Field Specialist in Horticulture – Daviess County, MO

University of Missouri (MU) Office of Extension and Engagement

MU Extension Plant Health & Technology program

MU

TITLE:

Assistant/Associate/Full Extension Professional

LOCATION: Gallatin, Missouri, and primarily serves Daviessalong with Caldwell, Chariton, Grundy, Harrison, Livingston, and Mercer Counties in the Northwest Region, with additional service across the state as needed.

The emphasis area for this position is horticulture, which includes the science of specialty crops, soils, weeds, insects, andpathogens. The position involves planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programs. Horticulture programs in MUExtension focus on home horticulture and commercial horticultureproduction. Educational programs include commercial production,home gardening, environmental stewardship, landscape development,and food safety. Field Horticulturalists also support MU Extensionefforts in soil testing and integrated pest management.

The position involves interacting with the community, commodity groups,industry representatives, other university colleagues, and localand statewide elected officials.

This position is a 12-month, ranked, non-tenure track appointment at the rank of assistant, associate, or full Extension Professional. Rank will be determined at the time of the appointment based on qualifications and experience in accordance with the MU Extension faculty standards. This position will holdthe working title of Field Specialist in Horticulture.

As a Field Specialist, your workload distribution at appointment will be 90% Extension Teaching and 10% Traditional Service.

This appointment is renewable annually at the discretion of the University and workload distribution may change at the discretion of Extension leadership. Circumstances affecting continued employment include, but are not limited to, work performance, fund availability, and educational priorities.

MU Extension Specialists deliver the University of Missouri to all Missourians. They serve all Missourians by bringing research-based solutions to work on local problems. MU Extension Specialists teachnew and foundational concepts, link people to resources, supportpartner organizations, participate in research, train volunteers,evaluate programs, foster innovation, and serve communities. MUExtension Specialists work as a team to expand educationalattainment, foster economic development, and improve health outcomes.

These core duties fall into three major areas:

• Educate. MU Extension specialists design, conduct, and evaluate educational programs. MU Extension specialists teachresearch-based information via meetings, in-person and onlinecourses, continuing education classes, technical assistance,volunteer training, media, websites, consultation, and other educational methods. They provide inclusive educational programs that support the individual, organizational, and community goals of Missouri’s learners and clients.
• Create. MU Extension specialists develop innovative and research-informed educational products, services, materials, andother scholarly works. These include curricula, publications,presentations, educational tools, websites, and similar resources.
  
  MU Extension specialists obtain and use extramural funding tosupport creative works. MU Extension specialists contribute to thescholarship of Extension and Engagement by evaluating programs that result in learning and behavior changes that impact individuals and communities.
• Connect. MU Extension specialists engage with learners,stakeholders, volunteers, and communities, including countyextension councils, government officials and agencies, partners,and University and…