Education Program Specialist

Penn State University•University Park, IL

1d•$54,060 - $78,444•Hybrid

About The Position

The Penn State Nutrient Management Education Program (NMEP) is hiring an Education Program Specialist. This is a new position with the NMEP. The NMEP is a small team of specialists housed in the Penn State Department of Plant Science at the University Park Campus that works closely with, and is considered a part of, Penn State Extension. Current NMEP staff is very experienced with advanced skills in outreach, research, and teaching. The successful candidate is expected to possess complimentary talent that will enhance impact and future directions of the NMEP. The Education Program Specialist will be an integral team member of the NMEP to support accreditation of the Pennsylvania Act 38 and Act 49 programs. The employee will participate in organization and instruction of state-mandated certification trainings under the approved contract between Penn State and the State Conservation Commission of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The specialist will also provide continuing education training, real-time technical assistance to users, and reporting to the State Conservation Commission. The specialist will act as a liaison to advance state NMEP environmental goals with agencies, industry, Extension teams, and internal stakeholders. They will attend routine organizing meetings of these NMEP partners and serve on committees as needed. The individual will participate in identifying and providing solutions for complex challenges, working individually, as a team member, and as a project leader. They will participate in development, organization, and instruction of educational outreach of the Pennsylvania Nutrient and Odor Management Plans and associated planning tools. This outreach includes leading coordination of certification programming events. As needed, this duty includes development of outreach user guides, news articles, and continuing education presentations. State regulations mandate that these planning tools be utilized by certified individuals, and it is paramount that a skilled specialist oversees scholarship of this critical program component and ensures delivery of quality products. Demand for outreach materials and education will increase and be integral to implementation of expanding programs. The specialist will work with Penn State Extension to provide crossover educational programming and continuing education. The successful applicant must have strong agricultural and conservation foundations. The position is supported with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture/State Conservation Commission. While the position is in a fixed-term category, it should be noted that stable continuous funding of the NMEP has been in place since the 1990’s. The position is critical to support state water quality goals, especially as they pertain to agricultural pollutants.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree
1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties.
Valid driver’s license
Successful completion of a motor vehicle records check
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Strong agricultural and conservation foundations.

Responsibilities

Support accreditation of the Pennsylvania Act 38 and Act 49 programs.
Participate in organization and instruction of state-mandated certification trainings.
Provide continuing education training.
Provide real-time technical assistance to users.
Provide reporting to the State Conservation Commission.
Act as a liaison to advance state NMEP environmental goals with agencies, industry, Extension teams, and internal stakeholders.
Attend routine organizing meetings of NMEP partners.
Serve on committees as needed.
Participate in identifying and providing solutions for complex challenges.
Participate in development, organization, and instruction of educational outreach of the Pennsylvania Nutrient and Odor Management Plans and associated planning tools.
Lead coordination of certification programming events.
Develop outreach user guides, news articles, and continuing education presentations.
Oversee scholarship of the critical program component and ensure delivery of quality products.
Provide crossover educational programming and continuing education with Penn State Extension.