Pesticide Outreach Specialist

Colorado State University•Fort Collins, CO

13d•$40,000 - $50,000•Onsite

About The Position

This position coordinates with EPA, steering committees, planning groups, relevant professional organizations, and others to plan, develop, and deliver pesticide regulatory education programs. This position also supports the development and delivery of programs that provide objective information on pesticide use and safety to reduce pesticide risks to human health and the environment, including fieldworker and pesticide handler training, pesticide applicator training, and training of other trainers. The Specialist participates in program planning and supports the PSEP Coordinator's efforts to identify priorities, engage cooperators, and disseminate resources to achieve program goals. In addition, the Specialist develops or assists in developing and delivering outreach materials and training programs, and conducts systematic reviews of program materials to ensure they are up to date and meet clientele needs. The Department of Agricultural Biology (AgBio) is committed to excellence in the creation and dissemination of knowledge about insects, plant pathogens, and weeds. Further, AgBio applies this knowledge to solving practical problems related to: (1) management of pests in production agricultural systems, in natural resources and recreational environments, and in residential and public areas; (2) environmental quality, and (3) human and animal health. The Department encompasses the disciplines of entomology, plant pathology, and weed science – thus providing unique opportunities to address critical issues that cut across disciplinary boundaries. AgBio focuses its teaching, research and outreach missions in four program areas each of which involves all three of the department’s disciplinary roots in entomology, plant pathology, and weed science. These programs are: 1) Genomics and Molecular Biology, 2) Ecology and Biodiversity, 3) Biology and Management of Invasive Species, and 4) Integrated Pest Management. AgBio emphasizes knowledge of pests and related organisms; the roles that they play in ecological, economic and social systems; and the application of such knowledge to developing economically and environmentally sound solutions for practical problems. Being interdisciplinary in nature, AgBio values cooperative and collaborative efforts with other units within the University, as well as other relevant entities in the Colorado and beyond.

Requirements

Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for all new hires)
Valid driver's license by employment start date.
Authorized to work in the United States by the employment start date.
Ability to travel. This includes in-state travel by car 5-10 or more times for 1-3 days at a time, and out-of-state travel by plane 2-3 times a year for 4-6 days at a time.
Must have a commercial pesticide applicator certification by the employment start date.
Bachelor’s degree in a field closely related to agriculture or education.
Experience in agriculture extension or education, or a similar field.
Experience in event management, including working with vendors, managing timelines, communicating with attendees, and quickly adapting to changes in event elements.
Organizational skills to prioritize tasks and simultaneously manage multiple projects to meet deadlines while maintaining a high level of accuracy and productivity.
Effectively use Mac OS-based applications, including MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams);
Effectively use Canvas Learning Management System, including developing and troubleshooting content.
Written communication skills in composing, editing, proofreading, and copy-editing technical material to correct for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and established style. Includes skills to incorporate suggested edits from multiple people with different backgrounds and viewpoints.
Verbal and interpersonal communication skills to clearly and effectively interact with a diverse range of individuals and perspectives.
Experience delivering educational materials about technical topics for lay audiences.
Ability to analyze information and identify content consistency or accuracy problems; ability to use judgment to identify how best to resolve them.

Nice To Haves

Ability to converse, read, and write in Spanish
Technical skills to work in a computerized environment in order to: Use task management software
Use Qualtrics and other survey software
Use Adobe Creative Cloud suite and other design software (Canva, Piktochart) for publication needs
Use website design and management tools such as WordPress

Responsibilities

Provides day-to-day support to the program, including interacting with clients by phone, email, or in person. Answers routine questions related to training program travel, agenda, speakers, and other logistics.
Coordinates logistics for pesticide-related training programs, including following proper procedures for registration, contracts with meeting sites, requesting continuing education credits from state agencies, marketing the training program, recruiting participants, speakers, and instructors, maintaining accurate records of attendees, and handling technical details.
Develops and maintains timelines and deliverable schedules, ensuring they are met.
Researches, develops, plans, and conducts in-person and online synchronous and asynchronous trainings and training programs, for diverse clientele.
Performs database queries (e.g., pesticide use data, pesticide enforcement data, labor statistics), surveys of clientele groups and works with expert, clientele, and stakeholder teams. Uses analysis of these data to produce summary reports, determine training locations, topics, content and develop agendas.
Assures currency and accuracy of pesticide educational materials, including publications, videos, and web site content through regular review and evaluation. Identifies areas that need updating and development. Works with appropriate IPM and pesticide experts and IT staff to update material.
Uses results of training evaluations to update priorities and works with Coordinator to redirect program efforts as appropriate.