Extension Specialist in Farm Viability – Cooperative Extension Search

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics invites qualified candidates to apply for a tenure-track faculty position as an Assistant Extension Specialist (equivalent to Assistant Professor) in Farm Viability. This is a 12-month tenure track position, housed in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics. The Assistant Extension Specialist will hold a majority appointment in Rutgers Cooperative Extension and is expected to be an active member of the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics. The successful candidate is expected to develop and lead externally funded research and extension programs that support and strengthen the viability of New Jersey farms, spanning different scales, commodities, and production systems. The expected outcomes are identifying needs and providing program outreach to underserved farmers and agricultural constituencies. Programmatic emphases will include sustainable agricultural production, diversified farming systems, climate resilience, feasibility analysis, farm management and business decision-making, and the development of marketing strategies. In addition, the Specialist is expected to participate in undergraduate and/or graduate teaching and advisement of independent research projects in the field of expertise.

The Specialist will guide and advise professional staff (such as postdoctoral associates and graduate students) in planning, conducting, and disseminating research-based results. The Specialist will work cohesively and collaboratively with faculty and staff within and across Departments and Centers of Rutgers and other Universities and organizations.

Rutgers is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion; our priority to diversify our faculty ranks is outlined in the Rutgers DEI strategic plan (https://diversity.rutgers.edu/faculty). The Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics and Rutgers University are working to ensure our faculty composition reflects the diversity of our student population. We especially encourage applications from backgrounds underrepresented in agricultural economics including Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ scientists.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop an impactful and appropriately resourced research and extension program that will enhance and expand the economic viability of agricultural enterprises in New Jersey.
Identify critical needs and areas of concern impacting New Jersey farm viability, including farm financial management, emerging alternative agricultural enterprises, agricultural policy, farm risk management, marketing, climate resilience, new/beginning farmer support, and business succession.
Employ a variety of educational delivery methods to disseminate evidence-based research to help agricultural clientele understand, evaluate, and adopt new practices, technologies, and enterprises.
Lead or participate in appropriate agricultural research, including programs based at New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station research and extension farms.
Utilize appropriate educational outreach delivery methods to reach a broad base of program beneficiaries, including field visits, newsletters, fact sheets, educational meetings, workshops, short courses, web-based tools, and academic journals.
Teach undergraduate and graduate students in the field of agricultural economics, economics, or a related field.
Collaborate with county-based Extension faculty staff and Extension Specialists, at Rutgers and throughout the national land grant university system, to build impactful programs in the advancement of farm viability objectives.
Develop working relationships with various external agencies and industry partners.
Document and track program impact based on stated objectives, develop effective evaluation techniques and provide timely impact reporting to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension state office.
Identify and secure external funding related to the above responsibilities.

Requirements: Applicants must possess a Ph.D. in either agricultural economics, economics, or a related field by August 1, 2023.

Candidates with faculty, industry knowledge, and an understanding of the Cooperative Extension program cycle are encouraged to apply.

To apply: Candidates should submit a single PDF that includes a letter of application, curriculum vitae, concise statement of extension, teaching and research foci and objectives, and the names of three professional references. We also encourage applicants to include a description of how they integrate the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in their research, teaching, or community engagement. Questions can be directed to Search Committee Chair, at pdgott@sebs.rutgers.edu.

Apply Here

Active review of materials will begin in January and continue until the position is filled. The successful candidate is anticipated to begin on September 1, 2023. Salary is commensurate with experience.

The Department: The Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics is located on the scenic G. H. Cook Campus of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The members of the faculty reside in the Cook Office Building in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. The faculty and the Department offer undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral education and research opportunities in agricultural economics and related fields.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension: Rutgers Cooperative Extension helps the diverse population of New Jersey adapt to a rapidly changing society and improve their lives and communities through an educational process that uses science-based knowledge. Through science-based educational programs, Rutgers Cooperative Extension truly enhances the quality of life for residents of New Jersey and brings the wealth of knowledge of the state university to local communities.

The School and Experiment Station: The Department, an integral part of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, is deeply committed to the three land-grant missions (teaching, research, and Extension). Our faculty integrate teaching, research, and outreach to address real-world problems and encourage students to adopt the same approach to their educational experience at Rutgers. The School has 15 academic departments, 3400 undergraduate and 300 graduate students. The School’s current strategic plan can be accessed at https://sebs.rutgers.edu/strategic-plan/. The School is closely affiliated with Rutgers’ New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, including its three cooperative extension departments and strong research and community outreach programs across New Jersey and around the world. Rutgers University is a dynamic and diverse center for research, technology innovation, public engagement and development, and is located in the heart of the Northeast with easy access to New York City and Philadelphia and is in close proximity to the Jersey shore and other beautiful natural areas in western NJ and eastern PA.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, military service or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment.