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 Management Development-Regulatory 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 researching and understanding state and federal employment laws and regulations. Developing and teaching leadership and management courses and workshops for online and in-person delivery. Developing tools and technologies to help employers and employees to effectively and efficiently comply with regulatory requirements in the context of successful business operations.
As an innovative educator, you will expand knowledge and access to management 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, demonstrate, and guide better employment regulations understanding and compliance across NYS. 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 understanding and complying with state and federal employment laws and regulations.
• Consult with workforce development program educators, regional extension staff, Cornell faculty, program advisory committees, producers, employees, consultants, and ag business personnel.
• Understand employment regulations and actively seek ways to comply with regulations in the context of running a successful business.
• Seek out, adapt, and promote technology solutions to help employers comply with regulations.
• Engage with farm employees in understanding regulations and their rights.
• 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.
• Cooperate with other technical specialists to incorporate HR systems into improved overall management practices.
• 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: 25%
• 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 IPM 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: 5%
• Evaluate, document and report the efficacy, impact, and cost of livestock workforce development projects, programs and practices, as well as the level of adoption.
• Work with regional extension staff to evaluate the effectiveness and economic impact of their program efforts.
• Regularly communicate program activities and impacts to workforce development program director, faculty, regional extension staff, program advisory committee members, farmers, and industry support organizations.
• Share results in quarterly and annual reports with the workforce development program; and local, state and federal partners and agencies.
• Identify and report workforce development knowledge gaps and information transfer problems.
• 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.
• File professional improvement plan and constructively evaluate self-performance for improvement and subject matter excellence.
• Stay informed of advances in workforce development and human resource management.
• Participate in related regional, statewide, and national professional organizations as appropriate.
Supervision: 5%
• 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.
Requirements:
Required:
• Master’s degree in agriculture, management, education, law or related discipline.
• At least 3 years of related work experience
• Excellent communication skills, writing and speaking.
• 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.
• Experience developing educational materials and teaching.
• Spanish language speaking and writing ability
• Research experience.
Supervision Exercised.
Supervision: 5%
• 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/jobs/XXXXX).
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 - $95,000.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Life. Changing.
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.
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.
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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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.
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.
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.