UC Cooperative Extension Specialist - Workforce Development - Davis, CA; AP

Application Window

Open date: October 30, 2025

Next review date: Saturday, Jan 3, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Tuesday, Mar 3, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension Specialist (UCCE) – Workforce Development at the Assistant rank.

The Workforce Development Specialist will lead applied research, curriculum development, coordination, and statewide extension efforts to study, design, and implement innovative workforce programs aligned with California's evolving food, agriculture, natural resource, and bioeconomy sectors. The Specialist will address critical issues that will aid Californians‑especially youth, underserved, and non‑traditional learners‑in acquiring the skills and credentials needed to access high‑demands jobs and build inclusive economic prosperity.

The Specialist will collaborate with UC ANR statewide programs and institutes (e.g., UC ANR Innovate, 4‑H, UC Master Gardeners, UC California Naturalist, Community Nutrition and Health, and the ANR Policy Institute), campus‑based programs, and county‑based UCCE Advisors to develop, pilot, and evaluate new workforce pathways and experiential learning models that extend beyond traditional college degree programs. These programs may include challenge‑based learning, short- and long‑term credentials, and career readiness initiatives in partnership with K‑12 schools, community colleges, workforce boards, non‑profits, and industry partners.

To aid in implementing these new workforce development programs, the Specialist will conduct applied research to review and assess existing programs in California, other states, and other countries while working to tailor these models to unique and diverse contexts across California.

This position will bridge education and workforce systems, UC research, and California's agricultural and environmental priorities, ensuring that UC ANR programs prepare learners with relevant skills, industry‑recognized credentials, and access to equitable career pathways.

UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Specialists develop and conduct research and educational programs for appropriate clientele groups in California communities. UCCE Specialists have programs primarily focused on mission‑oriented research or creative work that supports the university's efforts to extend knowledge, including outreach and community engagement. Mission‑oriented research describes the complete research continuum that extends from basic research to applications of research results.

This research is generally applied in nature and has, as a goal, finding practical, cost‑effective solutions for problems facing society related to the mission of the UCCE Specialist's discipline and the UCCE mission. UCCE Specialists publish the results of applied research in a combination of peer‑reviewed publications and stakeholder‑facing materials, including refereed journals, technical reports, and white papers, tailored to the needs of the audiences their programs serve.

The extension and outreach programs disseminate knowledge and information to clientele groups to help them better understand and address problems and opportunities they face. The extension educational program serves the University's public service mission. Educational program activities include but are not limited to collaborations with UCCE Advisors, other UCCE Specialists, campus faculty, program teams, work groups, or clientele groups; developing and presenting educational materials;

communicating to clientele through broadcast, print, or electronic media; participating in meetings with clientele; developing and delivering in‑service training courses; organizing or participating in workshops, field tours, symposia or conferences. Much of this work will be conducted in partnership with UC ANR's locally based UCCE Advisors. The…