Assistant/Associate Extension Agent (Agriculture and Natural Resources)

Louisiana State University

6d

About The Position

This is a non-tenure track, agent level position (100% Extension ANR). For Franklin parish, the agent will serve as an extension educator and advisor, delivering essential research-based information and resources related to agriculture and natural resources to the local community. Their multifaceted role encompasses various responsibilities, including conducting educational programs, offering problem-solving expertise, conducting farm visits and consultations, engaging in community outreach, producing research and extension publications, and collecting and reporting data. The Agent will be expected to become familiar with other major commodities in the assigned parishes and work with and support other agents assigned to that parish for those commodities. The Agent will provide stakeholders with research-based information and educational opportunities through a variety of delivery methods including area-wide demonstrations, workshops, field days, and other educational meetings. The Agent will establish advisory committees to identify clientele needs, develop extension programming, implement a system of program evaluation, and report program accomplishments and impacts annually. The Agent will disseminate LSU AgCenter recommendations through a variety of avenues which could include newsletters, factsheets, social media postings, newspaper and other popular press articles. In addition, the Agent will contribute to the web page of assigned parishes and assist in providing pesticide re-certification training. Involvement and participation with agriculturally based organizations and associations such as Farm Bureau, Cattlemen’s Association, and Master Gardener groups is expected for the agent to become fully engaged in the agricultural community. As an Extension employee, the agent must be willing to continue professional development and remain current with agriculture and natural resources research and its application to programming. The incumbent is expected to be an effective team player, work cooperatively with other Extension faculty at the parish, region and state levels and perform other tasks that may be assigned by supervisor(s). The agent will work under the administrative supervision and direction of the parish chair and regional director. In order to attend and conduct training to meet the needs of the clientele, this position requires some overnight travel and work on evenings and weekends.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree in agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, agricultural business, agricultural economics, agriculture education, vocational education, agricultural sciences, biological sciences, or closely related areas.
• Must have an undergraduate degree with an overall grade-point average of at least 2.5 (all GPA requirements based on a 4.0 system) and a 3.0 for graduate work attempted, if any, or master’s degree with an overall grade-point average of at least 3.0 or a current grade-point average of at least 3.0 on at least 12 hours of graduate credit.
• The applicant must demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.
• A personal automobile and appropriate insurance coverage is required (travel allowance provided).
• Satisfactory completion of one specific graduate level extension courses (3 credit hours) is required in year two or three of employment, prior to promotion eligibility to associate agent.
• Additionally, a faculty member who does not have a related master’s degree must complete an additional 12 hours of related graduate level coursework in order to be promoted to associate agent and such promotion must occur in the first seven years of employment.
• An exception is that additional agent experience may be substituted for 12 hours of coursework, but not for the required course.

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree in a field listed above is desired.
• Knowledge of public relations and the ability to cope with change are highly desirable characteristics.
• Ability to work with and through others is essential as is the ability to function with minimum supervision.

Responsibilities

• Conducting educational programs
• Offering problem-solving expertise
• Conducting farm visits and consultations
• Engaging in community outreach
• Producing research and extension publications
• Collecting and reporting data
• Provide stakeholders with research-based information and educational opportunities through a variety of delivery methods including area-wide demonstrations, workshops, field days, and other educational meetings
• Establish advisory committees to identify clientele needs, develop extension programming, implement a system of program evaluation, and report program accomplishments and impacts annually
• Disseminate LSU AgCenter recommendations through a variety of avenues which could include newsletters, factsheets, social media postings, newspaper and other popular press articles
• Contribute to the web page of assigned parishes and assist in providing pesticide re-certification training
• Involvement and participation with agriculturally based organizations and associations such as Farm Bureau, Cattlemen’s Association, and Master Gardener groups
• Continue professional development and remain current with agriculture and natural resources research and its application to programming
• Work cooperatively with other Extension faculty at the parish, region and state levels and perform other tasks that may be assigned by supervisor(s)

Benefits

• retirement
• multiple medical insurance options
• supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.)
• Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses)
• university holidays (14 per year, typically includes a week off at Christmas)
• generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System

What This Job Offers

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