Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

Oregon State University Extension Service, the Department of Crop and Soil Science and the Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University invite applications for a full-time, 12-month, fixed-term General Agriculture Assistant Professor of Practice position based in Condon, OR. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head. The academic home for this position will be in the Department of Crop and Soil Science or the Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences and must be designated within six months of the start date.

This faculty member will develop and conduct educational programs and contribute to applied field research activities in topics relevant to crops, livestock, and general agriculture as well as economic development and community development in Gilliam and Morrow Counties. This position will serve as an educational liaison to local agricultural organizations and state and federal agencies as well as work collaboratively with agricultural producers in the region, commodity organizations, and subject matter specialists to provide Extension programs in the assigned counties.

As a land grant institution committed to teaching, research, and outreach and engagement, OSU promotes economic, social, cultural and environmental progress for the people of Oregon, the nation and the world.

The faculty member contributes to the missions of Oregon State University Extension Service (OSUES) and the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS). CAS faculty are committed to enhancing learner success by engaging students in quality academic, research, internships, global studies, and other experiential learning opportunities. Positions with primary responsibility for Extension and Engagement are likewise committed to learner success through programming appropriate for diverse audiences.

Commitment to Inclusive Excellence:

Oregon State University is committed to creating and maintaining compassionate and inclusive learning and working environments for all learners, visitors and employees. We envision collaborative community environments that enhance civility and embrace diversity. All employees are responsible for achieving this commitment. This commitment includes, but is not limited to, complying with Civil Rights and Language Access regulations. In addition, faculty members will design, develop, maintain and/or carry out Extension programs to ensure that educational programs and outreach activities serve diverse populations, including those that have been historically marginalized/excluded from participation.

OSU Division of Extension and Engagement’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

https://extension.oregonstate.edu/about/diversity-equity-inclusion

OSU Moving Forward Together

https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/president/moving-forward-together

OSU Work Life, Diversity and Cultural Resources

https://hr.oregonstate.edu/work-life/diversity-and-cultural-resources

Summary of Benefits: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/prospective-employee

To calculate our Total Rewards Package use this link: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/new-employees/benefits-calculator

Position Duties

This faculty member embeds the commitment of the university to a collaborative and inclusive community in all interactions and duties performed and contributes to a welcoming and respectful workplace culture.

75% Extension Teaching and Related Assignments

(a)Extension Teaching

• Following a prioritized needs assessment, develop, design, and deliver Extension educational programming associated with crops, livestock and general agriculture as well as economic development and community development in Gilliam and Morrow Counties. May offer educational programming in Wheeler County upon request.
• Extension programing in this position could be for farmers, ranchers, elected officials, youth and community members.
• Utilize a variety of non-credit teaching and engagement opportunities (online and face-to-face) to convey useful information to Extension audiences.
• Create innovative educational materials and use effective Extension teaching methods that meet clientele needs, with materials, methods, and outcomes shared with peers in the state, region, and/or nation. Utilize Oregon State University’s six principles of teaching excellence that include audience consideration, planning, enhanced engagement, teaching, assessment, and reflection.
• Extension teaching methods may include but not be limited to: classroom teaching, workshops, seminars, field days, online teaching, hybrid teaching, and all Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) formats.
• Meet the information needs of local and regional audiences by accessing information from a variety of sources and disseminating it through appropriate mechanisms (internet, newsletter, newspaper, radio, television, presentations, etc.).
• Design or adapt a clear evaluation protocol to evaluate and to report applied research and Extension program impacts locally, regionally and/or internationally.
• Use technology as a tool to increase the impact of program delivery for constituents including participating with Ask-Extension.
• Extension teaching may also involve providing one-on-one consultation and educational programs to target audiences depending on their needs.
• Participate in presenting guest lectures for general agriculture classes as needed to stakeholders.
• This position is expected to solicit peer teaching evaluations and citizen evaluation of teaching.
• Conduct on-going needs-assessment activities to determine the educational needs specific to this position’s audiences.
• Engage and contribute to equity, inclusion, and diversity as part of teaching, educational delivery, advising, research, Extension, service, and/or scholarly outcomes. Outputs and impacts of efforts to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity should be included in promotion dossiers.
• Conduct and coordinate local pesticide recertification efforts for stakeholders as well as answer any pesticide related questions from the public.
• Maintain Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticide Consultant License throughout employment to stay up-to-date with the science of pesticides and answer pesticide related questions.

