Agriculture Program Leader - Middletown, NY

The Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County Agriculture Program Leader will provide overall, high-level program and administrative leadership, direction, management and coordination of all Agriculture programming efforts and provide leadership and supervision to the Agriculture area, specific to Agriculture Public Policy and Community and Economic Development.
Represent Cornell Cooperative Extension to community leaders, Extension colleagues, volunteers, and members, Cornell University faculty and Staff, government officials and the general public in a professional manner. Secure and manage program resources, as well as facilitate support for other program areas as appropriate. This position will also ensure that the educational programs reflect the current needs and the demographics in Orange County, and that programs conform to the objectives and mission of Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Association.

    

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Agriculture or related field (or) Master’s Degree in Business, Economics, or Management with Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture.
• 4 years of relevant work experience. PHD may substitute for 2 years’ experience.
• Ability to meet travel requirements associated with this position.
• Ability to work flexible hours which will include evenings and/or weekends throughout the year.
• Ability to transport supplies and equipment with or without accommodation.
• Ability to clearly communicate and to read and write in English.
• Ability and willingness to work with diverse audiences and maintain cultural sensitivity.
• Knowledge of the principles, theory, research, and application of subject-matter appropriate to area of Agriculture.
• Proficiency with windows-based software including use of the internet and Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel as well as Adobe reader/writer as well as various internet-based programs 
• Ability to communicate effectively through oral, written and visual channels using traditional methods as well as electronic technology.
• Demonstrated experience in effective supervision and management.
• Demonstrated experience with fund development, management and grant writing.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to work independently and as part of a team with internal and external partners at multiple levels within organizations and across communities.
• Ability to initiate, plan, organize, implement and evaluate informal education programs for diverse audiences.
• Ability to effectively lead, manage, and participate in professional team efforts and highly functioning work teams.
• Ability to relate effectively to co-workers, advisors, community, and professional leaders and clientele groups.
• Ability to identify and make use of program resources within the community and to establish a leadership role within the community and association.
• Ability to identify and secure funding that supports programs, including grant writing, developing public and private partnerships.
• Ability and willingness to work with a high degree of integrity, accuracy, organization, sound professional judgment, and the ability to handle confidential, sensitive information.
• Ability to organize, manage, and prioritize multiple tasks, deadlines, requirements, and priorities to complete work in a timely manner and within established deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background or course work in leadership, management, research methodology, education, grant writing/management, non-profits and/or Agricultural Economic Development.
• Knowledge of the philosophy, organization and operation of Cooperative Extension.
• Additional experience with applications such as Canva, any CRM, statistical analysis, etc.

Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

Program Responsibilities:

Program Assessment – 10%

• Provide program leadership in applying subject matter knowledge to identify needs, gaps, and trends in the community in collaboration with supervisor, program committees, staff, Cornell faculty, agency partners, and other community constituents within scope of the Association and Statewide Plan of Work.
• Analyze program needs based on assessments and input from community groups, staff and other interested parties.
• Make recommendations for programmatic offerings, enhancements, and/or improvements based upon assessment.
• Maintain direct linkage with Cornell University faculty/program units, Regional Agriculture Team (Cornell Vegetabl