Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

Working Title:                      Extension Educator, Water Resources and Irrigation

Appointment:                      100% Time, Assistant Extension Educator (9623), P & A

Location:                                Extension Regional Office, St. Cloud (preferred), Andover or Morris

Extension Area:                  Department of Agricultural and Natural Resource Systems (ANR)

Application Deadline:      August 13, 2023

ABOUT THIS POSITION

The Water Resources and Irrigation Extension Educator believes in clean, abundant water for all Minnesotans. They bring in-depth expertise to address complex water management issues, specifically in geographic areas with significant agricultural land use and irrigation. The educator will collaborate with diverse organizations to identify, develop, implement, and evaluate educational programs that will have a measurable benefit on water quality and quantity. A substantial portion of this person’s time will be focused on Extension education related to irrigation, although they will also work on other issues related to agriculture and water quality and quantity. The position will require working with a range of public, private, and non-profit stakeholders including:

• Diverse landowners and farmers (large and small-scale, rural and urban, grain and specialty crop, etc);
• Diverse agricultural and natural resource organizations, including industry and non-profits (Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota Farmers Union, Irrigators Association of Minnesota, and others); and
• Federal, state and local government agencies, such as the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Board of Water and Soil Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and Natural Resources Conservation Services, among others.

The Extension Educator will develop, implement, and evaluate online and in-person educational programs to educate farmers, agriculture professionals, and other key audiences, focusing on irrigation, agricultural water management, and related topics. These programs may include seminars, workshops, non-credit courses, and materials such as newsletters, fact sheets, extension bulletins and articles, blog posts, and podcasts. The educator will lead or contribute to education programs for new and existing irrigation-focused Extension activities, including the Minnesota Irrigator Program, irrigation field days, and other irrigation Extension activities. The Educator is responsible for program development and delivery in cooperation with other teams at the University and with partners across the state.

This position is accountable to the Program Leader in Water Resources for program direction, performance evaluation and personnel actions. The educator will participate in annual performance reviews and more frequent team and individual check-in conversations. Long-term success will be evaluated through the Extension promotion process and these criteria.

 RESPONSIBILITIES

Percentages listed here express the relative workload for these tasks. They may vary slightly depending on the evolving needs of the position and experience of the individual hired.

• Lead and contribute to high-quality, research-based, irrigation-focused Extension education programs to advance our water quality and quantity goals (50%):
  • Identify educational needs and audiences;
  • Design curricula and materials;
  • Plan and implement workshops, field days, and other activities; and
  • Evaluate the impact of this work and how it may need to change in the future.
• Develop and maintain effective state, regional, national, industry, and university partnerships that further the development and delivery of Extension educational programs (20%).
• Collaborate on applied research with partners, University faculty–in particular the Extension irrigation specialist–and graduate students on applied research (10%).
• Collaborate with WRC, Extension, and UMN communications staff to design, develop and implement program materials and marketing via websites and social media (10%).
• Participate in team meetings and serve on committees and boards (10%)
• Throughout this work, collaborate with new, diverse, and historically underserved audiences to develop programs that are customized to the needs of different cultural communities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications:

• A master’s degree in a field closely related to agricultural water management, including but not limited to agricultural and biosystems engineering, hydrology, soil science, water resources sciences, or agricultural education.
• Post-bachelor’s experience in irrigation engineering and management, watershed management, rural water systems, hydrology, soil science, soil drainage, natural resources sciences, agricultural water management, or related disciplines.
• A proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and collaborations with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders, including those that may have diverse missions, goals, and backgrounds (e.g., local landowners, agricultural organizations, regional water managers, and industry groups).
• Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three (3) or more years of professional work experience in fields of water resources, irrigation, hydrology, soil science, or related discipline.
• Experience designing, delivering and evaluating educational programs in water resources or irrigation
• Experience designing, conducting, and/or providing an essential role in research projects
• Experience and/or academic specialization related to irrigation, climate adaptation or resiliency pertaining to water resources
• Experience working with diverse populations and communities

Additional Requirements:

• Valid driver’s license and own means of transportation with required liability insurance.
• When not in the assigned office location, employees must be reachable with a mobile number at the employee’s own expense. That number will be published in the Extension staff directory.
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including occasional evening or weekend work that is offset by compensatory time elsewhere in the educator’s schedule.
• Must have reliable internet when working outside of assigned office location.
• Must be able to travel within the designated communities and provide in-person programming.
• Working ability to perform tasks involving frequent repetitive motions, prolonged sitting, standing, bending, twisting, lifting, and carrying 10 pounds frequently, with occasional exertion of up to thirty pounds of force.
• This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

LOCATION OF POSITION

Extension Educator, Water Resources/Irrigation position will be housed at an Extension Regional Office – either in St. Cloud, Andover or Morris. Even though the position will be located at a specific regional office, this position serves a statewide programming area rather than a single region.

SALARY/BENEFITS/APPOINTMENT

1. Extension Educator positions have annual University academic professional appointments and Extension academic rank.
2. Promotion in Extension academic rank is required and is contingent upon accomplishments as an Extension Educator
3. University of Minnesota appointment and benefits.  Benefits package available https://hr.umn.edu/Jobs/Applicant-Center/About-Working-U/Benefits-Summaries-Prospective-Employees
4. Reimbursement for travel and subsistence is available in accordance with University policy.
5. The estimated starting salary for this position is $61,000 – $75,000, depending on qualification and experience. Salary will be negotiated at the time of hire.

ABOUT THE WATER RESOURCES TEAM AND EXTENSION

This position is a part of the Water Resources Team, a group of Extension professionals at the University of Minnesota who want every Minnesotan to have access to clean, abundant water. The team is a part of the University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center that aims “To advance the science of clean water for Minnesotans through innovation, workforce development, and knowledge exchange.” As part of the Water Resources Team, this Extension Educator will also work with other program teams to leverage expertise related to cropping systems, livestock management, and natural resources, among others.

University of Minnesota Extension is a major outreach arm of the University of Minnesota with a mission to serve the public through applied research and education. Our mission is to make a difference by connecting community needs and University resources to address critical issues in Minnesota. Extension strives to attract and retain high-quality, passionate employees, and weave diversity, equity and inclusion into all aspects of Extension’s programming and employee engagement. Find further information at https://extension.umn.edu/

TO APPLY

Please apply at: https://extension.umn.edu/home/careers, Job Opening ID: 356399

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click on the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position. Please include the following attachments with your online application:

• Cover letter
• Resume/Vitae
• Diversity statement: In 500 words or less, highlight your unique strengths, experiences, perspectives, and values as they relate to equity, diversity and inclusion. Your statement could include the following:
  • Personalized views and experiences
  • Topics through the lens of your own knowledge or experience
  • If you don’t have personal experience on a topic, reflect on why
  • Demonstrated learning and growth

Three professional references and transcripts for all college work (unofficial transcripts are acceptable) will be required during the interview process.

Additional documents may be attached after the application by accessing your “My Job Applications” page and uploading documents in the “My Cover Letters and Attachments” section. See full instructions, https://hr.umn.edu/Jobs/Applicant-Center/Help-Job-Applications/Using-Job-Application-System.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please email employ@umn.edu or call 612-624-UOHR (8647).

For questions about this position, contact:

Chryseis Modderman, Extension Educator and Search Chair, cmodderm@umn.edu.

For questions about applying online, contact:

Tiffany McMillan, Extension Human Resources, tiffmcm@umn.edu.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

DIVERSITY

The University of Minnesota and Extension recognize and value the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U:  http://diversity.umn.edu.