Academic Job Description
Department of Horticulture
Extension Associate
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and home to Cornell University’s second largest population of students, faculty and staff. 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 their communities both in New York state and around the world.
Position Function:
The Organization Development- Extension Associate will support extension and research projects focused on solving problems and supporting development of New York’s agricultural workforce in all types of farm production. Primary projects for this position will include the following. Work with farm employers and employees to assess current practices, identify areas for improvement, and implement customized strategies that optimize operations, enhance team performance, and promote sustainable growth. Develop and teach leadership and management courses and workshops for online and in-person delivery. Develop tools and technologies to help employers and employees to improve business cultures and management practices to support health, safety, and employee engagement in the context of successful, and multicultural business operations.
As an innovative educator, you will expand knowledge and access to organization development and effective human resource management to all sectors of agriculture. You will interact with and focus efforts on developing Spanish-speaking and ESL agricultural employees, supervisors and managers. You will work collaboratively, across disciplines, and with a variety of stakeholders, to develop and demonstrate organizational development methods and techniques to improve work processes and organizational culture. You will use applied research methods to better understand the agricultural workforce and its learning needs. You will champion diversity and inclusion by providing unbiased access to world-class research and industry expertise to all New York farmers; and serve as a trusted resource, enabling stakeholders to build knowledge and develop skills to engage employees, build teams and develop an effective workforce.
The Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development (CAWD) program supports the entire agricultural industry with relevant and timely education and applied research in human resources, leadership, and workforce development. Our mission is to help farmers, employees, and agribusinesses build committed and effective teams who will carry out the important work of feeding our local families and the world. We believe that agricultural work can, and should be, engaging and rewarding for everyone involved. Managers can build committed teams by applying the best human resource management practices for the agricultural setting. Our guiding objectives are as follow:
• Increase farm employer and employee understanding and compliance with regulations.
• Develop leadership and supervisory skills of farm managers at all levels.
• Identify and develop the future farm workforce.
• Instill a culture of learning, continuous improvement, and employee engagement in farm businesses.
Anticipated Division of Time:
Program Development and Implementation 55%
• Identify workforce development program needs and opportunities in NY in ways to improve the profitability and success of agricultural businesses, and the engagement and quality of work life of agricultural employees, with special emphasis on developing effective communications, work practices, and organizational culture.
• Consult with workforce development program educators, regional extension staff, Cornell faculty, program advisory committees, producers, employees, consultants, and ag business personnel.
• Seek out, adapt, and promote technology solutions.
• Develop programs and tools for teaching leadership and management in a multi-cultural context.
• Develop and teach HR systems, tools, and processes, including but not limited to: Lean Management, standard operating procedures, performance feedback, team-building, and communications.
• Support farm managers, regional educators, and industry consultants with identification, diagnosis, and solution of human resource management problems.
• Support development of tools and technologies for more effective HR management.
• Provide statewide leadership for efforts that develop, demonstrate, and evaluate educational programs with emphasis on Spanish-speaking management development.
• Provide leadership in the distribution and implementation of training manuals, fact sheets, learning aids, and human resource management systems that improve manager and employee performance.
• Provide research-based knowledge through educational activities for extension educators, private consultants, industry representatives, employers, employees and others through a variety of means including but not exclusive to direct teaching through group experiences (meetings, workshops, etc.) and mass media (webinars, podcasts, print, etc.)
• Ensure a major program emphasis on the demonstration and adoption of best practices in agricultural workforce development efforts, especially with the Spanish-speaking agricultural workforce. Analyze and evaluate major program efforts in cooperation with extension staff and if needed make recommendations for altering and improving them.
Applied Research: 30%
• Apply organization development (action research) with individual farms and agricultural industry organizations. Generate knowledge and develop best practices that can be applied in other industry organizations.
• Conduct applied research into human resource problems and opportunities that affect the agricultural workforce, in cooperation with appropriate faculty and extension field staff, and/or independently.
• Lead and cooperate on grant and funding proposals with agencies, organizations, faculty and extension personnel that will address applied research needs and generate program support.
• Collect, analyze and interpret data as needed.
• Prepare reports for granting agencies, extension publications, trade press, social media, peer-reviewed journals, and other.
• Actively pursue outside grant funds to support the on-going applied research efforts.
Program Evaluation 10%
• Evaluate, document and report the efficacy, impact, and cost of workforce development projects, programs and practices, as well as the level of adoption.
• Share results in quarterly and annual reports with the workforce development program; and local, state and federal partners and agencies.
• Present results of workforce development implementation and research projects at appropriate local, regional, state, and national meetings.
Professional Development: 5%
• Participate in professional development opportunities, conferences and workshops appropriate to program and personal skill enhancement.
• Stay informed of advances in organization development and human resource management.
• Participate in related regional, statewide, and national professional organizations as appropriate.
Requirements:
Required:
• Master’s degree in organizational behavior human resources, business, agriculture, management, education, law or related discipline.
• At least 3 years of related work experience
• Excellent communication skills, writing and speaking.
• Proficient Spanish language speaking and writing ability
• Must possess agricultural experience with ability to relate to routine farm situations. Willingness to learn and work with all sectors of agriculture in New York.
• Competence using technology to communicate to diverse audiences using a variety of formats.
• Ability to travel. Possess or acquire New York Driver’s license.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Preferred:
• Experience leading and supervising.
• Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma or similar quality management systems.
• Experience developing educational materials and teaching.
• Research experience.
Supervision Exercised.
Supervision:
• Provide guidance for technical support staff, and students as needed.
• Provide guidance to extension educators on program implementation and the development of educational materials.
• May provide direct supervision for project personnel, interns, etc. as needed.
To apply:
Please apply via Academic Jobs Online (https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo?job-987-28632)
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 $84,842 - $95,000k.
Pay Range:
Refer to Posting Language
Pay Ranges:
The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:
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For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.
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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.
2024-10-01Cornell 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.
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