Soil Fertility Outreach Specialist

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Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Outreach Specialist

Job Summary:

Are you passionate about bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world farming? As the Soil Fertility Outreach Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the sustainability and profitability of Wisconsin's diverse agricultural landscape.

The Soil Fertility Outreach Specialist will address high priority issues related to implementation and adoption of research based soil fertility management practices. On-farm research and educational outreach will advance practices that result in positive economic, agronomic, and environmental outcomes. Practices of particular importance may include routine soil fertility testing and interpretation, "4-R" fertilizer management, precision and/or variable rate nutrient applications, and nutrient cycling from non-fertilizer nutrient sources.

The position is intended to extend research findings related to practices that improve the sustainability of Wisconsin soil fertility management via outreach and educational programming to producers and agribusiness professionals across Wisconsin, including contributing to the Nutrient Management Farmer Education curriculum. Desired areas of expertise include: agronomy, plant nutrition, nitrogen management, soil pH and lime management, soil macro- and mirco-nutrient cycling and management, soil sampling and testing, soil biology, and general crop management.

The Outreach Specialist is expected to utilize excellent collaboration, problem solving, prioritization, and communication skills to work closely with farmers, technical advisors, and colleagues to develop and implement collaborative on-farm research and other outreach activities to increase adoption and implementation of soil fertility practices on Wisconsin farms. Extension Outreach Specialists collaborate with a team that includes UW-Madison Extension and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) colleagues, industry partners, farmers, and other collaborators to develop robust, high-quality educational programs that deliver research-based solutions towards more efficient and sustainable cropping systems.

The Soil Fertility Outreach Specialist will:

* Collaborate with farmers and colleagues to develop and implement on-farm research, demonstrations, and outreach activities that engage the community in exploring innovative practices.

* Design and maintain high-quality outreach programs that translate research findings into actionable solutions for the field.

* Develop and maintain expertise related to soil fertility management.

* Build trust-based relationships with stakeholders, technical advisors, and Extension colleagues to inform priorities and increase program impact.

* Work with the Program Manager to facilitate programmatic efforts, maintain strategic direction, build partnerships and seek a diverse funding portfolio to support the work.

The ideal candidate will have experience with developing and evaluating educational programming and a track record of building positive relationships.

Statewide Location

Division of Extension headquarters are located within Madison, WI but the position location is flexible and will be determined based on programmatic needs, successful candidate's preferences, and availability of suitable space.

Partial Remote

This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement (RWA). A RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.

This position has the possibility of working up to 2 days remote per Extension's Remote Work Policy.

Evening/Weekend Work

This…