Assistant/Associate Extension Agent (Horticulture)

Louisiana State University

4d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a non-tenure track, agent level position with a 100% appointment in Agricultural and Natural Resources with general Extension Agent responsibilities, primarily focused on horticulture in Ascension Parish. The Agent will establish advisory committees for horticulture and other related focus areas to identify clientele needs, develop extension programming, implement a system of program evaluation, and report program accomplishments and impacts annually. The Agent will provide stakeholders with research-based information and educational opportunities in horticulture through a variety of delivery methods including on-farm visits, area-wide demonstrations, workshops, field days, and other educational meetings. Commercial and consumer horticultural practices may include but are not limited to demonstration gardens, commercial vegetable demonstrations/field days, home gardens and grounds, fruits, and other horticultural programs. The Agent will disseminate LSU AgCenter recommendations, contribute to the web page of assigned parish, and assist in providing pesticide re-certification trainings. Finally, involvement with community based (Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, etc.) and parish level agricultural associations (Farm Bureau, Garden Clubs, etc.) will be necessary. 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 education, vocational education, agricultural sciences, family and consumer sciences/human ecology, biological or social sciences, recreation and leisure studies 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 two specific graduate-level extension courses (6 credit hours) is generally required in the first two years of employment.
• Additionally, a faculty member who does not have a related master’s degree must complete an additional 9 hours of related graduate level coursework 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 nine hours of coursework, but not for the two required courses.

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree in a field listed above is desired.
• Experience in recruiting, training and supervising volunteers and experience in teaching and applying principles of leadership development to both youth and adults is also 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

• Establish advisory committees for horticulture and other related focus areas to identify clientele needs
• Develop extension programming
• Implement a system of program evaluation
• Report program accomplishments and impacts annually
• Provide stakeholders with research-based information and educational opportunities in horticulture through a variety of delivery methods including on-farm visits, area-wide demonstrations, workshops, field days, and other educational meetings
• Disseminate LSU AgCenter recommendations
• Contribute to the web page of assigned parish
• Assist in providing pesticide re-certification trainings
• Involvement with community based (Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, etc.) and parish level agricultural associations (Farm Bureau, Garden Clubs, etc.)

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
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees