Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist

Job Title

Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service

Department

Horticultural Sciences

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Fredericksburg, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

Job Description Summary

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University seek outstanding applicants for a non-tenure track Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist position in horticultural sciences with an emphasis on grapes, tree fruit, and small fruit. This is a 12-month faculty appointment (75% Extension and 25% Research appointment). The position will be based at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Fruit Lab located in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Position Responsibilities:

• Serve as a principal resource for horticultural information and problem solving in the Texas Hill Country the State of Texas, and externally to Texas, when multi-state issues arise that align with the Agency’s mission. The areas of Extension engagement will focus on viticulture, tree fruit, and small fruit but may also support small acreage fruit and vegetable production, and home gardening clientele needs and issues.
• Provide operational leadership and guide staff in meeting the goals and objectives of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Viticulture & Fruit Lab in Fredericksburg.
• Collect and synthesize information from county, regional, and statewide program development committees, clientele needs assessments, survey data, clientele organizations, and key industry leaders to guide the content, quality, and priority of programming.
• Support county Extension agents with programming and content related to the subject matter expertise through program planning meetings, individual consultation, site visits with clientele, speaking at educational programs, and in other educational roles.
• Coordinate with other Extension Specialists/Program Specialists, Regional Program Leaders and appropriate county agent programming efforts, support result demonstrations, and other activities when performed in counties or multi-county programs that serve this region.
• Provide professional development opportunities and training to support agents as requested by Regional Program Leaders (RPLs), District Extension Administrators (DEAs), and Associate Department Heads (ADHs) in subject matter, issues identification, and program planning areas.
• Work with county Extension agents and Agency leadership to develop and implement volunteer training activities.
• To address stakeholder needs, develop an extramurally funded research program commensurate with 25% Research Appointment.

Programs:

• Understands the type of programmatic approaches needed to meet the needs and capabilities of different audiences for effective program planning and implementation.
• Develop and participate in disciplinary and interdisciplinary programming efforts as appropriate to adequately address the priority issues facing our stakeholders.
• Work to effectively coordinate and integrate programs and, as appropriate, contribute to an Extension Coordinated Program Area and local county agent committees.
• Establish and conduct an effective Extension education program for the grape, tree fruit and small fruit industries of Texas.
• Develop and implement evaluation strategies to assess outcomes from Extension educational programs and demonstrate evidence of program impacts (i.e., knowledge gain, behavior change, adoption of recent technologies and best practices, economic impact) as measured by well-designed program evaluations.
• Establish a Hatch project and/or participate in a Multi-State Hatch Project.
• Participate in program planning at the multi-county or regional level and convey insights to their Associate Department Head, Department Head and agency administration as appropriate.

Partnerships:

• Provide timely and effective coordination, cooperation, and scheduling of activities with colleagues and personnel within and across Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, including but not limited to District Extension Administrators, Regional Program Leaders, Associate Depa