Program Associate - Irrigation Contest

University of Arkansas System

20h

About The Position

The primary responsibility of this individual will be to implement the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Arkansas Irrigation Yield contest, Irrigation school programs, and county irrigation demonstration programs. Duties include some laboratory but mostly field activities in irrigation water management. Includes but not limited to repairing and installing irrigation equipment, planting crops, harvesting crops, spraying crops, retrieving information from data logging equipment, manual data collection, data summarization and statistical analysis for field experiments. The employee must be able to perform physical work such as lifting a minimum weight of 50 pounds and operate ATV. The job also requires driving long distances and walking and working on cooperating producer farms. The individual will be assisting with the implementation of new and innovative irrigation water management practices on cooperator farms. IWM practices include multiple inlet rice irrigation, computerized hole selection, surge irrigation, soil moisture monitoring, tail water recovery, and ET based scheduling. The individual will also be expected to be able to test irrigation pumps, use an ultrasonic meter, down hole well camera, liquid measurement devices and torque cells to measure pumping plant efficiency. The individual also will assist the water management engineer in development of materials for extension programs and research presentations. The individual will be expected to be able to develop personal relationships with clientele and assist them in learning how to implement IWM practices and tools effectively on their operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's in Mechanized Systems Management, Agriculture Technology Management, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Engineering, agronomy, soil science, crop science or related technical agricultural or environmental field plus three years of related professional experience or a Master's in Mechanized Systems Management, Agriculture Technology Management, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Engineering, agronomy, soil science, crop science or related technical agricultural or environmental field
Excellent written & verbal communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, data management, & email programs.
A high level of technical competence in irrigation.
Ability to develop & deliver presentations.
Ability to exercise initiative, make sound judgments, & work independently.
Ability to relate & respond to the needs of supervisors, subordinates, & clientele.

Nice To Haves

Experience and /or knowledge of farming and familiarity with irrigation, engines, pumps, farm machinery, and electronics is desirable.

Responsibilities

Implement the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Arkansas Irrigation Yield contest, Irrigation school programs, and county irrigation demonstration programs.
Repairing and installing irrigation equipment
Planting crops
Harvesting crops
Spraying crops
Retrieving information from data logging equipment
Manual data collection
Data summarization and statistical analysis for field experiments
Implementing new and innovative irrigation water management practices on cooperator farms
Test irrigation pumps, use an ultrasonic meter, down hole well camera, liquid measurement devices and torque cells to measure pumping plant efficiency.
Assist the water management engineer in development of materials for extension programs and research presentations.
Develop personal relationships with clientele and assist them in learning how to implement IWM practices and tools effectively on their operations.