Extension Agent I - III - Commercial and Environmental Horticulture

Classification Title:

Ext Agent I - III

Classification Minimum Requirements:

Candidates shall hold a master’s degree and/or bachelor’s degree with relevant experience and accomplishments.

Job Description:

The University of Florida (UF), the state's flagship institution, is a land-grant university comprised of teaching, research, and extension. The UF/IFAS Florida Cooperative Extension Service is committed to the core values of integrity, excellence, responsiveness, lifelong learning, and access. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.

We hire the best. A range of perspectives and experiences makes us strong. We look for candidates with both academic and people skills who work well in teams, honor their commitments, innovate in a rapidly changing world, and value respect for all individuals. Working for Florida Extension will allow you to make a positive impact in your community as you help shape future generations, growing your career while earning a competitive salary and great benefits.

University of Florida/IFAS Extension and Okaloosa County seek to fill a permanent-status accruing, full-time Extension Agent position with a self-starting, energetic, team-oriented individual. The educational responsibilities of this position encompass strong leadership with respect to the Horticulture program, including the including Florida Friendly Landscaping programs (FFL), and Green Industries Best Management Practices GI-BMP (70%), and educating clients to prepare for obtaining pesticide application licenses (25%). The additional 5% of time is dedicated to support of the 4-H youth program through horticulture work coordinated with the 4-H Agent.

What you will do:

As a Commercial and Environmental Horticulture Extension Agent, you will work jointly for UF/IFAS Extension in the Northwest Extension District and Okaloosa County in the Florida panhandle. We are looking for an individual that is a self-starting, energetic, and team-oriented leader to:

• Plan, develop, implement, teach, evaluate, and report on comprehensive horticulture  extension and education programs addressing issues of importance to local stakeholders. Programs will emphasize FLL and GI-BMP practices. Stakeholders include landscape and nursery professionals, local government, public and private organizations and educational institutions, and other public adult and youth audiences.
• Develop extension programs and activities that facilitate the transfer of science and science-based tools, technologies and information to support commercial and environmental horticulture, for businesses and communities in Okaloosa County, including in partnership with key stakeholder associations and organizations.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with various landscaping and nursery  businesses, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the program assistant to support educational programming.
• Create, develop, and confer with an Okaloosa County horticulture advisory committee to provide local guidance, ensuring that the local horticulture program is relevant with a high level of stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborate with agencies and other partners to respond effectively and efficiently to priority issues.
• Participate in at least one horticulture priority workgroup or action team and contribute to regional and statewide extension education programs that are relevant to Okaloosa County and local stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the County Extension Director and other horticulture extension agents  to strengthen outcomes and impacts of UF/IFAS Extension across the Northwest District.
• As requested, assume other responsibilities to benefit the total UF/IFAS Extension program and Okaloosa County as assigned by the District Extension Director and County Administrator.

Further information:

Employment is contingent on the results of both a local and a national background screening.

Okaloosa County, Florida is located in the northwestern region of the state, along the scenic Emerald Coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The county seat is Crestview, and the largest municipality is Fort Walton Beach. Okaloosa County covers a total area of approximately 1,082 square miles, of which about 930 square miles are land and 152 square miles are water. The county features more than 30 miles of coastline, including some of Florida’s most pristine white-sand beaches and popular coastal communities such as Destin and Okaloosa Island.

As of the 2023 U.S. Censu