Assistant/Associate Agent, Food Safety/Environmental Risk (Yuma, Az)

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Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and visioninsurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paidvacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction forthe employee and qualified family members; state and optionalretirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; andmore!

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Duties & Responsibilities

Program Development:

• Evaluate and assess community and industry needs, to inform and assist with problems and concerns related to Food Safety, Wildlife Biology, Microbiology, and/or Food Science.
• Supervise and oversee program development aspects of their program.
• Participate and collaborate with peers and statewide working groups, including state and federal regulators, to discuss and develop identified programmatic resources.
• Identify financial resources through potential gifts, grants, and contracts to support both the research and extension programmatic needs.

Program Implementation:

• Implement Food Safety/Food Science programs that may include an applied research effort to address problem-based issues pertaining to identified clientele needs.
• Develop educational materials for clientele distribution, to include peer reviewed articles, fact sheets, bulletins, social media networks, etc.
• Reach out and engage with agricultural stakeholders, disseminate educational materials, conduct workshops or collaborative meetings, and develop media communications, as appropriate.
• Consult and work alongside Extension Faculty/Specialists, Experiment Station researchers, and other experts in the development of educational programs, applied research, and scholarly works.

Program Results and Program Management:

• Evaluate results and impacts of delivered programs and develop communication tools, such as publications, fact sheets, or other materials to share with stakeholders and colleagues.
• Report effort and accomplishments by contributing to monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Provide supervision, administrative management, and programmatic guidance for any staff hired through the agent's grants or contracts.

Contribute to the University of Arizona and County Cooperative Extension:

• Participate in statewide working groups to develop new and creative programming efforts.
• Function as a resource for other Extension units, agencies, and organizations on agriculture and natural resources, particularly food safety and other program areas.
• Collaborate with colleagues at the University and in other Extension units on joint efforts, such as the Cooperative Extension conference, strategic planning, and needs assessments.
• Promote Cooperative Extension to enhance public understanding of the organization's mission.
• Perform as a collegial member of Arizona Cooperative Extension and its affiliate organizations.
• Promote public understanding and support for Extension and University programs.

Professionalism:

• Promote good communication and working relations among Extension faculty and staff, Experiment Station researchers, the total University, and all University publics.
• Use initiative to discover ways to build public understanding and support for Extension and University programs.
• Maintain good working relationships with industry members to drive outcomes of the research and extension program.
• Keep current in areas of specialization and publish appropriate applied and scholarly materials.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Maintain professional competence through study, participation in professional activities and the application of knowledge and skills on the job.
• Maintain high ethical and professional standards.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Knowledge of desert production agriculture.
• Pre and post-harvest knowledge.
• Knowledge of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, USDA GAPs, and/or Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements (LGMA).
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and evaluate research and educational programming.
• Familiarity with job-related subject matter.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Desire and capability to work with diverse stakeholders and volunteers, self-confidence and self-efficacy, good time management, good judgement, and sensitivity while working with peers and community members alike.

Minimum Qualifications

• For the Assistant Agent position, a Bachelor's degree in plant sciences, agriculture systems, food systems, food science, microbiology, wildlife biology or related field.
• For the Associate Agent position, a Master's degree in plant sciences, agriculture systems, food systems, food science, microbiology, wildlife biology or related field, or two of more years of applicable professional experience with the produce industry or related field.
• The ability to travel as appropriate to meetstakeholder needs.
• The person must have the ability to obtain an Arizona driver's license, provide their own transportation, be able to travel statewide using all modes of transportation, and have the ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working with the produce industry.

Rank To be Determined Tenure Information Continuing-Eligible (CE) FLSA Exempt Full Time/Part Time Full Time Number of Hours Worked per Week 40 Job FTE 1.0 Work Calendar Fiscal Job Category Agriculture and Extension Benefits Eligible Yes - Full Benefits Rate of Pay $57,000 - $62,000 Compensation Type salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE) Type of criminal background check required: Fingerprint criminal background check (security sensitive due to title or department) Number of Vacancies 1 Target Hire Date 1/1/2024 Expected End DateContact Information for Candidates Shannon Avalos
928-726-3904
Open Date 11/2/2023 Open Until Filled Yes Documents Needed to Apply Curriculum Vitae (CV), Cover Letter, and Two Additional Documents Special Instructions to ApplicantPlease include the following in your application materials, noting the additional documents required:
--Cover Letter
--CV
--Transcripts
--Contact information for 3 professional references
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