(b) Mormon Cricket Management Plan

• This position is responsible for coordinating the Mormon Cricket Management Plan in Gilliam County. This management plan includes oversite of monitoring efforts, mapping of populations, communication with landowners, and coordination of treatment plans with an aerial applicator.

© Partnerships/Collaboration/Networking

• Utilize partnerships with diverse interest groups to provide advisory support and to enhance program quality and delivery. This will likely include the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS), the Oregon Wheat Growers League (OWGL) or the Morrow County Livestock Producers (MCLP), the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), county government, and the local school system.
• Organize and maintain program advisory and management committees to help identify program needs, make recommendations, assist in program implementation, and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Identify program needs and priorities by engaging with local farmers or ranchers, agricultural consultants, farm/ranch cooperatives, and established OSU Extension advisory committees.
• Collaborate with other researchers and Extension faculty, along with state and federal agencies to develop relevant science-based solutions to address prioritized challenges and opportunities.
• Engage with community-based and regional organizations to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development within local, regional, or state boundaries as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain efficient methods for addressing high volumes of topically repetitive clientele inquiries through scholarly outputs like Extension publications, videos, and other electronic and media communication tools and strategies.

(d) Accountability

• Develop annual plans of work that address educational needs as well as evaluate the quality and impact of Extension educational and research programs.
• Regularly measure and report program impact in the Faculty Success online platform.
• Implement fee-based programming and cost-recovery practices to support and enhance program delivery.
• Serve as a team member of the Range, Livestock, and/or Crops Extension working groups.
• Keep records and provide necessary reports to Extension Administration, the department and/or college, including plans of work, narrative reports, impact statements, statistical reports, and reports of accomplishments.
• Report outputs and outcomes to Extension regional directors and elected officials (where applicable) in the areas served.
• Provide community and statewide opinion leaders and decision makers relevant, science-based topical information when requested.
• Utilize appropriate and effective methods of communication to promote Extension programs and market Extension across Oregon and nationally.
• Travel is required to provide Extension educational programming and services throughout the assigned region.

10% Applied Research

• Conduct applied research activities that supports Extension programming as well as demonstration projects in areas of specific need and clientele interest in soils, crop production, livestock production, forage production, and marketing that emphasize multi-tactic practices, management, and novel technologies as needed. Collaboration is expected with colleagues in other supporting disciplines related to the applied research goals.
• Evaluate and document applied research and Extension impacts of programs and communicate the results to target audiences.
• Collaborate with professional colleagues, industry members, and field representatives to develop and implement these applied research programs.
• Communicate applied research progress and results to stakeholders and provide educational opportunities using peer reviewed publications, professional meetings, commodity group presentations, extension events and electronic communication (i.e., web sites, publications, video conferencing and other online methods).
• Individually and with other colleagues or stakeholders, secure outside grants, and contracts and/or service fees to support and enhance position-appropriate educational and applied research programs and service activities. The faculty member will be expected to meet all reporting requirements of the funding sources, department, college, and university.

10% Scholarship

Assigned duties for this position are expected to result in scholarly outcomes.

Refer to section V of the OSU Faculty Promotion & Tenure Handbook: https://facultyaffairs.oregonstate.edu/faculty-handbook/promotion-and-tenure-guidelines#Practice

Discover new knowledge and develop creative solutions and applications for problems related to crop or livestock production.

Research discoveries should be communicated to the scientific community, Extension audiences, and practitioners using innovative and contemporary tools in both oral and written venues, including web-based formats. Communication may include refereed journal articles, Extension publications, presentations to state, regional, and national commodity and professional groups, media, and other outlets as appropriate.

