ANR Extension Agent - Hampshire Extension Office

West Virginia University

8h

About The Position

The WVU Extension Department at West Virginia University, located in Hampshire County (Romney, WV), is currently accepting applications for an ANR Extension Agent serving Hampshire County. The WVU Extension Service is seeking a self-motivated individual who will implement a comprehensive Extension program in agriculture and natural resources (ANR) with a focus on agribusiness, consumer horticulture, local foods, and agritourism- related community development. We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:
37.5-hour work week
13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
401(a) retirement savings with 6%25 employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
Wellness programs
Hampshire County is county located in eastern West Virginia. Hampshire County is located in the South branch Valley of the Potomac River. The population is 23,093 (2020 US Census). This position will primarily work with farmers and landowners to enhance their production and management skills to improve the profitability and sustainability of their farm businesses and local foods endeavors.

This twelve-month position carries the academic rank of Assistant Professor or Visiting Instructor, depending on the candidate’s level of education. An Assistant Professor appointment with a graduate-level degree will be a full-time, promotable, tenure-track appointment. A Visiting Instructor appointment with an undergraduate-level degree will be a full-time, non-tenure track appointment.

The Agent is responsible to the ANR Program Director for all ANR programmatic and administrative matters. In addition, the Agent works cooperatively with the appropriate County Program Coordinator (CPC) to integrate his/her program efforts into the total County Extension program. The amount of time which an Agent spends in specific program areas and/or in program components is determined in concert with the Unit Director and other County Faculty.

Requirements

• For the assistant professor consideration, a completed master’s degree in an agricultural-related field of study is required. Candidates with a master’s degree in progress may be considered for interviews, but the degree must be completed by hire date.
• For visiting instructor consideration, a completed bachelor's degree in an agricultural-related field of study is required. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in progress may be considered for interviews, but the degree must be completed by hire date.
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience in the following:
• Training and experience in agribusiness, plant science/horticulture field of study is highly preferred.
• Training and experience in community development (such as agribusiness, etc) is desired.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skill through collaborations and partnerships with agencies and organizations is necessary. Extension or similar work experience is desirable
• Documented experience in volunteer management, supervision, resource development, and team leadership is desirable
• Proficiency in oral and written communication and knowledge and use of computer technology for educational programming and management are required
• Experience working with advisory committees and/or focus groups.
• Experience working with the media and web-based information delivery methods.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.
• Ability to meet travel demands of position (overnight stays), such as 4-H youth events, conferences, professional development sessions/trainings.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including some nights and weekends.
• Ability to lift and carry materials needed to conduct trainings and perform duties of the position.
• Must be able to pass the Children on Campus and Title IX required trainings.

Nice To Haves

• Successful experience in developing financial support for educational programs including grant writing, fund raising, contracting or cost recovery efforts.
• Experience in promoting, marketing or creating public awareness of program/services among key community decision-makers.

Responsibilities

• Conducts educational programs in his/her designated program area to help people more effectively interpret and use science-based findings.
• Assumes responsibility for developing and executing a Plan of Work. The Plan of work will include a mix of ANR programming with an expectation to include agribusiness and agritourism development opportunities in the county and the Eastern Panhandle region.
• Involves the Extension Service Committee and community stakeholders, and appropriate program advisory committees to analyze the county situation, identify priority problems and develop and implement programs.
• Uses the resources of the West Virginia University and the community to effectively implement county programs.
• Identifies, recruits, and develops volunteer leadership (i.e., master gardeners,) to assist with delivering the program of work in the county.
• Develops and uses appropriate systems for reporting program accomplishments.
• Functions always as a professional educator.
• Actively participate with Extension work teams to help focus and develop regional and statewide programs in designated program areas.
• Work in conjunction with 4-HYD Agent and county staff to support to youth agriculture programming in the county.
• Actively participate with Extension work teams to help focus and develop regional and statewide programs in designated program areas.
• Follows a sound process in developing educational programs in his/her designated area of responsibility. Extension faculty are practitioners who develop educational programs to meet the needs of non-credit learners. Program development is a process used to assess needs, mobilize resources, and create and organize educational initiatives to address the needs of citizens.
• Develop, market, deliver, facilitate, and evaluate non-credit educational programming in response to locally identified priority needs.
• Establishes clear objectives and uses appropriate subject matter content and learning experiences to reach these objectives.
• Designs and implements a variety of program delivery methods to reach target clientele.
• Takes necessary action to ensure that enough groundwork is laid for programs to succeed.
• Evaluates results, measures impact, and accounts to appropriate stakeholders for program accomplishments.
• Uses the results of program evaluation to initiate changes in the implementation of the program.
• Develops an understanding of the county, the needs of its citizens and Extension's role in meeting those needs.
• Understands the county situation in terms of social and economic factors.
• Understands the role of County Extension Service in effecting changes in the county situation.
• Develops community partnerships to address county programming needs.
• Continuously examines his/her role as a change agent.
• Assesses the degree to which programs meet the needs of clients, induce positive change, improve performance, or measurably impact priority problems.
• Uses knowledge of agriculture to inform and guide teaching and service and move the faculty and learner to decision making and action.
• Participates in professional development activities that increase expertise in the discipline
• Demonstrates the ability to apply current knowledge to address specific priority problems
• Assesses the degree to which new knowledge moves the faculty and learner to decision making and action
• Understands the philosophy of Extension and utilizes effective methodology in program delivery and evaluation.
• Understands and conveys the philosophy, objectives, and policies of WVU Extension Service.
• Assists in determining and obtaining resources needed to implement the Plan of Work.
• Plans and provides the training needed to equip volunteer leaders to carry out the program.
• Develops and maintains two-way communications with volunteer leaders.
• Establishes and maintains rapport with personnel of the mass media and arranges for appropriate releases in the program area.
• Understands and implements the provisions of EEO and ADA.

Benefits

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6%25 employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks.
• Wellness programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level