Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

Oregon State University Extension Service invites applications for a Master Gardener Coordinator position that serves residents of Linn and Benton Counties in Oregon. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position based at the OSU Extension Service Linn County Office in Tangent, Oregon. The position’s Extension activities are closely aligned with the OSU Department of Horticulture in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

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. This position contributes to the mission of the College of Agricultural Sciences, with principal responsibility for needs assessment, Extension program development, delivery, and evaluation, and for conducting applied research to support Extension activities.

This Master Gardener Coordinator serves as the local expert for gardeners across the Linn and Benton counties, and is expected to grow expertise in regionally-relevant gardening topics. This individual provides leadership for the Linn and Benton Counties Master Gardener volunteer program. In this role this individual oversees volunteer recruitment, training and retention; organizes volunteer middle managers; and collaborates with the local Master Gardener Association. The individual is also expected to develop and teach community horticulture classes for the general public and use the most appropriate tools to reach all audiences.

Oregon State University is committed to practicing and delivery of tools for state-of-the-science interaction and engagement of partners and stakeholders. This individual is required to use modern learning tools including online and hybrid classes, employ and practice engaged scholarship, promote integration of programs across disciplines that are demand-driven and use open source tools that continually align with innovation and shifts in educational program delivery.

Active and effective communication with colleagues and key stakeholders is critical to the success of this position. This position will require traveling.

College of Agricultural Sciences faculty are committed to enhancing student/learner success by engaging them in quality academic, research, internships, global studies, and other experiential learning opportunities. Positions with primary responsibility for Extension and Engagement are likewise committed to student/learner success through programming appropriate for diverse audiences.

About the division:

The Division of Extension and Engagement (Division) is core to Oregon State University’s mission. The Division helps create real solutions and positive impact across Oregon and beyond. The Division is aligned under the leadership of the Vice Provost for Extension and Engagement. To learn more about our Division and its core units and initiatives, please visit our website: https://engagement.oregonstate.edu/.

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, this individual will 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

Position Duties

This Master Gardener Coordinator embeds the commitment of the university to a collaborative and inclusive community in all interactions and duties performed and practices a welcoming and respectful workplace culture.

45% – Home Horticulture

• Coordinate and design/implement/deliver/evaluate the Master Gardener Extension non-credit programs and materials as well as support for all gardening related education in Linn and Benton Counties, which will require frequent travel within the counties and occasionally outside the counties.
• Conduct needs-assessment activities to determine the Extension needs of target program participants and develop programs to meet those needs on a regular basis.
• Collaborate with Extension State faculty, Department Heads, and other faculty and staff, professional colleagues, Master Gardener volunteers, and community partners to develop and deliver, and/or organize and host, a wide range of urban and community horticultural educational programs that convey sustainable, research-based practices in a wide variety of garden, home landscape, natural resource, and agricultural applications.
• Provide local expertise for gardeners across Linn and Benton Counties, and grow expertise in regionally relevant gardening topics, such as waterwise gardening or regionally relevant plant materials.
• Implement and maintain a robust fee-based programming that enables cost-recovery and growth of the Master Gardener and community horticulture programs; and solicit external funding to support and enhance these programs.
• Respond to routine phone, correspondence, and walk-in questions regarding gardening and natural resource management, in Linn and Benton Counties. This will include working with current and potential Master Gardeners and the general public as appropriate and in partnership with natural resources faculty assigned to the area.
• Provide Extension programming and instruction utilizing current approved principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
• Serve as an active member of the Home Horticulture Working Group, contributing to the development of innovative program practices and educational materials. The Coordinator may join up to other Ag Extension working groups to enhance the position needs as appropriate.
• Participate in-group activities with other Extension agriculture faculty across the state to collectively address emerging community issues related to community horticulture. This may include participating in projects that attract programmatic funding.
• Meet the information needs of local and regional audiences by accessing information from a variety of sources and disseminating through appropriate mechanisms (web, newsletter, newspaper, radio, television, internet, presentations, etc.).
• Organize, utilize, and maintain a program advisory committee/network.
• Develop, implement, and maintain an annual plan of work that addresses urban and community horticultural educational needs.
• Document the impact and effectiveness of educational programs and volunteer management activities.

45% – Master Gardener Volunteer Program Management

• Provide leadership and volunteer management for the local Master Gardener volunteer program.
• Oversee recruitment, training, and volunteer retention activities.
• Develop and maintain an effective volunteer middle management structure.
• Develop and support the delivery of innovative, needs-based community education programs and services (including the Plant Clinic) together with the Linn and Benton Counties Master Gardener Association.
• Collaborate with peer faculty members and other professionals to ensure volunteers learn, and disseminate, information that is research-based and representative of best management practices.
• Encourage and support active and effective volunteer outreach through community education and education-related service.
• Ensure outreach activities and educational programs serve a wide range of populations, including those that have been historically underrepresented/excluded from participation.
• Serve as liaison to the local Linn and Benton Counties Master Gardener Association, advising on volunteer management and non-profit organizational procedures, and promoting activities consistent with the Oregon State University Master Gardener Program.

5% – Organizational Accountability

• Utilize technology as a tool to increase the impact of program delivery on constituents including participating with Ask an Expert (Ask Extension).
• Use multiple methods of electronic communication (e.g., web sites, publications, video conferencing and other online methods) to collaborate internally and externally as appropriate.
• Implement fee-based programming and cost-recovery practices, develop partnerships, and solicit external funding to support and enhance educational programs as appropriate.
• Develop partnerships and collaborate both internally within OSU and OSU Extension; and externally with community organizations, local governments, and other relevant entities.
• Organize and maintain program advisory and management committees or networks to identify program needs, make recommendations, assist in program implementation, and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Provide community and statewide opinion leaders and decision makers the context and understanding of how your program work relates to overall Extension programming output.
• Pursue engagement opportunities that may include, but are not limited to the identification of community and educational needs; co-creation of solutions; etc.
• Participate in leadership training opportunities that builds expertise around equity, inclusion, and diversity.
• 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.

5% – Service

• Serve as an effective team member in the office and the assigned Region.
• Provide service to the OSU Extension Service and university through committee service and leadership as appropriate and requested by administrators and peers.
• Serve on state, regional, local, and national advisory committees appropriate to position responsibilities and participate in professional organization activities.
• Cooperate with agencies and organizations in the western Oregon and other relevant locations.
• Maintain active membership and involvement in professional organizations.
• Assist in cohesive marketing of Extension.
• The individual is encouraged to participate in community service.

 To review posting and apply, go to: https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/141275. Apply to posting # P07142UF. Closing Date: 08/25/2023. OSU is an AA/EOE/Vets/Disabled.