Extension Educator - WCS - Precision Ag; ENREEC; WCS Faculty

Open Rank Extension Educator - WCS
- Precision Ag (ENREEC) (Open to WCS Faculty Only)

This position is based in Ithaca, NE at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center (ENREEC) with statewide educator responsibilities. The educator serves as a trusted, research-based educational leader connecting the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the agricultural industry, and Nebraska communities through practical, science-based extension programming and applied research. Primary responsibilities are guided under the strategic directions of the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network (NOFRN) and the Nebraska Future Agriculture Research and Management Systems (NFARMS).

The position will develop and deliver impactful water and cropping systems extension programming along with digital and precision ag programs that: a) improve agricultural profitability and sustainability, b) reduce environmental risk, c) encourage natural resources stewardship, d) enhance agricultural resiliency, and e) expand public understanding of food, forage, grain, and fiber production systems.

The educator translates complex research into practical, solution-based educational experiences for audiences including farmers, ranchers, agribusiness professionals, community leaders, and the general public. Educational delivery methods may include workshops, field demonstrations, applied research trials, digital resources, consultations, media outreach, and collaborative partnerships. As a member of the statewide Water and Cropping Systems team, the educator actively contributes to the development of innovative, research-based resources and interdisciplinary solutions addressing current and emerging agricultural challenges in their assigned region and across Nebraska.

The position requires collaboration with university faculty, extension colleagues, industry partners, agencies, and stakeholders to identify needs and deliver responsive programming.

The educator is expected to maintain a visible and engaged presence within the communities they serve and become a recognized first source of trusted, unbiased agricultural information. Success in this role requires strong teaching and communication skills, community engagement, relationship building, leadership in agricultural education, and the ability to foster meaningful partnerships that support Nebraska agriculture and rural communities.

This twelve-month, non-tenure position carries the title of open rank extension educator. Candidates will be considered for an open rank educator position, a full-time, promo table, non-tenure track appointment. As part of the Nebraska benefits package, UNL offers tuition remission for full-time employees, up to 15 credit hours per year.

Minimum

Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in agronomy, precision agriculture, crop science, agricultural systems technology, or a closely related field. Experience in Nebraska agriculture or familiarity with Great Plains cropping systems, irrigation practices, and agricultural production systems. Demonstrated knowledge of production agriculture, cropping systems, water management and irrigation, agronomics, precision/digital agriculture, and/or agricultural sustainability. Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver educational programs, outreach activities, applied training programs, and educational content through presentations, publications, digital resources, web-based platforms, and/or social media.

Strong teaching, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to translate research-based information into practical educational programming for diverse audiences in formal and/or non-formal educational settings. Ability to work collaboratively with producers, Extension specialists, industry partners, community stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams. Remote sensing, drones, and imagery analysis. GPS/GIS and spatial data management. On-farm research design and analysis. Data analytics and decision support tools.

Preferred Qualifications
- Experience conducting or supporting applied research, on-farm trials, validation studies, demonstration projects, and/or irrigation management activities that improve water use efficiency, crop productivity, and agricultural sustainability. Demonstrated experience with precision agriculture, digital agriculture technologies, data-driven decision tools, and/or emerging agricultural technologies used in modern agricultural systems. Experience developing partnerships and collaborating with producers, commodity organizations, NRDs, agribusinesses, schools, agricultural organizations, and other stakeholders to support educational programming and outreach.

Demonstrated leadership abilities through professional, academic, Extension, industry, and/or community involvement. Successful experience securing grants, sponsor ships, contracts, external funding, cost-recovery opportunities, or other financial support for educational programs and initiatives. Precision planting, and…