomes and environmental protection while growing plants in and around their homes. This position will also work with the Agriculture Institute's Crops and Soils Program, which predominantly serves commercial crop producers. About this Position: The Fruit Outreach Specialist is a new and exciting position designed to serve the needs of both consumer and commercial fruit producers. This dynamic position will incorporate new research findings into outreach and educational materials. While the Fruit Outreach Specialist position is based in the Horticulture Program, which predominantly serves consumer audiences, this position will also work with faculty and staff in the Crops and Soils program to meet the needs of commercial fruit producers. The Fruit Outreach Specialist will: * Collaborate with Extension colleagues to identify needs and develop, deliver and maintain robust, high-quality outreach education programs to consumer and commercial horticulture audiences growing fruit crops; * Develop and maintain expertise related to growing fruit crops in Wisconsin; * Build trust-based relationships with stakeholders; * Work with the Program Manager to facilitate programmatic efforts, maintain strategic direction, build partnerships, and seek a diverse funding portfolio to support the work. The ideal candidate will have experience with developing and evaluating educational programming and a track record of building positive relationships. The Division of Extension has a deep and profound commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity, believing that these values are foundational elements to eliminating disparities and expanding access for all. Extension acknowledges the need for strategic and coordinated actions that help us form a more equitable, anti-racist, unbiased, and inclusive organization. (As such, all Extension employees are expected to foster and promote the values of diversity and inclusion. Responsibilities: Delivers and assists with planning outreach program activities, strengthens partnerships, ensures adherence to policy, and assists with program administration to promote stable and productive relationships between the university and local community. Strives to expand and ensure access to programs, facilities, and educational services to diverse audiences. May assist with tracking and managing the outreach program budget. * 15% Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program * 5% Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program * 25% Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members * 20% Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials * 20% Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement * 5% May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending * 10% Communicate plans, activities, and achievements to Program Managers, partners, and relevant stakeholders Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion Education: Required Bachelor's Degree In a field related to this position's focus Preferred Master's Degree In a field related to this position's focus Qualifications: Required: * Three or more years of relevant professional experience * Strong interpersonal relationship and problem-solving skills in a team setting; * Demonstrated ability to communicate scientific materials in written and verbal forms for a variety of lay and other audiences * Demonstrated ability to effectively work with people from different cultural backgrounds, including those associated with race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity Preferred: * Demonstrated skills in interpreting, utilizing, and applying evidence-based information and research findings * Demonstrated experience building diverse, collaborative partnerships * Demonstrated ability to write grants and establish partnerships that pool or leverage public and private funds in support of the Institutional mission Work Type: Full Time: 100% 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. Appointment Type, Duration: Ongoing/Renewable Salary: Minimum $60,000 ANNUAL (12 months) Depending on Qualifications Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (Additional Information: Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. Division of Extension headquarters are located within Madison, WI but the position location is flexible and will be determined based on programmatic needs and successful candidate's preferences and availability of suitable space. How to Apply: We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. Please submit a cover letter referring to your related work experience; a resume detailing your educational and professional background; and a writing sample. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. Your writing sample (approximately 500 - 1,200 words) should utilize research-based information to practically address a fruit-related issue that is affecting consumer or commercial fruit growers. While the sample should utilize research-based information, it should be written for the general public lay audience. The application reviewers will rely on written application materials to determine who advances to preliminary interviews. Contact: Peggy Damann 608-286-8208 Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. Official Title: Outreach Specialist(OE009) Department(s): A47-EXTENSION/ANRCD/AGR/HORT/HORTICLTURE Employment Class: Academic Staff-Renewable Job Number: 307018-AS The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.

Created: 2024-10-22