Cooperative Extension Area Weed Science Advisor

Cooperative Extension Area Weed Science Advisor - Serving Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties (AP 26-03) Application Window

Open date: February 10, 2026

Next review date: Tuesday, Mar 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) – Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Jul 1, 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 (UCCE) Area Weed Science Advisor at the Assistant rank serving Sonoma, Napa, and Marin counties. The Weed Science Advisor will implement an innovative multi‑county extension education and applied research program to address weed management challenges in the three‑county region, including alternatives to glyphosate, the effectiveness of organic weed control methods, herbicide resistance, air and water quality issues related to weed control practices, and the control of invasive weed species.

UCCE Advisors are responsible for conducting applied research and extending knowledge. Research activities are applied and mission‑oriented, focused on addressing challenges in our communities. Extension activities are the educational methods that advisors use to share research results directly with clientele and communities, increasing knowledge and understanding of science‑based research that promotes the adoption of practices and technologies to solve local problems.

Extension activities may include individual farm consultations, presentations, or organizing educational workshops, short courses, and field demonstrations. Information may also be disseminated through various channels, such as radio, webinars, fact sheets, policy briefs, news blogs, social media, and other outlets. Publications are expected in various formats, including newsletters, popular press articles, curricula, conference proceedings, and peer‑reviewed journals.

Successful research and extension programs result in new information that improves knowledge or understanding, and eventual adoption of new skills or practices, changed attitudes or policies, and improved environmental, economic, or social conditions. UCCE Advisors are evaluated through an academic advancement system based on four criteria:
1) extending knowledge,
2) applied research and creative activity,
3) professional competence and activity, and
4) university and public service.

This position will be based at the UC Cooperative Extension Office in Sonoma County, located at 133 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa, California 95403.

Weeds are a critical challenge to the regional productivity of agriculture, pasture, and rangelands, and are responsible for significant production losses, management costs, and labor requirements each year. Growers, ranchers, dairy producers, pest control advisors, and the UC Cooperative Extension network need an Area Weed Science Advisor to provide locally relevant expertise to address production efficiency, crop safety, livestock forage, and environmental issues related to sustainable weed management in the region.

This position will take an integrated approach to weed management, encompassing organic and conventional approaches, while serving a broad range of clientele across multiple cropping systems, pasture, and rangeland. In addition to working across a spectrum of weed management practices, the position will develop expertise and deliver information on related topics, including weed identification, invasive plant management, cover crops, and livestock‑crop integration, in collaboration with relevant colleagues.

The position will also address aquatic weed identification and management in agricultural water sources, such as irrigation ponds and reservoirs.

The advisor will extend science‑based information to clientele who grow grapes, olives, apples, and other orchard crops, a variety of specialty crops, and graze livestock on organic and conventional pastures and…