Cornell CALS Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center Director and Senior Extension Associate

Cornell CALS Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center

Director and Senior Extension Associate

Riverhead, NY

The Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center (LIHREC) is part of Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second-largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: natural and human systems; food, energy, and environmental resources; and social, physical, and economic well-being. CALS is fundamentally invested in improving the lives of people, their environments and communities both in New York (NY) state and around the world.

Located near the tip of Long Island in Riverhead NY, in the heart of Suffolk County, LIHREC is a 68-acre facility dedicated to serving the research and extension needs of the horticultural industries on Long Island. Cornell University established LIHREC over 100 years ago not only because of the importance of agriculture in the region, but also because the region is climatically different from upstate NY, where the Cornell Ithaca and Geneva campuses are situated. Suffolk County has a unique maritime environment, with an earlier and longer growing season than the rest of the state, and often experiences unique pest and disease pressures including invasive species. In addition, Long Island’s sandy soils and shallow aquifer limit crop and pest management options. With climate change expected to have a major impact on coastal regions, LIHREC is ideally located to address the effects of climate on crop production on Long Island. Staff at LIHREC work together to address transdisciplinary questions and translate discoveries into practical solutions that help growers and businesses thrive.

Position Function

Cornell University, CALS and LIHREC are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains vibrant on Long Island, providing applied research and extension programming to advance and support specialty crop industries. We seek a knowledgeable, experienced, and creative individual who is also a strategic leader and manager to serve as LIHREC Director. The successful candidate is expected to work with a range of stakeholders and other partners including the farming community, foundations, CALS and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), along with LIHREC-based faculty and staff to develop and implement a research and extension strategy. The LIHREC Director will report to the Director of Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, NY. 

In addition to providing leadership for the overall LIHREC program, the Director will conduct research and extension that contributes to the mission of LIHREC. These activities should support specialty production on Long Island farms and should complement research and extension conducted by other investigators at LIHREC and Cornell CALS.  Leadership and administration will comprise 50% of the effort, and the other 50% will comprise problem-focused research and extension.

The person we seek will:

• Work with Cornell CALS and Suffolk County CCE leadership to develop long range plans for programming and operations of LIHREC.
• Work with Cornell CALS and Cornell AgriTech to develop a budget for LIHREC and oversee day to day spending, including recommendations on facility operations and needs.
• Provide advice, guidance, and support to research and extension professionals based at LIHREC. 
• Manage daily activities of staff in terms of productivity, teamwork, personal development, and following Cornell values; provide guidance to staff on how to best accomplish work goals and develop staff by assessing capabilities, finding, and assigning training; provide mentorship and guidance.
• Focus on ensuring that the research and extension professionals organize and conduct work as an integrated unit and prioritize work based on stakeholder needs.
• Maximize integration of Cornell Cooperative Extension county-based extension educators to ensure comprehensive educational programming in the region.
• Work with non-profits in the region whose mission aligns with that of LIHREC.
• Advocate for Long Island agriculture and the research and extension programming needed to further develop this critical economic sector. 
• Secure grant funds to support LIHREC operations and thereby expand research and educational programming.
• Provide leadership within a culture of sustainability to serve as a model with respect to environmental stewardship and sustainable agricultural practices.
• Conduct grant-funded research that compliments other work at LIHREC and supports Long Island agriculture.  Possible topical areas include specialty crop management, cultivar and variety evaluations, automation and robotics, soil health, crop protection, and climate smart farming.

Activities that will expand your knowledge and skills:

•    Direction of and day-to-day involvement in agricultural research and extension; working with leaders in ag research, education, and industry.

•    Engagement with stakeholders producing a wide variety of specialty crops including ornamentals, vegetables, grapes, berries and other unique crops grown on Long Island.

•    Opportunity to build and sustain a research and educational organization that is a unique partnership of stakeholders, Cornell CALS, and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

•    Interaction with regional, state, and national NGOs and government representatives on agriculture and economic development issues, workforce development, and sustainability.

•    Opportunity to work with agriculture researchers from around the world.

Qualifications:

We require a PhD in a relevant discipline, strong strategic, methodological, and conceptual skills, and a systemic understanding of research that supports regional agriculture.  The successful applicant will have experience in a leadership position involving interdisciplinary groups, strong management skills, a strong history with seeking relevant funding opportunities, and will take an integrative, systems approach to the role.

Opportunity:

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university’s mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell’s global presence includes the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the new Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds as described in Cornell’s founding principles. Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations. We strongly encourage individuals of underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

How to apply:

Please apply via Academic Jobs Online (https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/28621).

Qualified candidates should submit a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, contact information for three references, and a statement supporting diverse communities (this can be a stand-alone document (preferred) or the information can be embedded in other parts of the application materials) outlining how, through research, teaching, service, mentoring, extension, and/or outreach, the candidate has and will contribute to support Cornell’s historical mission of “any person … any study,” via the website. 

Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.

CALS hiring range for this title is $119,905 to $144,000.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Life. Changing.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Cornell’s regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

Pay Range:

Refer to Posting Language

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline
• Unique applicable skills.

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information.

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at equity@cornell.edu.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu.

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EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

About Us

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.