Farm Management Extension Educator

POSITION SPECIFICS

The College of Agricultural Sciences is seeking an entrepreneurial-minded Farm Management Extension Educator, with the drive to make a positive difference, technical proficiency in economics or business management, and a passion for agricultural science, education, and research, to join the Penn State Extension Business, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development Team. Overview:
The Extension Educator in Farm Management develops, delivers, and evaluates research-based educational programs that strengthen the financial, operational, and strategic management capacity of agricultural producers and agribusinesses. This role supports Penn State Extension’s mission by improving economic and community outcomes through applied research, outreach education, and stakeholder engagement. The educator serves a statewide audience, leads program development, collaborates across disciplines, and demonstrates measurable program impacts using a variety of delivery methods.

Educational programs and applied research activities should result in measurable improvements for agricultural producers and businesses in terms of sustainable growth and profitability of Pennsylvania’s diverse agricultural sectors. Improvements will be measured in terms of positive practice changes made by stakeholders in efficiency, growth, competitiveness, innovation, and job creation.

• Develop, deliver, and evaluate research-based educational programs in farm financial management, business planning, risk management, and strategic decision-making using diverse delivery methods.
• Conduct needs assessments, define program objectives, and evaluate outcomes to ensure relevance, effectiveness, and measurable impact.
• Translate and disseminate applied research into practical tools, educational materials, and technical assistance for producers and agribusinesses.
• Coordinate and manage educational events, workshops, and outreach activities that enhance learning and engagement.
• Build partnerships and collaborate across Extension teams and external stakeholders to address complex agricultural business challenges and expand program reach.
• Conduct applied research, report program impacts, and secure and manage external funding to support program sustainability.
• Contribute to team initiatives, professional development, and organizational goals within Penn State Extension.

• Major responsibilities will include planning, implementing, conducting, and evaluating for impact, a broad array of educational programs for commercial agricultural enterprises of any size, especially initiatives that can increase profitability, enhance farm sustainability.
• Of particular need is assisting livestock and plant industry enterprises with the financial implications associated with managing health, disease, and weather‑related issues.
• In support of program planning and development, the individual will work both individually and collaboratively across teams to conduct needs assessment, establish learning objectives, develop educational materials, host educational events, utilize evaluation to measure program success, and develop appropriate impact documentation to illustrate the value and relevancy of quality programming.
• Team members are expected to work closely with university faculty and other Extension units to develop educational programs and products and conduct applied research relevant to stakeholder needs.
• The successful candidate serves as a key member of the financial team with current and future state projects and programs potentially including, farm finance, enterprise budgeting, ratio analysis, federal programs, contracting, and more.
• To grow and support the unit, the successful candidate will be expected to develop a robust and diverse external funding portfolio (e.g., grants, contracts, program revenue, development, etc.) in support of the unit programs.

Relational & Pedagogical Responsibilities:
The successful individual will work both independently, and across multiple program teams. Successful educators must engage effectively with diverse and…