Agriculture Educator - Jamestown, NY

Cornell Cooperative Extension•New York, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County has an opening for an Agriculture Educator working full-time from the Jamestown office. The Agriculture Educator serves as a member of the association agriculture educational team to coordinate and deliver established agriculture curriculum to adults and youth to foster awareness, understanding, and appreciation of agriculture and food systems. Deliver established curriculum to help youth understand the connections between agriculture, the environment, and people. Assist with the evaluation of delivery of the established educational program goals. Assist Supervisor with activities to foster the program with community leaders. Appreciate and promote diversity in all interactions with program participants, staff, volunteers, and the public.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with focus in agriculture, horticulture, or environmental science or Equivalent Education. (Associate Degree plus 2 yrs transferrable program/functional experience).
Experience relevant to the role of the position.
Ability to clearly communicate (speak, read, and write proficiently) in English.
Ability to meet travel requirements associated with this position.
Ability to meet acceptable background check standards.
Ability to work flexible hours, which may include evenings and/or weekends, as appropriate.
Proficiency with windows-based software including use of the internet and Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Ability to communicate effectively, clearly, and tactfully through verbal, written and electronic methods.
Ability and willingness to work with a high degree of integrity, accuracy, organization, sound professional judgment, and the ability to handle confidential, sensitive information.
Ability to organize, manage, and prioritize multiple tasks, deadlines, requirements, and priorities to complete work in a timely manner and within established deadlines.
Ability to present effective and relevant educational lessons to target audiences in group settings.
Ability to effectively participate in professional team efforts.
Ability to identify and utilize program resources from the organization and the community.
Ability to relate effectively to co-workers, advisors, community and professional leaders.
Ability to plan and organize personal work responsibilities according to priorities developed with the immediate supervisor.
Ability to work in a typical office environment which may include lifting, moving, and/or transporting office supplies, work related materials, and equipment with or without accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Cooperative Extension or other similar educational organizations.
Coursework in general agriculture, plant science, soils, and crops.
Experience in collaborating with volunteers.

Responsibilities

Deliver high quality agriculture educational programs and events that address local, regional and statewide programming priorities. Events and programs may require involvement of volunteers.
Assist in delivering innovative/creative educational programs to impact audiences through a variety of delivery methods, with support from supervisor.
Deliver programs and participate in special projects including but not limited to volunteer trainings, County Fair, fundraising, enrollment campaign, and other extension association activities, as assigned.
Utilize a variety of educational methods which may include direct teaching, group experiences, media, newsletters, electronic technology, internet, and distance learning to deliver program.
Occasionally apply existing subject matter knowledge and utilize existing research-based curriculum to create lessons plans to deliver educational program.
Serve as subject matter resource utilizing existing subject matter resources and materials.
Collaborate with community agencies and/or volunteers as requested to facilitate Agriculture related programs and activities.
Provide educational program efforts via mass media including contributing articles to Agriculture newsletters, utilizing emails, phone messages, and website postings.
Interact with program participants representing CCE in a professional manner at all times.
Represent CCE before the public, community leaders, government officials, Cornell or other land grant Universities in a professional manner as part of program delivery.
Foster acceptance of program, methods, and policies to address community and individual needs and consider diverse audiences.
Implement program evaluation as designed.
Interact with program participants, schools, association staff, program committees, county/community leaders, and other key stakeholders as identified to collect evaluation data.
Assist in analyzing collected program evaluation data for reporting and program improvement purposes using standard, established policy, procedure and methods.
Communicate evaluation results and findings.
Assist in recommending program changes to strengthen and improve programs.
Assist with planning the delivery of established educational program goals.
Assist with identifying key relationships to build/sustain with community leaders and stakeholders.
Assist with identifying program, activity, and resource needs necessary to implement initiatives and projects.
May provide input to planning budget based on program feasibility needs and assist in identifying opportunities for fund development activities.
Assist with ensuring volunteer direction and management procedures are followed according to established policies and procedures by providing guidance, leadership and resources for volunteers and volunteer leaders including recruitment, screening, orientation, training, evaluation, and management.
Solve problems and resolve conflicts that arise in the operation of programming, utilizing appropriate policies and procedures and with guidance of supervisor as needed.
Assist in identifying and recommending program needs (i.e., program supplies and materials).
Assist with identifying ways to reduce costs and maximize existing resources within the Association.
Assist supervisor with obtaining specialized assistance from experts in the area of agriculture and natural resources who will aid in delivering programs.
Coordinate identified administrative tasks to support the delivery of established educational program goals, i.e., confirming events; gathering materials and resources for program delivery; and ensuring delivery to offsite program locations.
Maintain records of class participants, complete reports, and accurately collect and prepare paperwork as required.
Coordinate, schedule, and support the training and work of volunteers for implementing education events related to established program priorities.
Assist in utilizing effective marketing strategies in the promotion of programming efforts to include, but not limited to: print media, news media, social media, and multi-media efforts.
Assist with maintaining communication with constituents and the community through variety of methods such as contributing educational articles to program newsletters, e-mails, electronic technology, internet, social media, and website postings.
Effectively maintain existing professional relationships with other agencies, organizations and businesses that promote effective communication and facilitate continued programming efforts.
Prepare and submit accurate expense reports, mileage reports, receipts/supporting documentation, and/or vouchers in a timely manner per established policy and procedures.
Maintain confidentiality of all information and data collected, accessed, and/or maintained.
Provide data and information to assist with preparation of reports, impact statements, and success stories for funders, advisory committees, Board, and others as requested.
Transport self and/or program materials/resources necessary for performing position responsibilities.
In cooperation with the Supervisor, jointly develop and pursue a professional development plan as a means to increase competencies relative to position accountabilities and to address changes in programming and association priorities.
Participate in all required orientation, training, and/or in-service meetings and events as scheduled/required.
Support the association to maintain a safe working environment.
Be familiar and strive to follow any applicable federal, state, local regulations, association health and safety policy/procedure/requirement and standard.
Act proactively to prevent accidents/injuries and communicate hazards to supervisors when identified.
Collaborate in activities that are in general support of Cornell Cooperative Extension including but not limited to attendance at staff meetings, timely reporting of expenses, working with other staff, general marketing of Cooperative Extension programs and other duties as assigned.
Conduct all programming and activities in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
Aware of, and adheres to, established Cornell Cooperative Extension Association policies, procedures, processes and Skills for Success.
Represent Cornell Cooperative Extension to the public, community leaders, colleagues, volunteers, members of Cornell University faculty and staff, government officials and the general public in a professional manner at all times.
Perform all assigned duties in a professional, timely, and accurate manner.
Maintain regular and predictable attendance and punctuality.