Assistant/Associate Extension Agent (Agriculture & Natural Resources)

Louisiana State University • Baton Rouge, LA

32d • Onsite

About The Position

Work Location: The area to be served includes Tensas parish. The domicile for this position is the Tensas Parish Extension Office located in St. Joseph, Louisiana. Tensas parish has over 27,000 acres in cotton and over 57,000 acres in feed grains. Position Description: This is a non-tenure track, agent level position (100% Extension ANR). The Agent will be expected to become familiar with other major commodities in the domicile parish 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 on-farm visits, 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 parish and assist in providing pesticide re-certification training. Involvement and participation with agricultural 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 clientele, this position requires some overnight travel and work on evenings and weekends.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree in agronomy, crop science, soil science, agribusiness, agricultural sciences, pest management, biological sciences, agricultural education, 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.
• The ability to work with and through others is essential as is the ability to function with minimum supervision.

Responsibilities

• Become familiar with other major commodities in the domicile parish and work with and support other agents assigned to that parish for those commodities.
• Provide stakeholders with research-based information and educational opportunities through a variety of delivery methods including on-farm visits, 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 parish and assist in providing pesticide re-certification training.
• Involvement and participation with agricultural 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
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees