Field Specialist in Agricultural Business – Southeast Region, MO

Hiring Department

University of Missouri (MU) Office of Extension and Engagement

Agriculture and Environment Extension Program

MU

TITLE:

Assistant/Associate/Full Extension Professional

LOCATION: Oregon, Ripley, Butler, Carter, Shannon, Reynolds, Iron, Wayne, Madison Counties in the Southeast Region, with additional service across the state as needed.

This position is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programs that support agricultural and agribusiness development and expansion in ways that improve Missourians’ quality of life and enhance the economic viability of Missouri enterprises while protecting the environment and the state’s natural resources. These efforts may involve:

• Assisting agricultural operators and agribusinesses with decision‑making, financial management, taxes, and risk mitigation as they start, expand, or diversify their businesses.
• Assessing new business opportunities and emerging economic issues faced by producers, landowners, and businesses.
• Offering technical assistance contracts, often in collaboration with state specialists, that support efforts such as business plans, marketing plans, feasibility studies, surveys, and more.
• Connecting appropriate regional and state partners with an agricultural business owner when an economic development opportunity arises.

Effective specialists will apply interdisciplinary knowledge and collaborate with respective regional producer groups, state and local agricultural support entities, and other relevant organizations to leverage efforts and funding opportunities.

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 hold a working title of Field Specialist in Agricultural Business.

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.

• Educate:
  Design, conduct, and evaluate educational programs. Teach research‑based information via meetings, in‑person and online courses, continuing education classes, technical assistance, volunteer training, media, websites, consultation, and other educational methods. Provide educational programs that support the individual, organizational, and community goals of Missouri’s learners and clients.
• Create:
  Develop innovative and research‑informed educational products, services, materials, and other scholarly works. These include curricula, publications, presentations, educational tools, websites, and similar resources. Obtain and use extramural funding to support creative works. Contribute to the scholarship of Extension and Engagement by evaluating programs that result in learning and behavior changes that impact individuals and communities.
• Connect:
  Engage with learners, stakeholders, volunteers, and communities, including county extension councils, government officials and agencies, partners, and University and professional organizations. Listen and respond with care. Intentionally foster engaged partnerships and robust connections to the wide array of programs offered by the whole University of Missouri System.

• Engage with stakeholders in all coverage…