State Program Leader & Extension Agent III-IV or Program Extension Agent III-IV or Associate Professor or Professor

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

9d•Remote

About The Position

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is seeking a 12-month, statewide, faculty leadership position to serve as the State Program Leader for UF/IFAS Extension Initiatives 2, 3 and 4. This role provides strategic vision, administrative leadership, faculty coordination, and programmatic oversight to advance organizational priorities and maximize statewide impact. The successful candidate will collaborate with Extension administration, county faculty, state specialists, research and education center faculty, initiative leadership teams, and external stakeholders to address emerging issues affecting Florida's communities, economy, natural resources, and quality of life. The position focuses on Enhancing and Protecting Water Quality, Quantity and Supply (Initiative 2), Enhancing and Conserving Florida’s Natural Resources and Environmental Quality (Initiative 3), and Creating Sustainable Urban and Suburban Communities (Initiative 4). The State Program Leader is responsible for fostering collaboration, enhancing accountability, and ensuring alignment between Extension programming and institutional goals. This position can be filled at the rank of Extension Agent III or IV, Program Extension Agent III or IV, Associate Professor, or Full Professor, depending on qualifications and experience. The Extension Agent track is permanent status-accruing, the Program Extension Agent track is non-permanent status-accruing, and the Associate Professor or Professor track is tenure-accruing.

Requirements

For the Extension Agent III or IV rank: A master’s degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4 is required.
A record of outstanding scholarly achievement and professional activities related to Extension and/or industry that will qualify the individual to have earned permanent status in the Extension system is required.
For the Program Extension Agent III or IV rank: A master’s degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4 is required.
For the Associate Professor or Professor rank: A Ph.D. degree from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4 is required.
A record of outstanding scholarly achievement and professional activities related to teaching, research, Extension, and/or industry that will qualify the individual to be a tenured associate or full professor in an IFAS Department.
Current or eligible to be appointed as an Extension Agent III or IV, Program Extension Agent III or IV, Associate Professor or Full Professor.
Demonstrated record of successful Extension programming and statewide impact.
Evidence of effective leadership and coordination of multidisciplinary teams.
Experience developing, implementing, and evaluating educational or outreach programs.
Demonstrated ability to build productive partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Experience supporting accountability, impact reporting, and data-informed decision-making.
Ability to work effectively across organizational units and geographic boundaries.
Evidence of administrative, supervisory, or organizational leadership responsibilities.
Commitment to the University of Florida’s core values.

Nice To Haves

An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) from an accredited institution in a discipline relevant to the focus areas of Initiatives 2, 3 and 4.
A distinguished record of leadership and program accomplishments within Extension, outreach, education, research or related organization.
Demonstrated success providing statewide programmatic leadership within the Cooperative Extension System.
Evidence of significant scholarship and scholarly productivity related to Extension, outreach, teaching, or applied research.
Proven ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives with measurable statewide impacts.
Record of securing competitive grants, contracts, or substantial external funding.
Experience supervising faculty and conducting performance evaluations.
Demonstrated success leading organizational change, strategic planning, and multidisciplinary collaborations.
Evidence of professional recognition at the state, regional, national, or international level.
Experience working effectively with university administration, governmental agencies, industry partners, and stakeholder groups.
Demonstrated ability to communicate organizational vision and translate strategic priorities into actionable programming.

Responsibilities

Provide visionary leadership for Initiatives 2, 3 and 4 and support the development of long-term strategic priorities.
Lead development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of statewide plans of work.
Identify emerging statewide needs and opportunities for Extension engagement.
Ensure programmatic alignment with UF/IFAS Extension strategic priorities and organizational objectives.
Promote interdisciplinary approaches that integrate research, Extension, and stakeholder needs.
Coordinate efforts among county faculty, state specialists, research and education center faculty, and initiative leadership teams.
Support faculty excellence in program development, delivery, evaluation, scholarship, and impact reporting.
Facilitate communication and collaboration among faculty working within assigned initiatives.
Conduct annual evaluations of faculty assigned within the program areas identified in Initiatives 2, 3 and 4.
Promote professional development, mentoring, and leadership growth among Extension personnel.
Develop and maintain productive relationships with government agencies, industry organizations, nonprofit groups, commodity associations, and community partners.
Facilitate statewide collaborative initiatives and strategic partnerships.
Review and coordinate partnership opportunities, proposals, and collaborative activities within assigned initiatives.
Engage stakeholders in identifying priorities and evaluating program effectiveness.
Meet regularly with Extension administration to ensure programmatic and administrative alignment.
Lead implementation of strategic initiatives and organizational priorities.
Coordinate statewide meetings, retreats, and planning activities that promote collaboration and accountability.
Work collaboratively across organizational units to strengthen Extension effectiveness and efficiency.
Manage financial resources and programmatic portfolios as assigned.
Assist with budget development, fiscal planning, and resource allocation.
Support grant development and external funding efforts.
Ensure measurable outcomes through effective program evaluation and accountability systems.
Contribute to statewide reporting processes and documentation of program impacts.