Scholarly and creative work is intellectual work whose significance is validated by peers and that is communicated. Emphasis in scholarship should be placed on outcomes that recognize activities as a professional practitioner in community settings as defined by the incumbent’s position description.

To achieve promotion, scholarship for this position must include peer reviewed materials that are durable and findable in the web environment. These are typically of the two types shown below, though other types of scholarship may also fit these durability and findable criteria:

• Publications in peer‐reviewed journals which might encompass description and evaluation of novel community‐based professional practice or research application, program development and innovation, outcomes of innovative programs and/or services, definitive professional practice reviews, or case reports among others.
• Authorship of extension publications, local or regional “practice” publications, book chapters, other educational materials, and electronic information delivery media if it is either peer reviewed before dissemination or if there is evidence of its adoption and use by peers.

To achieve promotion, there must be an on‐going record that both types of scholarship are being completed, though each does not need to be present in every year of record. Documentation must also be provided that shows these scholarly outputs have had impact. These durable, web‐findable materials may be augmented by other forms of peer validation such as the following:

• Invited presentations, poster and podium presentations, and published abstracts and/or proceedings at state, regional and national levels, provided that evidence of peer validation is provided.
• Documented impact due to local or regional adoption of improved practices, methods, or programs.
• Secured competitive grants and contracts appropriate for the scope and focus of the faculty member’s position.
• Named inventor of a protected intellectual property in the faculty member’s field.
• Recognition as a professional practitioner in community settings as demonstrated by
  • honorary degrees
  • awards recognizing community, professional and/or scientific achievements
  • fellowships in national professional and/or scientific organizations
  • Requests to serve as a technical advisor to government agencies, industry, or professional groups

Best practice is to ensure an inclusive scholarship:

• Including diverse perspectives on the research team, particularly among co-principal investigators.
• Emphasizing diversity to address broadening participation in grant proposals.
• Writing articles and books that address issues of diversity/social justice.
• Presenting conference papers on issues of diversity/social justice.
• Increasing the diversity of students who serve as research assistants.

5% – Service

• Serve as a liaison to local and regional organizations that serve stakeholders in Gilliam and Morrow Counties.
• Participate in departmental and faculty meetings and committees, and serve on departmental, Extension, College and University committees that are consistent with the duties of this position. There is an expectation to balance service at multiple levels within the institution with service to the profession (e.g., professional societies).
• Become involved in community service through cooperation with other local agencies and organizations. Contribute to the common goals and needs of Extension.
• Serve on industry boards as appropriate especially those locally active in the assigned region.

Develop and maintain year-round public relation connections to the wheat industry, livestock industry, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, elected officials, and other stakeholders’ where appropriate.

Minimum/Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Education, Natural Resources, Soils, Crops, Animal Science, or closely related field.
• A basic working knowledge of conducting applied field research.
• Demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated teaching, written and oral communication skills including the effective use of electronic (traditional and web-based) and printed mass media.
• Must have or be able to obtain an Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticide Consultant License within six months of employment and maintain it throughout employment.
• Ability to gather, interpret and communicate clearly and effectively broad-based scientific information with community and industry stakeholders.
• Ability to lead groups, create partnerships, and to plan, organize, evaluate, manage, and delegate details associated with program management.
• General ability to use common computers, including proficiency with information technology, web sites and social media.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

Preferred (Special) Qualifications

• Practical on-farm experience.
• Teaching (classroom and programmatic) and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience understanding the role of program advisory committees.
• Demonstrated life experience, education, and/or training that broaden capacity to equalize the success or impact on underserved audiences.
• Course work, training, or experience with experimental design or basic statistical methods appropriate for applied field research.
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate multiple cultural perspectives in educational design and delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to the changing technology environment.
• Demonstrated ability to secure external funding support for educational and research programs.
• Ability or ability to create equitable learning environments for both large and small farms and communities.

To review posting and apply, go to: https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/134758. Apply to posting #P06656UF.  Closing Date: 04/30/2023.  OSU is an AA/EOE/Vets/Disabled.