County Extension Director and Extension Agent II - IV – Small Farms and Livestock

University of Florida

46d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Florida (UF), a land grant institution, is seeking to fill a permanent-status accruing, full-time Extension Agent position, who will also serve as County Extension Director (CED), for the Florida Cooperative Extension Service in Santa Rosa County. This dual role involves providing high-quality, relevant, research-based expertise and education to foster healthy people, environments, and economies. The Extension Agent role will account for 75% of the time, focusing on small farms in sustaining and improving agricultural profitability and land management practices. An additional 5% effort is dedicated to the 4-H Youth Development program. The CED role will account for no more than 20% of the time, involving supervision, management, and strategic planning for the UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County program. The position requires strong leadership within the agent’s academic specialty to design, implement, and evaluate extension programming to meet the needs of the county’s diverse population, which includes forests, farmlands, pasturelands, and a significant military and tourist population.

Requirements

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in agriculture, animal sciences, or related discipline.
At least five years of professional Extension experience or equivalent.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
A commitment to excellent customer service.
Evidence of exceptional leadership, collaboration, and partnerships with varied audiences, community leaders, agencies, media, and the public.
Ability to possess or be able to obtain a Florida driver’s license.
Flexibility with working hours - ability to travel overnight and, based on clientele availability, occasionally work irregular hours including evenings, weekends, and overnight.
Willingness to reside in Santa Rosa County or a directly adjacent county.
Commitment to UF core values.

Nice To Haves

Previous CED experience or equivalent.
Prior experience in livestock, forage, or agriculture-related Extension programs and/or experience as an Extension agent or equivalent.
Expertise in crafting a collaborative team environment that promotes achieving goals, managing competing priorities, and adapting to unexpected situations.
Experience in leading and managing office operations, budgeting, and fiscal management.
Experience working with and managing volunteers and supporting other team members in volunteer management.
A strong commitment to education and leadership in county-level initiatives.
Technological literacy necessary for communication, marketing, and program management functions such as using social media, Microsoft Office Suite, and other software.
Outstanding people management skills (coach, mentor, motivator, etc.).
Leadership and problem-solving skills.
Familiarity navigating in political settings.
Experience creating a vision, getting buy-in from others, and crafting an environment where others are valued and feel valued.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and delivery of educational programs related to small farms and livestock production and/or forage systems management based on Best Management Practices (BMP) promoting efficiency, sustainability, and environmentally sound principles for Santa Rosa County clientele.
Provide excellent customer service for the small farm industry through various communication modes, including online telephone, email, social media, and face-to-face contact.
Assist in community food initiatives, community supported agriculture, farm‑to‑consumer efforts, farmers markets, and Agri‑tourism opportunities—including Farm‑City Week—by building networks and marketing strategies that promote agriculture and strengthen relationships among small‑scale producers, consumers, and local decision makers in Santa Rosa County.
Conduct needs-based assessments to assist in developing programmatic priorities, including building an advisory committee.
Collaborate with peers in Northwest District Program Implementation Teams to plan, teach, and evaluate virtual and face-to-face educational programs to meet clientele needs.
Create strategies for program enhancement to include fee-based events, sponsorships, and grants, and manage all components related to fiscal accountability (policies, records, risk, etc.).
Promote educational programs and engage with the community through various news media outlets, including TV, radio, and print, raising awareness of Extension's mission and horticultural expertise.
Supervise, mentor, support, and evaluate county faculty members and staff members.
Manage the business side of the UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County including financial and compliance oversight, policies, and procedures.
Collaborate closely with county administration to secure essential resources and support for UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County.
Develop and follow a strategic plan focused on developing, supporting, and directing the vision of the total UF/IFAS Extension program in Santa Rosa County Extension and strengthening internal and external relationships.
Collaborate with Santa Rosa County government, administration, and staff, and UF/IFAS Extension faculty, staff, and administration.
Collaborate with community leaders, government agencies, stakeholders, and media.
Develop, lead, and sustain an informed overall UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County advisory committee reflective of county demographics.
Adhere to all University of Florida and Santa Rosa County government policies and procedures and provide leadership to faculty and staff for management of all program components.
Collaborate with the District Extension Director and CEDs to strengthen outcomes and impacts of UF/IFAS Extension across the Northwest District.
Assume other responsibilities to benefit the total UF/IFAS Extension program and Santa Rosa County as assigned by the District Extension Director and County Administrator.