Seasonal Director of Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program in University Park, PA
Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
The College of Agricultural Sciences is seeking an individual trained in Agronomy or Natural Resources with experience in Extension Education and Leadership to serve as the Director of the new Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training . The Center provides education, outreach, coordination, and technical assistance to conservation professionals, farmers, and agricultural landowners. As Director of the Center, this position oversees the development and delivery of internally identified priorities and contractually obligated deliverables that achieve the Center’s mission.
Job Responsibilities:
This position includes working with key external stakeholders in the ag conservation sector to identify gaps and opportunities in ag conservation practice implementation, developing and managing multi-million dollar contracts and budgets with the State Conservation Commission for the administration of critical elements of the PA Ag Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP), hiring and supervising a team of approximately 10 educators and supporting staff and providing oversight to an additional 10-20 educators (not direct-reports) to deliver on-site and remote technical assistance, outreach, educational training for stakeholders who are planning and implementing agricultural best practices to ensure the health of land and water in our communities, leveraging additional funding and partnerships to support these practices, evaluating all deliverables of the Center. This position will also participate in and support research on new and emerging best practices for ag conservation, including identifying and implementing large-scale demonstration projects across the Commonwealth. The Director will:
Participate in and provide expertise to workgroup meetings to guide administrative policy for the Commonwealth’s ACAP Program,
Oversee the development of GIS reporting and planning tools for ag conservation planners,
Support the creation of new undergraduate student opportunities in coursework and work-study or internship training,
Oversee marketing and communications efforts for the Center,
Develop and maintain technical manuals to support the administration of the ACAP program, and
Provide educational programs in the form of workshops, webinars, online courses, conferences, articles, videos, and other learning tool formats.
This position will also work directly with a contracted Professional Engineer to develop and oversee a program of demonstrated competence that will allow conservation professionals to design and inspect ag conservation projects under the authority of the contracted engineer.
Expectations and Areas of Responsibility:
Center Programming Leadership
Initiate, direct, oversee, and evaluate strategic initiatives, special projects, and complex budgets at the Center for Ag Conservation Assistance Training and within Extension, the college, university, and state levels.
Provide leadership and support for local, regional, and statewide activities implemented by Center staff, other Extension teams, Units, College staff, and faculty working in the Ag Conservation sector.
Partner with outside organizations such as the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission (SCC), other state agencies, professional organizations, and industry to provide training programs and workshops in Pennsylvania.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the leadership, faculty, and staff of College facilities integral to Extension applied research and programs (research stations, animal disease laboratory, campus farms, meats laboratory, campus creamery, etc.)
Human Resource Leadership and Management for the Center
Management of all human and financial resources assigned to the Center.
Hiring, coaching, mentoring, assigning Center personnel to project teams, conducting performance reviews, recommending raises as part of the General Salary Increase (GSI) process, mentoring staff through the promotion process, and handling personnel departures from the Center.
Address day-to-day educator concerns, problems, questions, conflicts, and HR issues.
Be aware of and ensure compliance with relevant Penn State policies
Be responsible for overseeing contracted services in Engineering and GIS-tool Development. This includes managing scopes of work, timelines, financial management, and requests for proposal processes.
Financial Resources Leadership and Management for the Center
Monitoring Center budgets, making spending decisions, and allocating necessary resources to accomplish programmatic and administrative goals.
Oversee development of funding sources, including developing grant proposals, monitoring funded activities, and negotiating contracts and services with vendors.
Establish a strategic staffing plan for the Center that indicates the resources needed to effectively address issues that are critical to the Center’s stakeholders and customers.
Ensure policies and procedures are effectively communicated to Center personnel.
Strategic Plan Management for the Center
Develop, implement, and monitor a comprehensive strategic plan to meet financial and participation goals, including determining the scope of services and programmatic, enrollment, staffing, service, and budgetary elements.
Conduct a needs assessment and design, develop, and implement educational programs using diverse delivery systems such as presentations, workshops, seminars, conferences, meetings, individual contacts, mass media, and demonstrations.
Continued evaluation of materials and programs to ensure future improvement. This requires serving as a leader in the formation, development, execution, and evaluation of educational programs and materials.
Manage and enhance relationships with academic units and external groups to develop programs congruent with their strategic goals, serving local, regional, and statewide audiences (and beyond).
Work closely with university-based research faculty in developing and conducting applied research and undergraduate course development relevant to agricultural best management practices to further the Center’s and the University’s mission.
This is a limited term position funded for one year from date of hire with excellent possibility of refunding. This position offers a flexible work arrangement that combines remote and on-campus work. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.
Required Qualifications:
This position typically requires a Master’s degree or higher, plus 5 years or more of relevant experience in Extension, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. This position also requires:
Effective and demonstrated leadership, human relations, teamwork, and communication skills,
Coaching, mentoring, and listening skills,
Outstanding oral and written communication skills,
Demonstrated experience in resource development and budget management
Effective capabilities with communication, presentation, customer management, project management, and other technology platforms.
Demonstrated high level of emotional intelligence, and
Demonstrated skill in building relationships with community, business, and political leaders as well as campus administrators, faculty, and staff.
This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid drivers license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here .
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
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