Aquatic Resources Extension Agent - West Region

Auburn University • Fayette, AL

6d

About The Position

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) is seeking a self-motivated Aquatic Resources Extension Agent to serve a 19-county region. The agent will be housed in Fayette, Alabama, and will join the Aquatic Resources Extension Team, working with agents, specialists, County Extension Directors, local clientele, advisory groups, volunteers, commodity organizations, and other stakeholders.

The position focuses on organizing, delivering, and evaluating research-based educational programs in recreational and farm pond management, freshwater ecology, and fisheries management. The agent will also contribute to existing aquatic resource programs, help develop new programs to meet regional needs, and communicate management practices and their environmental impacts. Educational delivery methods include printed materials, workshops and group meetings, applied research and demonstration projects, pond-related consultations, social media, and web resources. The agent may contribute to grant writing and applied research and demonstration activities, and will assist with project outcome and impact evaluations.

The agent provides programmatic leadership in the assigned subject-matter discipline, including needs assessment, program planning and evaluation, resource and volunteer management, funding development, stakeholder and media engagement, reporting, and professional development. Regular travel is required, and the successful candidate must have access to reliable transportation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to Extension programming.
• Experience implementing, managing, or delivering educational programs in a relevant discipline, using formal and/or informal teaching methods; the listed Level 1 qualification is a bachelor’s degree and 0 years of experience.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Access to reliable transportation for regular travel required to carry out Extension responsibilities.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s degree in Fisheries, Aquatic Sciences, Aquaculture, Aquatic Biology, Environmental Sciences, or a related field, with at least two years of relevant work experience.
• A master’s degree.
• The listed Level 2 qualification is a bachelor’s degree and 4 years of experience, or a master’s degree and 2 years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Organize, deliver, and evaluate educational programs related to recreational and farm pond management, freshwater ecology, and fisheries management.
• Help develop and implement programs that address the needs and challenges of recreational fishpond owners.
• Use research-based management practices and communicate their environmental impacts.
• Deliver education through printed materials, workshops, group meetings, applied research and demonstration projects, consultation visits, social media, and web resources.
• Contribute occasionally to grant writing and activities supporting applied research and demonstrations.
• Assist the Aquatic Resources team leader and administrators with project outcome and impact evaluations.
• Work with local clientele, advisory groups, commodity organizations, and stakeholders to determine regional program needs.
• Partner with Aquatic Resources team members and County Extension Directors to plan, implement, evaluate, and report regional aquatic educational programs.
• Conduct and analyze needs assessments and contribute to the Priority Program Team plan of work and an individual plan of work.
• Provide comprehensive disciplinary programming, participate in interdisciplinary programming, and use effective, innovative educational approaches.
• Evaluate programs against plan-of-work objectives and impacts, prepare timely reports, and share results with stakeholders and partners.
• Budget and manage fiscal resources in accordance with ACES policies and guidelines.
• Build relationships with partners and volunteers; recruit, manage, and train volunteers in accordance with ACES policy.
• Secure extramural funding, including grants, contracts, donations, sponsorships, and programming fees.
• Provide supervision or program support for staff and volunteers where appropriate.
• Identify ways to engage under-served and under-represented audiences.
• Provide subject-matter support to stakeholders, build community networks or coalitions, and represent ACES in stakeholder organizations and programming.
• Establish media contacts and use multiple media outlets.
• Use research-based curricula and resources, contribute to new programs, and author routine Extension products.
• Participate in in-service training and professional organizations, set professional development goals, and meet Priority Program Team competency expectations.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Four weeks of vacation accrued each year.
• 96 hours of sick leave accrued annually.
• Seven paid holidays and two weeks of paid leave during the Christmas/New Year period when the University closes.
• Six weeks of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child, available to both mothers and fathers.
• Auburn University tuition assistance for employees and their dependents after one year of service.
• State retirement plan and other voluntary retirement plan options.
• Work/life balance and a flexible, diverse work environment.

What This Job Offers

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